••••

VICTORIA WAS LOUNGING ON THE COUCH. If someone told her bed rest was gonna be so boring she would've stayed in the hospital so at least she didn't have to do things herself. A knock on the door made her look over at it. Luckily it opened itself because she was really making no effort to go over and open it. "Room service." Bucks voice rings out and Victoria sits up a bit.

"What are you guys doing here?" She asks curiously, fiddling nervously with her fingers as Eddie just holds up a bag.

"Delivering your favourite." He tells her as he places it down. "Also, you texted me. Unless you didn't mean to..." Eddie trails off, becoming a bit nervous and Victoria just shakes her head.

"N-no, no I meant to." She assures him. Victoria slowly stands up, staring at the ground before finally being able to look them both in the eye. "I've been thinking a lot about what you both said." Victoria admits as she takes a deep breath. "You're right. I can't turn back time or stop bad things from happening..... and just because things didn't always go our way, doesn't mean it should stop us from being happy." She says, finally feeling a weight being lifted off of her chest. "If that's what you guys want." She finishes, rubbing the back of her neck.

"You do remember we asked you, right?" Buck asks as he narrows his eyes a bit.

"Yeah, you didn't hit your head as well, did you?" Eddie questions, mainly joking but there was the slightest bit of him that was worried she actually did.

"Ooh, or maybe she developed amnesia." Buck suggests and Victoria just sticks up her middle finger at both of them.

"You both are assholes." She tells them but she couldn't help but smile.

"So, why the sudden change of heart?" Eddie asks curiously since she seemed really reluctant when they first talked about it.

"Kelly finally called back."  Victoria admits and Buck looked genuinely happy for her.

"That's great, Vic."

"Yeah. It made me realize that the only one who was stopping my happiness was me." Victoria tells them before sighing a bit. "And Yeah life sucks and it keeps throwing shit at me, but it could be a little better with you in it." She explains and Buck takes a step closer to her.

"There's no backing out this time. I'm keeping you forever, you realize that right?" Buck asks her, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward him.

"How romantic." Victoria responds with a roll of her eyes before smiling at the man. "I'm never leaving again, Buck." She denies. She felt a hole in her life when she left Los Angeles, and she knew that was because of him not being with her.

"Unless it's on a much needed vacation away from all of this chaos." Eddie admits as he felt like it was just a revolving door of problems for them.

"Definitely." Victoria agrees with a small laugh. "But can we not tell anyone straight away? Until we figure out exactly what this entails?" She asks them. She didnt want to come out and tell everybody when they had only just talked about it themselves.

"I am not exactly in a rush to have a conversation with Chris about this." Eddie denies. Not that Chris didn't love both Buck and Victoria, but it may be a little confusing for him.

"He hasn't even told him about us." Buck denies, seemingly accusing Eddie but it didn't seem like he was really mad about it.

"Hey, you're the one who stuttered over your words to Bobby and chickened out." Eddie retorts back, not about to be the only one thrown under the bus.

"Bobby's different! He's my mentor and he's like my--"

"Ooh you were gonna call him your dad." Victoria teases with a smirk as the man had stopped dead in his tracks. Bucks whole face goes red as he instantly shakes his head.

"No, I wasn't."

"You so we're."

"Says the woman who literally called him dad in front of the whole station." Buck points out and Victorias eyes go wide.

"You did?" Eddie asks, looking shocked but also amused.

"I told you never to bring that up." Victoria tells Buck, pointing her finger at him as she narrows her gaze.

"I'm fighting fire with fire, baby." He responds with a smirk playing on his lips and she just clenches her jaw but looks away from him.

"So, we're not telling anybody, correct?" Eddie says, changing the topic and they both nod their heads.

"Correct." Victoria responds.

"So, I can kiss you now without being thrown out?" Buck asks, raising an eyebrow at the woman.

"Mm, being kicked out is still on the table depending on how much you annoy me." Victoria teases him with a smirk on her lips. Buck shakes his head as Eddie looks over at the man.

"So, don't get too comfortable then." He adds with a wink and Buck places his hand on his chest.

"I see how it's gonna be." Buck responds in an accusatory manner. "Wait, have you two kissed before?" He asks, furrowing his eyebrows and both Victoria and Eddie looked at him like he was stupid.

"We literally slept together, Buck." Eddie replies bluntly, wondering how he could've forgotten that.

"Now who has amnesia." Victoria jokes with a laugh and Buck raises his hands up in defense.

"Geez, it was a question."

"Just shut up, mi amor." Eddie pleads as he tilts the man's chin with his finger before pressing a soft kiss to his lips. Buck melts into it for a second before pulling away from him.

"Not gonna lie, that was hot." She admits with a smirk on her lips. Buck rolls his eyes playfully as Eddie only chuckles lightly. Victoria just rests against bucks back as she tries to reach the food. Eddie hits her hand, pointing at her to sit while he grabbed a few plates.

••••

SITTING ACROSS FROM ATHENA IN THE CAFE, Victoria just stirred her coffee that was in front of her. "Thanks for meeting me here instead of the apartment." She says with the smallest smile as she looks over at the woman who shakes her head, returning the smile.

"No worries, I'm sure you've been feeling all couped up and all." Athena responds as she takes a sip of her own drink.

"Yeah, it's been tough." Victoria admits as she looks out the window for a moment.

"Any news on your recovery?" Athena asks curiously, wondering if the doctor had said anymore. Victoria let's out a small sigh.

"The doctor has me on this stupid heart monitor but he still says it's unlikely I'll ever be allowed to be a firefighter again." She tells the woman who seemed a bit sad but tried to keep a positive expression on her face.

"Just take it slow, honey. You never know what could happen."

"So, why isn't Bobby here?" Victoria asks, noticing the absence. She always did because he was never here anymore.

"Oh, he had a lot of paperwork to catch up at work, says the--" Athena begins to say but Victoria cuts her off.

"You don't have to lie, Athena." She denies, fiddling with her fingers. "You can just tell me he didn't want to come." Victoria says. She could take the truth, she didn't need to be bubblewrapped.

"That isn't true, Vic." Athena denies with a shake of her head.

"Isn't it?" Victoria responds with a small scoff. "Anytime you've come to see me, he's been nowhere to be found." She points out.

"He sends his love... he just feels guilty." Athena admits. She knew Bobby wanted to be here and he wasn't truly avoiding her. If anything, he more thought that she really didn't want to see him.

"It wasn't his fault." Victoria denies with a frown. She hated that Bobby was beating himself up over this when it was just a freak accident.

"But he feels like it was. He put you on that ladder and with the outcome of it all, he's just having a hard time." Athena explains to her.

"Well, if he would just talk to me, maybe he wouldn't be."

"Have you figured out what you're going to do yet?" Athena decided to change the topic because she saw the heart monitor speed up a bit.

"My medical leave is almost up and I don't have a job to go back to so..." Victoria trails off. She thought that with what happened to her, she would get a little more paid leave but no, this country seriously wanted to take her for all she was worth.

"Whatever you need, we'll all help provide until you can get back up on your feet." The woman responds, assuring Victoria that she didn't need to rush.

"I don't need pity." Victoria denies as she shakes her head.

"Sweetheart, just let us help you." Athena pleads, knowing Victoria wasnt one to so willingly accept peoples help. "You don't have to go through this alone." She denies, grabbing a hold of the womans hand and giving it a squeeze. Victoria smiles gently back at her but part of her was still sad about the fact Bobby didn't show.

She hoped their relationship could be mended, even though she would never blame him for what happened. He just had to know that as well.

••••

PULLING UP TO THE APARTMENT BUILDING, May takes off her seatbelt as she starts to grab her things. "Tell me again why I'm dropping you here and not your mom?" Victoria asks as she raises an eyebrow. May just looks at her with an innocent expression on her face.

"Because I may or may not have snuck out." May states. Even though she was now out of high school so she didn't think her mom had a say in what she did now. Although she still scared her which is why she was sneaking out.

"Great, I'm harboring a fugitive." Victoria responds bluntly and May gives an unimpressed look.

"Ha ha."

"Should she even be out of bed?" Tamara asks, a bit of concern in her voice.

"I had a heart attack, I'm not crippled." She denies bluntly and May just looks toward her.

"Technically it was a cardiac episode." She corrects, acting all smart and Victoria just looks straight at the girl.

"Technically I could drive you back home." Victoria retorts and may quickly clamps her mouth shut.

"Dude, you got electrocuted as well.  The scar makes you look bad ass though." Tamara says with a smirk and May just raises an eyebrow.

"Those are electrical burns babe."

"Still looks sick." Tamara says with a shrug as she opens the door to get out.

"Thanks for the drive, Vic." May says as she closes the door behind her, the window open so they were still able to talk.

"No problem."

"Yeah, thank you." Tamara adds before seeing lucy making her way toward them. "Ooh, just in time. What did you get?" She asks eagerly, going to grab what lucy was holding but the woman quickly turns.

"Ah ah, hands off before you make me drop it." Lucy scolds and Tamara just lets out a small snort.

"Your clumsiness will do that for you." She teases and Lucy shakes her head with the smallest smile.

"You must be the cop who's car she stole." Victoria says and Tamara just narrows her gaze in a playful manner.

"Guilty." Lucy says with a laugh. "I'm lucy." She introduces herself and Victoria smiles back at her.

"Vic."

"And I'm hungry." Tamara complains as she tilts her head back. Lucy simply ignores the girl.

"I heard about what happened, im so sorry." Lucy apologizes with a frown on her face and Victoria clears her throat a bit.

"Thanks."

"Everyone at the station was praying for you." Lucy assures her and she raises her eyebrows.

"Wow, I have a reputation?" Victoria asks with a small laugh and Lucy smiles gently.

"I mean, it's kinda hard not to hear about." She admits. The news spread fast around majority of the fire houses and police stations.

"That is very true."

"Well, have a good day, it was nice meeting you." Lucy says with a small wave and Victoria nods her head.

"You too." She replies before lucy begins to walk away. "Hey, don't expect me to defend your ass if your mom comes looking." Victoria calls out toward may who turns back around to face her.

"You will unless you want me calling you a snitch." May teases with a smirk and Victoria just raises an eyebrow.

"Eh, rosie calls me worse." Victoria admits with a shrug before rolling up the window and putting the car into drive.

••••

"ALL IM SAYING IS BEING A FIREFIGHTER WAS VICS DREAM AND NOW THATS GONE. IM JUST WORRIED ABOUT HER." Hen explains as she sets the table. Chimney sighs as he understood why she was practically freaking out but Victoria could make her own decision.

"Vics strong, she'll come through this." He assures the woman as he walks over with the food in his hand, Maddie behind him.

"Besides, when I was a nurse, I encountered many people who were told they'd never be able to do something again and within time, they were. It's not a definitive thing." Maddie assures her. Victoria could make a full recovery, they just had to wait and see. All they could do was help her in that process.

"But this isn't playing soccer or running a triathalon. This is risking your life with a heart condition. I don't know many doctors who would allow that." Hen denies with a frown on her face and Karen puts her hands on her wife's shoulders.

"i think your worrying a bit too much, honey." Karen admits, rubbing her back a bit but Hen didn't care if she was worrying, she knew would could happen.

"Karen, i just dont want her to go down that slope again." She states and Chimney tilts his head, knowing Hen was talking about the overdose.

"Hey, she'll have all of us this time. We won't let that happen."

"When I found her.... I can't go through that again." Hen shakes her head, trying not to let the tears leave her eyes as she blinks them away.

"Buck will be by her side 24/7, you can trust me on that." Maddie says, knowing how Buck was constantly worried as well. She knew that from the numerous texts she recieved from him.

"The lovesick fool." Chimney mumbles and Maddie just stares at him, placing a hand on her hip causing Chimney to clear his throat. "I mean, oh love, what a wonderful thing." He corrects himself and she puts her hand on his cheek, patting it.

"Much better." Maddie says with a smile and Chimney presses his lips together tightly.

"You guys think they're back together?" Karen asks curiously and Chimney snorts.

"Are you kidding? Buck was ready to propose to that girl, he's not walking away easy." He denies with a shake of his head.

"And Eddie saw them kissing." Hen points out and Maddie raises her eyebrows.

"He did?"

"Yeah, apparently. Im not surprised though." Chimney says as he shrugs his shoulders and Hen let's out a loud laugh as she shakes her head.

"Its buck and vic. No one was surprised."

••••

VICTORIA PUTS THE SPOON OF ICECREAM INTO HER MOUTH AS SHE JUST STARES AT THE TV. Her legs were entangled with eddies while her back was rested against bucks chest. "Did you two know about Rosie and Jake?" She asks curiously, wondering if she was the only one who didn't know.

"What happened?" Eddie asks, furrowing his eyebrows.

"They broke up."

"Oh, that happened weeks ago." Buck says, barely taking his eyes off of the TV as he shoves another spoonful in his mouth. Victoria looks at him, a bit surprised.

"She told you?" She asks, a bit taken aback that he was told and she wasn't.

"Yeah, but it was a long time coming. She was saying it for weeks." Buck says with a shrug, simply glancing at her for a moment.

"And you just casually talk to her?" Eddie questions with an amused glint in his eyes.

"Yeah, we all get together frequently."

"Whos we?" Victoria was confused on what he was talking about.

"Rosie, jennie, may and tamara." Buck answers nonchalantly and Victoria couldnt help but laugh, a smile breaking out on her face.

"Aww, hes one of the girls." She teases and Buck just flips her off.

"It just started cause rosie didnt want to worry you with anything but she knew Hen would say something."

"And you wouldn't?" Victoria asks as she raises an eyebrow, a bit amused.

"I made a promise." Buck says as he shakes his head and she narrows her gaze.

"Mhm."

"It was a pinky promise. I couldnt break that." He says, holding his hands up and Victoria laughs a bit while Eddie just rolled his eyes with a shake of his head.

"Well, at least you have people to talk to." Victoria admits with a small sigh. "Bobby's still avoiding me." She tells them, looking down at her hands.

"Yeah, he's still acting weird at work. He barely comes out of his office." Eddie says. They only ever see him on calls now and even then, he doesn't talk unless it's to tell them what to do.

"He hasn't cooked since everything went down." Buck adds and Eddie just gives him an annoyed stare.

"Yes because that is what matters the most." He says sarcastically and Buck shrugs his shoulders.

"Athena says he feels guilty about what happened But i don't blame him. But it's not like i can tell him that since he avoids me." Victoria explains to them.

"I don't know if telling him would make much of a difference." Eddie denies with a small sigh. Bobby blamed himself, it didn't matter if Victoria did as well.

"I think it has something to do with his family." Victoria admits as she fiddles with her fingers. "He lost them and blamed himself and with him putting me on the ladder, he blames himself for me losing my career." She says and Buck cautiously looked toward her.

"How are you holding up about that?" Buck asks, not wanting to push the subject since she hadnt really talked about it much.

"I don't know." She admits with a small sigh. "I love firefighting so much, it's all ive ever wanted to do." Victoria had never really thought about doing anything else, but it wasn't as if she could do that now. "But what Would you guys think about me coming back as a paramedic?" She asks, looking at them.

"I mean, you'd still be helping people, you'd just be in less danger." Eddie says, at the end of the day it was her decision what she decided to do. Buck was more reluctant though.

"I don't know, I mean you're--"

"Obviously I'd get cleared first." Victoria assures him, easing his worry a little bit. "I just can't keep sitting in this apartment, I can't." She denies with a shake of her head. Eddie moves his hand over to hers.

"Then let's talk to the doctor about it." Eddie says with a soft smile on her face, squeezing her hand. Victoria smiles back at him, nodding gently.

••••

VICTORIA WAS NERVOUS AS SHE KNOCKED ON THE DOOR OF BOBBY'S OFFICE. She decided that if he wasn't going to reach out to her, then she was just going to go to him. She was sick of him ignoring her and she missed him, so she wasn't going to let him push her away anymore. "Do you have a minute?" She asks cautiously as she opens the door. Bobby seemed to be about to answer until he saw it was her.

"There's actually a lot i have to do, Vic." He admits as he instantly glances away from her. Victoria scoffs as she closes the door behind her.

"Well, you can push it aside for a moment." Victoria states, walking over to the desk and placing a paper in front of him.

"What's this?"

"I'm officially coming back next week as a paramedic. I'm already emt certified from when I was in Chicago so all I needed was my doctors clearance and he gave that to me so." Victoria admits, not even asking him, more telling him that she was coming back. Bobby didn't seem to be on board with it.

"I don't think you're ready." He denies and she knew that was what he was going to say.

"I'm not or you're not?" She asks and he furrowed his eyebrows, blinking back in confusion.

"Excuse me?"

"You don't think i haven't noticed you not speaking to me? Or barely wanting to be in the same room?" Victoria asks with a scoff as she crosses her arms against her chest.

"Vic, I've just been busy." Bobby lies with a sigh.

"I understand that you blame yourself, Bobby. But i don't. It was a freak accident, nothing could have stopped it." She says, seeing him tense as his mood shifts completely.

"We're not talking about this." He denies as he looks back down at the papers on his desk.

"Then when will we because I am tired of being alienated by you." Victoria tells him with a deep breath. "It wasn't your fault. And I'm okay. I'm right in front of you, why can you see that?" She asks, wondering why it was so hard for him to realize that although things were different, she was still here.

"Because of this." Bobbys voice was loud as he slammed his hand on the paper she had placed down. "You're not coming back, vic, not really. Because you're not a firefighter anymore and that's my fault." He tells her and she closes her eyes momentarily. "I put you on that ladder because I was terrified to let you out of my sight and look what happened. You died. You now have scars from burns that will never go away and your dream job was taken away from you because of me." He seemed to truly believe that he was the reason for it all.

"I was supposed to protect you. You were a part of my team and I failed." Bobby says, tears falling down his cheeks and Victoria stayed silent as she just watched him break down. "I failed when I didn't realize you were struggling and I failed when you fell down that ladder." He states, beating himself up but she wasn't about to let it happen any longer.

"You did not fail." Victoria denies quickly as she shakes her head. "You sent me to get help when you knew i wouldn't seek it out myself. You were cautious because you care about me. You put me on that ladder yes, but I should've been paying attention as well. Eddie saw the cable was about to snap but it's a split second thing, Bobby. There was no stopping it." She explains to him as she bends down a bit since his eyes were more aimed toward the ground.

"Even if it wasn't me on that ladder, it just would've been someone else." It could've been Buck, or Hen or anyone else on the team. She was glad it was her, because she didnt want any of them to be hurt. "And even then it still wouldn't have been your fault." Victoria denies as she places her hand on top of his.

It felt like he finally allowed it to enter his mind that it wasn't his fault. That beating himself up about it wasn't going to do anything and wasn't needed. "I'm sorry." His voice cracks, barely audible and Victoria could feel her heart break just a little bit.

"Don't." She denies as she wraps her arms around him. "I will never blame you, do you understand me?" Victoria states firmly as she holds onto him. She felt the tears leave her eyes as she closes them. Bobby clings to her as he finally allows her to comfort him. They had all spent so long taking care of her,

Now it was time for her take care of them.

••••

Authors note;

I completely forgot that season 4 is the covid seasonnnnnnn. But I can't wait for the wildfire episode honestly. I'm gonna do a time jump but their relationship is still gonna be a secret. The only major difference is maddies pregnancyyyyyyyyyyy