••••

IT HAD OFFICIALLY BEEN THREE WHOLE MONTHS SINCE VICTORIA LEFT LOS ANGELES. Since she had not only walked out of Buck's life, but she had also left her sister behind with Bobby and Athena. If people knew the reason why, if people knew how she had overdosed not a day before her disappearance, most people wouldn't judge her. But of course that wasn't the case for the people at the 118, and that surely wasn't the case for Buck.

He had tried his best to just go on with his life, to push Victoria from his kind and his heart. It had been difficult to some degree. The others had constantly brought her up or tried to get Buck to talk about her even when he made it perfectly clear that he wanted nothing to do with her.

Eddie was the only one that was allowing him to process what had happened the way he needed to. It seemed like everyone else was on Victoria's side and was making it seem like Buck had no right to react the way he was. Which in reality seemed utterly crazy because he was the one who got his heart broken.

So, Buck didn't really speak at work unless he had to on a call. Otherwise, he kept to himself mostly when he wasn't with Eddie. Bobby had pulled him into his office to ask if everything was alright after he had gone on a week long silent streak but all Buck do was shrug his shoulders and walk out.

He used to love going to work and now he dreaded stepping foot into the place. Buck would continue to save people, to do what he's always wanted to do but that didn't mean he looked forward to going to his job. Maybe he would if everyone would just leave him alone.

That's why he liked escaping to eddies a lot or Eddie would stop by his loft. It felt like the only time that he could just completely relax and let go of all the stress that had built up inside of him. Eddie never questioned him, never made him feel like he was crazy or made him feel like an outsider. He was the only one treating him normally.

But one thing had been nagging Buck for the past month and a half. Even since Eddie and him had kissed for the first time, since they had been physical with each other, it was just knawing in the back of his mind. Mainly because since they've gotten together-- if he could even call it that-- Eddie hadn't really talked about it.

Eddie hadn't been shy about kissing Buck or initiating anything further. But truthfully, that was all he did. If they weren't hanging out with Chris or talking about random things, they were being intimate. And somehow it never actually made its way into one of their conversations. Not for almost two whole months.

And it made Buck very wary and afraid. It made him feel the same nerves bundle inside of his stomach that he felt the night Victoria left. Buck did think that maybe Eddie was just not ready to become exclusive, maybe he wasn't actually looking at Buck because he wanted a relationship with him. But Buck hated thinking that maybe this was all just a fling for Eddie.

That their moments together truly meant nothing in the end.

Because as he rested on the couch in his loft, his head laid against Eddie's chest, Buck began to spiral in his mind as the self doubt pressed against him. Eddie was just drinking his beer as he watched the hockey game on the TV, his fingers absentmindedly stroking up and down Bucks arm.

"Can I ask you something?" His voice was quite soft, his eyes lifting toward Eddies face. Buck was hesitant to even move off of Eddie, not that Eddie had wanted him to as he simply gazed down at Buck, not moving the arm that was around the man.

"Sure." Eddie says with a gentle smile on his face and the look in his eyes that makes Buck's knees buckle. He honestly couldn't believe they had actually gotten to this moment in time. And that's why Buck didn't want to do anything to mess it up.

"Um... is this just fun for you?" Buck questions, biting his bottom lip. He noticed the way Eddies eyebrows furrowed in the slightest, a bit of confusion forming in his eyes as his head tilted.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's just that since we first kissed, we've hung out a lot and have done... you know but we haven't really talked about it." Buck admits. He was fine with what they were doing, he just wanted to know if there was a reason it hadn't led to anything more. They hadnt even gone too far yet, neither one of them suggesting taking it further within their sex life.

Not that Buck didn't want it. He had been pegging himself to get prepared for Eddie just incase the man said he wanted to. And it wouldn't even be the first time he was in that position with someone else as Victoria was always open to anything he wanted to try in bed. Eddie seemed more hesitant to suggest anything in the bedroom.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Eddie retorts, raising an eyebrow as he watched Buck carefully. Buck lets out a sigh as he fiddles with his fingers.

"I don't know." He states. Buck didn't want to talk about it if it would just end in more heartbreak. Eddie licks his bottom lip as he leans forward, placing his beer on the table before turning to Buck who had moved off of him due to the sudden change of position.

"The reason I haven't brought it up is because I didn't want to push you into anything." Eddie admits as he stares at the man who frowns slightly. "Buck, it's only been three months since Vic left and you may think you're ready to move on but I don't want to force that upon you. I'm good with the hang outs and hooking up if that's all you need right now." He explains as he rests his hand on Buck's thigh.

Eddie had barely processed what had happened between them when it first occurred. He had believed that it was just a drunken mistake on Buck's part and he hadn't meant to kiss him. Until Eddie woke up with Buck pressed against his side that next morning. Buck's huge smile that beamed at him when he woke up. His non stop rambling about how the previous night had been the best night of his life.

He had then realized that maybe Buck truly did like him. But that didn't change the way Eddie would go about it. Because when they had first hooked up, Buck really wasn't in the best headspace to be making any sort of decisions, especially ones involving his love life. So Eddie hadn't said anything about it.

"But that doesn't mean I don't like you, Buck. I'm just going with the flow of things." Eddie admits as he squeezes Bucks thigh a bit. He sees the lingering nerves, the sadness leave Buck immediately as his eyes brighten up.

"So, you'd maybe want to take it further?" Buck questions, almost like he wasn't believing a word that was coming out of eddies mouth.

"If that's what you want." Eddie says, taking Bucks hand in his own. Of course Eddie wanted to be in an actual relationship with Buck, he wanted to take him on dates and kiss him whenever he felt like it and just love him endlessly. But Eddie couldn't only think of himself. Buck had gone through something that would make it hard for him to trust easily, even with someone who he put his life on the line for.

"I'd like that." Buck admits as he squeezes eddies hand. "But yeah, I wanna take things slow.... you know how much I just jump into things and look how that's worked out for me." He mutters, looking down at his lap for a second.

His first real relationship, Buck decided to take things seriously and actually act like an adult. He thought he had something with Abby but she ditched him to go to Europe and Buck moved past it because he realized the real person he loved was Victoria. And then she did the exact same thing. Even knowing everything that has happened between him and his parents, between him and Maddie, between him and Abby, even after all that, she left him.

And all she made up was excuses as to why, leaving him in the dust.

"You have a big heart, don't feel bad about it." Eddie denies. He didn't want Buck to lose a part of himself just because of what happened to him. "If you want to just keep on doing what we're doing for now, I'm up for that." He says, setting the small pace. Eddie may end up taking Buck out for a change sometime soon but for now, he would settle for what they had been doing.

"As long as we can stay on this couch right now." Buck responds with a smile.

"I definitely wouldn't complain." Eddie responds with a low chuckle, pulling Buck closer than he was before. Buck settles against the man, loving the feeling of eddies arms wrapped around him tightly as he snuggled into the warm comfort that Eddie offered him.

••••

ATHENA OPENS HER FRONT DOOR AFTER HEARING A KNOCK, a sigh leaves her as she sees Buck standing in front of her. "Buck, thank you so much for coming." Athena says graciously as she moves to the side so he could come into the house. Buck puts his hands into his pockets as he moved past her a bit awkwardly. They hadnt really talked much in the past few months, mainly because of how Bucks relationship with Bobby was right now.

"You said something was wrong with Rosie?" Buck responds as he glances around the hallway before turning back to Athena. Athena nods, bringing her hand up to rub her face a little bit.

"She's not speaking to Bobby or I. She's going to school but she's barely eating, she barely comes out of that room when she's here." Athena explains to him. She understood that Rosie was a teenager and her sister leaving may make her feel alone but they were all here for her. Athena just wanted her to actually open up to them.

"And she's been going out pretty late this past week and I don't know what to do about it. She's not my own daughter, I don't really have a say over what she does. All I can do is provide her with a roof over her head." Athena adds. She had caught Rosie coming into the house at three in the morning. It sent alarms going off in Athenas head because where was she at the time of night?

"May says she's been fine with her." Buck says with a shrug of his shoulders. May had mentioned that Rosie and her had been hanging out so it wasn't like Rosie wasn't talking to anybody.

"Because May doesn't care if she's out there all alone at practically dawn." Athenas voice was a bit snappier but it was just because she was frustrated.

"So, why did you want me here?" Buck questions, a bit confused on what Athena was expecting him to be able to do.

"I was just thinking maybe you could talk to her. Maybe she'll open up to someone who she's not constantly living with." Athena suggests.

"I haven't really talked to Rosie since I left the apartment, I doubt she'd really care what I had to say." He admits with a shrug of his shoulders. Rosie hadn't messaged him at all and Buck saw that a sign to not bother her.

"Please just try. There's no harm in doing that." She pleads, just wanting Rosie to at least talk to someone, even if it wasn't her or Bobby.

"Okay." Buck says with a small sigh, rubbing his face a little. He doesn't say anything else as he moves toward the guest bedroom where Rosie was staying. Knocking on it, he doesn't hear anything from inside. "Rosie?" Buck asks curiously, glancing back at Athena for a moment before knocking again. "Rosie, it's buck, can I come in?" He questions again.

It was another moment of silence so Buck just turned the knob and opened the door. Rosie was laying on her bed, headphones in her ears as she typed away on her phone. She seemed to notice the door open as she had looked over at Buck, an annoyed expression on her face. "What?" She asks him, lifting a headphone out momentarily.

"Can we talk?" Buck asks as he closes the door behind him. Rosie only scoffs as she rolls her eyes a bit.

"No." Rosie denies, simply putting her headphone back in. Her eyes move down to her phone but it wasnt long before her headphones were being taken out of her ears. "What the fuck?!" She shouts, glaring up at Buck who held them in his hands.

"Are you gonna talk to me?" Buck questions as Rosie crosses her arms against her chest.

"Why? I know Athena sent you in here."

"Maybe. But that doesn't mean you can't tell me what's been bothering you." He admits with a small sigh as he sits on the edge of the bed.

"And what are you, my shrink?" Rosie mutters with a stern tone.

"Rosie, they're just worried and frankly I am too. It's not like you to act out like this."

"Oh, it's not like me? Where have you been the past two months to even have an opinion on this?" Rosie's voice was harsh as she glared back at him. Buck nodded his head slowly, she did have a right to be angry with him.

"I know I haven't really been around. I moved out and didn't think to check in on you. But that's because I was dealing with something and didn't want to let it affect you." Buck explains to her, not wanting her to think that he didn't want to see her or anything like that.

"You mean my sister cheating on you?" Rosie answers, giving him a blunt expression although there was a bit of sympathy in her eyes. "I overheard Bobby and Athena talking about it since no one seemed to want to tell me." She admits.

"I didn't want to put a strain on your relationship." Buck denies. He may not have the greatest feelings toward Victoria right now, he may never want to see her again but Rosie was her sister. And Buck didn't want to ever come between them, even if it had been Victoria's fault.

"She did that all on her own." Rosie mumbles, her voice low. "It's been three months and I still don't know anything. Bobby is just acting like he doesn't know what's going on." She states and this brings confusion into Buck.

"You think Bobby is keeping something from you?"

"He never looks at me when I ask why Vic went to Chicago. It's clear that she wasn't just running away." Rosie tells him and Buck was a bit surprised but decided to not make this conversation about him right now.

"Is this why you're acting out?" Buck asks her curiously.

"I'm just not in a talkative mood, okay?" Rosie groans, knowing Athena probably told buck that she was 'sneaking out'. When she literally uses the front door.

"You're talking to me." He points out.

"Well, you're not smothering me." Rosie admits with a small sigh.

"They are taking care of you, Rosie. Don't you think you owe them a little bit of gratitude?" Buck asks her. Athena and Bobby didn't have to let her stay with them. She could've been alone in her apartment with literally no way to get food since Rosie didn't actually have a job.

"I'm not saying I don't appreciate them taking me in but I really didn't need it." Rosie admits.

"You're only sixteen." No matter what she thinks or how old she may be, she was still a kid and of course they were all going to look out for her.

"Seventeen." Rosie corrects him and Buck could feel his heart break a bit. "My birthday was last week." She says blanklt, her eyes drifting to her hands. Had all of them collectively forgotten? Had they all be so consumed with their own lives that they didnt even realize Rosie had turned seventeen? "And I am perfectly capable of looking after myself." She admits, picking at her nails.

"Maybe. But going out, especially so late by yourself is dangerous, Rosie." Buck points out. He didn't want her to get hurt or worse and he knew the streets were not exactly safe at that time of night from all of his overnight shifts.

"I'm not by myself. I'm hanging out with a friend." Rosie tells him causing Bucks eyebrows to furrow.

"A friend?" Buck asks as she just nods her head. "Is this friend a guy?" He knew he really wasn't in a place to say anything, he was barely even a friend, let alone someone she would talk to about crushes.

"I'm not sneaking out to hook up with someone." Rosie denies with a roll of her eyes, seeming quite annoyed.

"I just think Bobby and Athena just want to know that you're safe--"

"I'm fine." Her voice is harsh again as she just holds out her hand. "Are we done?" She asks, raising an eyebrow as she looks at her headphones. Buck sighs but gives them back to her. Rosie simply places them in her ear and rests back against the bed, opening her phone was again.

Buck frowns but he knew there really wasn't much else he could do. He did wonder what Bobby was keeping from her, what he could be possibly keeping from all of them. But he knew Bobby wouldn't tell him even if he asked. So Buck just turned around and headed out the bedroom, leaving Rosie alone.

••••

MAY BEGRUDGINGLY FOLLOWED AFTER ROSIE AS THEY WALKED DOWN THE ALLEY IN THE GRASP OF MIDNIGHT. She didn't know how she let Rosie convince her that this was a good idea. Especially when her mom was literally going to kill her for not saying anything. "Where are we going?" May asks her with a sigh, trying to pull Rosie to a halt but the girl just lets out a small laugh.

"Just come on, it's a cool spot." Rosie admits, pulling Mays hand more to speed them up.

"I'd rather graduate in one piece, thank you." May mutters as she glances around, truly thinking she was going to see a dark figure watching them.

"It's fine, I come here all the time." Rosie tells her, acting like it was no big deal and like they couldn't be murdered.

"Exactly why mom is thinking of putting a tracker in your jacket." She retorts with a small scoff and Rosie just smirks over at her.

"What are you scared?" Rosie asks her, wiggling her eyebrows. May narrows her gaze a bit.

"No." She denies and Rosie just did not look convinced at all. "Okay, yes, but we're going down a creepy alley which in horror movies, you never do." May explains with a long groan and Rosie lets out a snort.

"We're not in a horror movie." Rosie denies but May shivers.

"It feels like we are."

Rosie rolls her eyes playfully as she turns the corner, leading May into the small den. May stops short as she sees the place, the walls brick with growing vines on them, the large tarp up ahead, shielding most of the moonlight. The graffiti art scattering the whole place as flowers blossomed from the small patches of green throughout the cobble path.

"Not so scary now is it?" Rosie asks her with a smile, placing her hand on her hip.

"Woah, this is cool." May admits as she instantly felt safer within the small space. "How'd you find this place?" She asks curiously.

"My friend did." Rosie admits.

"Hey, you made it." May notices a girl walking over to them with a smile on her face. She couldn't help but admire her as she pulled Rosie in for a huge. Her skin was fairly pale, freckles danced along her cheeks and nose, her dark brown hair flowed down her and her smile could honestly make anyone feel better instantly.

"Tamara, this is my friend may." Rosie introduces as she pulls away from the girl, letting them get acquainted with each other.

"You never told me she was cute." Tamara admits as a sly smirk forms on her features. May couldn't fight the blush that formed on her cheeks as she stared down at the ground. "It's nice to meet you." She says as she holds out her hand toward May.

"Uh, yeah, likewise." May replies, clearing her throat a bit as she shakes Tamara's hand. "This is where you go three times a week? Why don't you just tell them that?" She asks, changing the subject as she could feel Tamara's gaze on her.

"Cause they probably think I'm coming here to smoke or some shit." Rosie says with a shrug. It wouldn't even change what they though, it would probably just make them more paranoid.

"Are you?" May asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Jake would literally kill me if he smelt that shit on me." She responds with a scoff, smiling a bit. The name made May pause for a moment.

"Jake?"

"Yeah, her boyfriend." Tamara says before Rosie could even begin to open her mouth. Mays jaw drops as she feels like she had just been slapped in the face with the revelation.

"Her--- you and Jake?" Her voice was a bit loud as she stared at Rosie with wide eyes. "What happened to just being friends?" May asks her curiously, crossing her arms.

"We kissed, that's what happened." Rosie says nonchalantly. It wasn't like she was expecting it to happen especially since Rosie hadn't even realized she liked Jake until he leaned over and kissed her.

"You did more than just kiss." Tamara mutters with a smirk playing on her lips and Rosie groans, tilting her head back.

"Tamara, I swear to God." She gives the girl a slight glare and Tamara just laughs.

"You had sex with him?" May asks, raising her eyebrows at Rosie who just sighs, placing a hand on her hip.

"I'm becoming a senior and you'll literally be going to college, are you that shocked?" Rosie retorts. It wasn't like she was constantly having sex. That had been her first time and she had made sure to be as safe as possible. It helped that Jake wasn't an asshole and was as much into safe sex as she was.

"Shocked you didn't tell me." May points out, a bit deflated that she hadnt known.

"Jennie doesn't even know."

"Why? I thought you told each other everything?" May admits with a small frown.

"She's been very..... sex is bad ever since her pregnancy so she'll definitely scold me." Rosie tells her. She literally still told Jennie everything, except for anything regarding sex. She loved the girl to death and she understood why she was now practically a prude, but that didn't mean Rosie had to be.

"Now, are we doing this or what?" Tamara asks as she raises her eyebrows at them and May becomes a bit confused.

"Doing what?"

"Getting our anger out." Rosie answers her and that's when May sees Tamara lift up a sledgehammer which makes her eyes widen, her face filling with shock.

"Um, should you really have that?" May asks her curiously causing Tamara to only shrug her shoulders.

"Relax, it's fine." Tamara says with a small wink before raising an eyebrow at her. "You wanna take the first swing?" She asks, smiling over at May with a hint of a smirk within it. May was hesitant but she saw Rosie also urging her to do it.

"Sure." May says, returning the smile as she takes the sledgehammer from Tamara. Her eyes linger on the girl for a moment before she turns to the wall. Taking a deep breath, she brings the tool back before moving it toward the brick, causing some to go flying in every direction.

A laugh escapes her as Mays eyes widen in excitement. She turns back to Rosie and Tamara who were both grinning at her before cheering her on. May smiles brightly back at them as her hands tighten around the handle of a sledgehammer. Okay, she did get why Rosie was constantly coming here,

Because it was a hell of way to deal with life's problems.

••••

HEN MAKES HER WAY OVER TO BOBBY WHO WAS IN THE KITCHEN. He was in the middle of cooking for everyone as the rest waited patiently at the table. "Dinners almost done, guys." He tells them as he moves one of the pots off for the stove. Hen glances around before settling beside Bobby who glances toward her.

"Hey, how's Rosie doing?" Hen asks him curiously. Rosie hadn't stopped by the firehouse since before Victoria left which was unusual for her but no one really spoke about it.

"She won't talk to me." Bobby denies with a small sigh. He's tried to start conversions, Athena has too, but nothings been working.

Hen chews the inside of her cheek as she hated how everything was crumbling around them. "Bobby, should we say something?" Hen questions and Bobby didn't need her to elaborate to be able to figure out what she was talking about.

"Hen, it isn't our place." Bobby denies with a shake of his head.

"Rosie is closing herself off, we're all at an odds with Buck and frankly, I think he deserves to know that Vic didn't actually cheat on him and why she left." Hen explains to the man. Buck might be saved at least a bit of heartbreak if he knew the true reason why she just up and left him. Hen didn't know why she decided to break his heart but she's sure Buck would be more willing to hear her out if he knew the truth.

"And she can tell him once she's back." Bobby says bluntly. It wasn't there place to say anything, nor should they even be talking about it. Victoria made her own decisions and it wasn't up to them to fix the mess she caused.

"Is she even coming back?" Hen asks with a sigh as she raises an eyebrow. "It's been three months, Bobby." She admits, a small frown forming on her face. She hadnt realized that Victoria would have been gone for so long.

"Rehab programs aren't just an overnight stay, Hen." Bobby denies. He knew he had put her in for the ninety day session and that meant she had to be gone for this long.

"So, how long are we expected to lie to everyone?" Hen questions.

"We're not lying." Bobby denies and Hen couldn't help but scoff.

"Then what would you call it?" Hen asks him curiously, genuinely wondering what he thought they were doing because it sure as hell felt a lot like lying to her.

"Will you just set the table, please?" Bobby questions, not wanting to talk about it right now as they were already getting a few looks from the others. Hen sighs but grabs the plates from in front of her and reluctantly heading to the table.

"Is everything okay?" Chimney asks as she places the plates down on the table.

"Everything's fine, Chim." Hen mutters before her eyes move over to Buck who in a conversation with Eddie. "Buck, can we talk?" She asks, cutting into what Eddie was saying and the man seemed annoyed. Buck glances at her but shook his head.

"No."

"Buck--"

"Are you just gonna keep rubbing salt in the wound or will you just leave me alone for once?" Buck asks her, tired of hearing all of her excuses. Hen frowns as she shakes her head.

"I promise you that's not what I'm doing." Hen denies. She just wanted Buck to understand that Victoria never meant to hurt him in as many words as she could actually tell him.

"I get it, you've known Vic for a lot longer than me but blatantly defending her when you know what she did, it just.... I can tell that you clearly have a favourite." Buck admits with a small scoff although his voice faltered during it. He had truly thought that the 118 was like his family so the way they were treating him made him feel like he wasn't as important in the house.

"Buck, you're my friend too--" Hen goes to say but he cuts her off.

"Then act like it." Buck states and Hen frowns, closing her mouth. "All of you just act like Vic can do no wrong and that I'm just overreacting to her cheating on me and then abandoning me." He admits. Hen didn't think he was overreacting, but he didn't know the full story. Not that he had any idea that there was a story to know.

"You are allowed to feel how you want, Buck." Bobby pipes up, looking over at the man who let's out a humourless laugh.

"Oh, I am? You're giving me permission, are you?" He sneers and Bobby furrows his eyebrows. "You know what? I'm not hungry." Buck mutters, getting up from his seat, the chair scraping against the ground as he just makes his way down the stairs.

The table was silent as they watched Buck leave. Eddie shook his head as he couldn't believe they were still not understanding what they were doing wrong after three months. He would maybe get it if they hadnt known Buck, but he's been at this house for a few years now, it wasn't like he was just a random nobody who dated Victoria.

"You guys keep saying you're not picking sides or you're not telling him how he should feel but you're doing exactly that." Eddie says with a scoff, shaking his head as he earns everyone's attention. "Have any of you actually spoke to Buck without telling him that Vic mightve had a reason? Have any of you just genuinely listened to what he had to say? To him talking about how hurt he feels?" He asks the group, looking at them all, none of them daring to say a word as they hung their heads low.

"No, because if you had, you wouldn't be sitting here right now letting him walk away. You wouldn't keep bringing up vic and you wouldn't be whispering amongst each other about him behind his back." Eddie snaps, his voice harsh as his glare only hardens. He hated how they were brushing Buck off like he wasn't going through something too, like Victoria was the only one allowed to feel something.

"I'm not hungry either." And with that Eddie just makes his way down the stairs, letting everyone think about how they've been acting toward Buck for the past few months.

••••

BUCK GROANS AS HE CLOSES THE FRONT DOOR BEHIND HIM. The long, agonizing shift was finally at an end and he hadn't even waited one second before sprinting out of that station. He didn't know how long he could do it, acting like he was fine and like he could actually work with those people. But Buck didn't want to leave because then he wouldn't work with Eddie anymore. And working with the others was the sacrifice he had to make in order to have that small piece of happiness that Eddie gave him.

"What are we thinking for tonight?" Buck asks as his eyes move to Eddie who had settled against the kitchen counter. He lets out a sigh as he leans his arms back against the cool surface.

"I don't know if I trust your cooking." Eddie teases slightly as he smirks over at Buck.

"Oh, come on. Chris always likes my food." Buck points out. Chris even begged Eddie to come over just so he could cook for them because let's face it, Eddie and a stove did not mix in the slightest.

"I'm not a suck up." Eddie says, knowing his son had a tendency to like anything that Buck did, even if it honestly wasn't the best. Buck gasps as he places his hand on his chest.

"Are you saying you'll diss my food, Eddie Diaz?" He asks, walking over to the man who simply shrugs his shoulders.

"If it's bad." Eddie admits, winking toward him and Buck narrows his gaze.

"Hey, I make a mean grilled cheese." Buck points out. Eddie raises a curious eyebrow at him and he couldn't help but laugh.

"Not technically a meal." Eddie corrects him and Buck scrunches up his nose.

"It can be." He admits, knowing there were countless times hes had it for dinner since being alone. "Well, what do you want?" Buck asks, crossing his arms against his chest as his tone was very sassy.

"Hm, I'm feeling Thai." Eddie admits as he rests his hands on Bucks hips. The man frowns a bit, mainly because he had been looking forward to cooking for Eddie, not ordering in.

"You don't even want me to attempt to make something?" Buck questions, a bit disappointed and he seriously looked like someone just told him that Bambi died. Again. Yes, he had cried like a baby when he first watched it.

"Maybe another night." Eddie responds, still seeing the sadness in Bucks eyes. "Tonight I'd rather not have the hassle of making something and cleaning up afterwards." He admits, wanting to cheer Buck up a bit as he squeezes Buck's hips but it only makes the man confused.

"It's my apartment, Eds. I'll clean everything up." Buck says, not expecting him to do anything since it wasn't his house. Eddie rolls his eyes a bit as Buck clearly didn't pick up what he was insinuating.

"What I mean is..." Eddie says as he steps closer to Buck so they were no chest to chest and Buck swore he stopped breathing for a moment. "I'd rather my attention be on something else for the night and food will be a mere afterthought." He states, hovering his lips over Bucks.

"Thai it is." Buck responds with a smirk, leaning in to finally connect their lips together. Eddie kisses him back, lifting one of his hands to Buck's cheek as he feels the man lean against him.

It had started a bit rough, both having clear intentions behind the kiss. Eddies hand moves up Bucks back, lifting his shirt slightly in order to grip the skin underneath his fingers. Buck moans a bit as he presses harder against Eddie, slipping his tongue into his mouth.

They stumbled their way to the couch, Buck falling first as Eddie climbed on top of him. Eddie's knee was between Bucks legs as their kiss intensifies. Buck had one of his legs wrapped around eddies waist as he ran his hands up Eddies shirt. Feeling the abs beneath his fingertips, he noticed Eddie pull away from his lips. He was about to complain when Eddie started to kiss down his neck.

Buck gasps as he tilts his head to the side, loving the feeling of Eddie touching his body while his lips made countless marks along his skin. Buck didn't know how he ended up on top of Eddie, only that he was now grinding down against Eddie as his dick grew harder. He could feel Eddie against him as well as their lips smashed together in a passionate kiss.

It had been a blur of skin and tossed clothes as Buck hadn't even realized that Eddie had gotten his jeans off and was working on completely freeing buck who was strained against his boxers. Buck moans into the kiss as Eddies hands grip at his skin.

Buck feels eddies hands move down his boxers but Buck didn't want to be the only one naked. He wanted to see Eddie, mainly because it made him practically drool every single time. Buck was an impressive size but Eddie was just glorious all over. His whole body was perfect and Buck wanted to explore it to every depth he could.

So Buck made an attempt to get Eddie out of his pants as well. Eddie seemed to notice what he was doing so he pulled back from the kiss momentarily. He gives the slyest smirk to Buck before moving so he was able to get his jeans off but he also pulled his boxers down at the same time making Bucks mouth water.

As Eddie settles back down, he reconnects their lips in a deep kiss as he goes back to what he was doing, resuming control as he gets his hand around Buck's dick. Eddie jerks his hand up and down as he squeezes the tip every so often. Buck was a moaning mess next to him as the kiss got a bit sloppier. Eddie couldn't help but chuckle against Bucks lips, loving the affect he seemingly had on the man. Eddie was sure he had been hallucinating all of the flirting he had gotten from Buck since he had arrived at the 118, but to his surprise, it had been real.

Rubbing his thumb over the slit, bucks hips jolt toward him and eddie could hear the man curse under his breath. Buck suddenly climbs onto eddies lap, the kiss fierce as he moans into it. Eddies hand moves back to Bucks hips in order to keep him steady.

He starts to rock against Eddie, their skin rubbing together as Buck presses his forehead on eddies. This lips touch ever so often but Buck was gasping too much for it to actually be a kiss. Eddie presses a soft kiss to Buck's jaw, adjusting the position that Buck had on him so it made it a bit easier for Buck.

"E-eddie." Buck moans out as he increases his thrusts, the sensation flooding through his body as Eddie leaves heated kisses along his skin. Buck could barely even focus, his arms wrapped lazily around eddies shoulder as he grinded down against Eddie's lap, nothing but bare skin between them.

"Buck." Eddie softly says, gripping Bucks hips to drive their thrusts together faster. Buck was now a moaning mess, desperately clinging to Eddie as he tried to get to his release. Eddie was letting out the odd moan as he just continued to kiss Buck anywhere he could get his lips on.

Buck had noticed that even when Christopher wasn't around, Eddie was more collected than he was. He never really got loud or gave many reactions. But Buck didn't feel self conscious about it now because he realized that's just how Eddie must be. Buck was a very loud, outspoken person while as Eddie was more contained and only spoke up if he had to.

Throwing his head back in euphoria, Buck squeezes his eyes shut as he screams out eddies name. Honesty, if this is how he felt with just skin to skin contact with Eddie, what would it be like when Eddie actually fucked him? Surely he would pass out from pleasure.

Eddie groans as he stops moving against Buck, just holding him tightly against him as he rests his head on Bucks shoulder. Buck whines as his fingers slightly dig into Eddies shoulders. He would've complained about Eddie moving him if he could find the words. And as Eddie disappears for a moment, Buck had yet another thought about how much stamina Eddie had. Buck thought he was good at lasting for a long time but that seemed to have gone out the window since getting with Eddie.

Or really since the firetruck accident. It's not that he really had time to rebuild it as a simple touch from Eddie had him hard instantly. Eddie returns with a cloth in hand and Buck smiles gently as he knew the man always made an effort to take care of him afterwards.

Eddie sits back down beside Buck, the man instantly moving back toward him. Using the wet cloth, Eddie smoothly moves it over Bucks skin to get rid of the sticky substance. Buck just rests his head against Eddie's chest as he also cleans himself up. When he's done, he only tosses the cloth on the table, not wanting to move again, especially when Buck settles himself in his lap.

Both of them just basked in each other's company for a few minutes, allowing themselves to just feel the comfort each other gave. It was only when Eddies stomach rumbled that he realized he hadn't actually eaten since that morning.

"We should probably order the food, hm?" Eddie asks, his breathing having steadied as he runs his hand through Bucks hair. Buck hums as he reluctantly lifts himself up off of Eddie.

"I am hungry." He admits, letting himself lean against the back of the couch. Eddie turns to reach for his phone which was in his jeans on the floor. He then moves a bit on the couch, lifting Bucks legs to rest over top of his lap. Buck instantly scoots closer to him again, curling up against his side.

"What do you want?" Eddie asks curiously as one of his hand rests on Buck' bare thigh.

"Surprise me." Buck says with a cheesy smile, pressing a kiss to Eddies neck. The man chuckles but rolls his eyes at Bucks comment.

"You're so corny." He mumbles as he scrolls through his phone to put in the order. Buck watches him thoroughly, his eyes gazing over the man. He noticed how Eddies cheeks were tinted red as they always were after being intimate. Sweat lingered around his skin, mainly on his forehead and chest as small drops ran down his skin. There was a natural glow to him which Buck always saw and was mesmerized by.

"Thank you." He suddenly days and Eddie lifts his eyes from his phone, blinking a few times before raising an eyebrow.

"You know I just clicked a few buttons right?" Eddie says with a laugh, placing his phone beside them to fully pay attention to Buck.

"Thank you for being here for me." Buck adds, biting his bottom lip. "I really appreciate it." He admits. Eddie sighs as he wraps his arms around Bucks waist to bring him ever so closer.

"You're my best friend, Buck. Of course I'd be here for you." Eddie tells him with a soft smile on his face. That word hurt Buck a bit, best friend, but that was what they were right now. Just best friends with a few benefits.

"You're also her friend." Buck adds and Eddie looks down for a moment. He was Victoria's friend and usually he wouldn't choose a side but it was clearly Victoria's vault what had happened. And Buck clearly needed more of a support system so he didn't care if that meant not being friends with Victoria anymore.

"And she hurt you." Eddie states firmly. "I know Hen, Bobby, they're trying to convince you to not hate vic but you can feel whatever you want to feel. Love her, hate her, throw the engagement ring into a garbage dump-- it's your decision." He explains as he rubs soothing circles into Bucks skin.

"I just want to know why." Buck admits. If there was even a why. Who knows why she did anything. And with the way their relationship started, he truly shouldn't have been surprised that it ended the way it did.

A sudden phone buzzing made their moment come to an end as Eddie glanced down, his eyes widening. "Shit." He mumbles as he grabs his phone.

"What is it?" Buck asks, furrowing his eyebrows.

"I forgot my abuela was gonna call me to talk about Chris. You know how she is, wanting to know everything going on with him." Eddie mutters as he moves Buck off of him so he could get up. He couldn't exactly answer right now because well, it was a video call and he was very naked and so was Buck.

He leans down to grab his underwear and jeans. "It's okay, we can finish this another night." Buck admits, knowing Eddie already ordered the food but he didn't mind if they had to push it.

"No, it'll only take a few minutes." Eddie denies, not wanting his night with Buck to end already. He quickly pulls up his jeans but his phone had stopped ringing by then. He looks down at his phone, groaning a bit. "And my phones gonna die." He admits, knowing they wouldn't get five minutes into their conversation before it died.

"You can use my charger."

"You have a different phone than I do, the cord doesn't match." Eddie hated how it could literally be almost the exact same phone but the slightest difference. So it really sucked when he couldn't use Bucks charger in a punch. "Um.... okay, I'll just run down to my truck and give her a call back and then I'll be done by the time the food arrives." He says as he pulls on his shirt, covering the view that Buck was shamelessly liking.

"Okay." Buck says with a soft smile, nodding his head.

"Don't miss me too much." Eddie says with a wink, grabbing his keys which causes Buck to roll his eyes.

"And you tell me I'm full of myself." He responds, shaking his head before watching Eddie leave the apartment.

Buck couldn't help but smile to himself as he looked up at the ceiling. He didn't think he could feel such joy again, such content after what had happened. Mainly because it was coming from someone who he hadn't even imagined could be with him right now. Especially in the way that they were.

He hadn't even realized how much Eddie had an affect on him until that night. The night he got drunk and began flirting head on with the man who didn't seem to be denying him. And when Buck had kissed him, he was so sure that he was going to get punched. Or Eddie would awkwardly pull away and tell him he got the wrong idea.

But he hadn't pulled away. Eddie had kissed him back, and quite desperately at that. And Eddie had made Buck feel good in ways that he hadn't felt in a while. In a way that he could never have even fathomed would come from Eddie. Because Buck had no idea that Eddie was even into men. And he had a huge shock when Eddie revealed that Buck wasn't even the first guy he was with.

Buck hadn't asked though. He didn't know much about Eddies romantic past except for him being married to Shannon and having slept with Victoria. Both of them being women so he had no clue to even think about Eddie potentially being into guys.

He didn't know when he started to catch feelings for Eddie. If it was recent, if it was longer than he originally thought. But thinking back on the countless times he felt jealous of Victoria and Eddie, he couldnt help but wonder if he was jealous because Eddie was flirting with Victoria or if he was jealous because he wasn't flirting with Buck.

A knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts and he glances toward it. Had he really been daydreaming about Eddie for that long that the food had arrived? He knew Eddies conversations with his Abuela typically ran long so he knew it wasn't Eddie. Especially since Eddie wouldn't have knocked.

He lets out a sigh as he quickly pulls on his pants, glancing over at the clock but being too lazy to actually read what it said. Buckling his belt, he walks over to the door, a long yawn leaving his lips. He was honestly ready for some food because without it, he would surely pass out before Eddie made his way back up to the apartment.

As he opens the door, his heart stops in his chest as he couldn't believe what he was seeing. His breath hitches in his throat as his eyes widened in shock. He really did not expect to see someone other than the food delivery driver in front of him, although in this moment he had desperately wished it had been the driver.

Because he didn't know if he wanted to see her again, not now, not right in front of him after his almost perfect night with Eddie. "Vic." Buck breathlessly says, not knowing what else to say as he stares back at the woman who had been gone for so long.

"Hi." Victoria responds, the softest smile on her face. The smile that often made Buck forget every single bad thing that she could ever do to him. That made him want to run into her arms, that made him want to kiss her endlessly.

The smile that used to bring such joy into Bucks life.

And now all it brought was misery. Because as he stood in front of Victoria, like he had imagined for the past few months, he could never have even begun to process how he would feel in this moment. What he would be thinking or how his heart would be racing.

Honestly he thought that seeing her again may actually make him want to understand why she left. It may have made him have sympathy for her or have that love blossom out of him like a flower blooming in the spring. But none of that was how he actually felt. None of that was even close.

As Buck stared at Victoria, the woman he had claimed to love so much that he had been wanting to marry her. All he felt was pain and soaring anger within him. All he saw when he looked at her was the woman who blatantly lied to him about what she wanted in her life and abandoned him and ripping his heart out.

All he saw was a shell of the woman he used to love. And as the anger brewed inside of him, as the complete agony that she had caused became dormant once more, he could not even feel one ounce of any sort of relief for her. Because he didn't care that she was here, that she was back and in all honesty,

In that moment, he hadn't even cared that she was still alive.

••••

Authors note;

And let the chaos resume.

Sorry if the sex is a bit awkward, I've never written any for two men. All I know is from other fanfics I've read haha. So when we get to the *deed*, don't judge my writing please or help a girl out, it'll be much appreciated. Truthfully all my sex scenes are written purely from imagination and reading smut cause I haven't so much as held hands with anyone other than my best friend lol