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"Well, I guess you have a higher chance of this happening to you, since Buck could date a doppelganger of your mom or your dad, but, y'know… If that happens—and I can't stress this enough—do not run away to your grandparents, Theo. You might end up hating chess.
"Plus, I've met Buck's parents; you do not want them raising you. Maybe try Maddie and Chimney instead. Or my Dad. He might traumatize you, too, but he's really a great dad. And so is Buck, trust me. He's had plenty of practice with me.
"And I'll be there for you, too. But anyways, if your Dad ever hooks up with a doppelganger of your dead parents… well, good luck, Theo."
Christopher hits the off button on his computer's webcam, saves the video, and crosses Doppelganger off his list.
He has slowly but surely been making his way through all the advice he can think of to compile into a series of educational videos for Theo.
So far, he's gotten through:
Introduction to Buck as a Parental Figure
Surviving Natural Disasters With Your Adoptive Parent
Firehouse Family 101: Being the Coolest Kid in the First Grade
How to Deal With Losing Parents So Young
Teasing vs Sparing Feelings: What To Do When Your Eddie's Cooking Sucks
and now:
So, Your Dad Had an Emotional Affair With Your Dead Parent's Doppelganger(s)
Chris is fifteen now, he has a lot of wise old life advice to pass along. Especially pertaining to Buck and the 118 as family.
Having Buck as one of his parents for the majority of his life has been, maybe, the best thing to ever happen to him.
Christopher is absolutely thrilled to have someone to share it with.
He knows his dad and Buck aren't technically together, which means Theo isn't technically his brother, and they aren't technically family, but… Christopher's not a big fan of technicalities in familial relationships.
For example:
Technically speaking, Buck is a friend of his dad's. A guy Chris sees often, but has no blood ties to. Technically speaking.
But really, Buck is just another dad to Chris. The kind of guy that Chris can run to when things go wrong, or call when he needs some help, or rely on to care about him. To love him unconditionally. Because Buck always has. He's always loved Chris unconditionally.
Chris has doubted a lot of things in his life. It's natural for a kid with as rocky a childhood as he had. But he never, not once, doubted that Buck loved him.
Denny asked him the other day if he was going to be jealous of Theo. If he would make Chris feel pushed aside and forgotten by Buck. Denny said he'd felt a little jealous when his moms started fostering.
Chris shrugged and went back to playing whatever game they'd been playing at the moment, but he thought about it for a while. And, honestly, he'd had a moment—when Theo first showed up—where he thought, there goes my Buck. A moment where he'd been a tad jealous.
But it was more resigned jealousy than anything. He wasn't angry. He simply accepted that there was a new kid in Buck's life and Chris would take a metaphorical backseat.
But then Theo's parents had died, and Chris realized that he was glad—relieved even—that Theo had someone like Buck to lean on.
And besides, Chris has always wanted siblings. Now he has the best (and craziest) little brother.
He jots down a new item at the bottom of his list:
Sibling Jealousy.
He laughs to himself as he thinks of a title.
What to Expect When Our Dads Are Expecting: A Guide to Becoming A Big Brother.
The list had started as a midnight epiphany as he'd been scrolling through TikTok way past his bedtime. He'd stumbled upon an old Disney Channel show from the late 2000's called Good Luck Charlie.
The older sister, Teddy, would make these video diaries for her youngest sister, Charlie. Advice on obscure life events and the trials and tribulations of their family drama.
He thought, Why would she do that? Won't she be around to help Charlie?
And then the age difference struck him. A very similar age difference between Chris and Theo had him realize that, no, she won't always be around.
Christopher plans on going to college, and while it's a couple of years away now, he's already imagined himself somewhere far away. He wants the typical dorm life (while staying on his best behavior, of course). But that means he'll be gone for years while Theo grows up.
Chris had shot up out of bed and went straight to his desk. He started writing down crazy things that have happened to him in an itemized list. He started with the more insane things and made his way through the tamer, but sadder, more serious parts of life as he went.
He's been jumping around the list as he makes his videos, tackling whichever subject felt easiest in the moment, and saved them to a folder on his computer titled: Theo's Guide to Surviving Life in the Buckley-Diaz Family.
He looks down at his list and figures one more before bed won't hurt.
There are a few ideas on his list that haven't technically happened to Chris yet, but he wants them both to be prepared for it.
He'll work on one of those tonight.
He fights back a giggle as he picks one and presses the record button.
"So. It finally happened. Dad and Buck figured it out. Or maybe they didn't, but you're still disgusted by their sappiness. Either way, Theo, I've been preparing for this my whole…"
===
Eddie doesn't snoop.
He's not a helicopter parent. He lets Chris have reasonably monitored free rein of his devices. He trusts his son.
So, he would like to state for the record that he was not snooping.
In fact, Christopher asked him to go on his computer.
A frantic text from his son on a Friday morning, just an hour after school started, informed Eddie that he had a very important mission.
Chris had forgotten to print out his essay for his English class and it was due at the end of the day.
Eddie was worried that he'd have to face the world's worst printer (he really needs to get them a newer, simpler one), but Chris assured him that all he had to do was email the file to him. Then he could print it out at the school's library.
Eddie's worst enemy is that damn printer.
Or at least it was. Now he thinks his worst enemy is his son.
(For the record, he loves Christopher dearly and would never actually declare war against his fifteen-year-old.)
((He's tempted to though.))
(((Let the record note his restraint.)))
Or maybe lack of restraint.
Because as Eddie searches for the file that Christopher has dutifully titled "essay," he accidentally clicks on a different file.
Mind you, he has to click on every file named "essay" because apparently all of Chris' essays have been given the same name for "ease of search" reasons, according to the teenager, so it's not really his fault.
And, again, he's not snooping.
It's a misclick.
He swears.
Kind of.
The folder's title says "Theo's Guide to Surviving Life in…" and then it trails off for lack of room on the screen.
He just wants to see the full title of the folder. That's it.
He's not going to snoop.
Theo's Guide to Surviving Life in the Buckley-Diaz Family
Eddie's heart twitches pathetically at the two last names hyphenated together, but he ignores it for the sake of making it through the rest of the day.
His heart warms, then, when the family part focuses itself in his mind.
He's not freaking out about it because that's exactly what they are. They're a family.
Eddie, Buck, Chris, and now Theo. They're a family.
Eddie has spent years reckoning with what family means. It used to be blood to him. Something that connects you to people undoubtedly.
Then he moved to LA and met the 118 and found out that family can mean a whole lot more than that.
To Eddie, family means the people who stand by you no matter what. The people who love you anyway. The people who show up again and again. The people you choose. The people who choose you.
And who fits that description better than Buck and the rest of the 118?
So, seeing them described as a family unit by Christopher doesn't startle Eddie too much.
But the first video file in the folder that his eyes catch on nearly sends him into cardiac arrest.
So, Your Dad Had an Emotional Affair With Your Dead Parent's Doppelganger(s)
Eddie is going to die in his fifteen-year-old son's computer chair.
Every new file that Eddie's eyes flicker over is another slap to the face.
The most recent one especially stings. The video is titled, "Navigating Your Buck and Eddie in Love."
Eddie should really, definitely, absolutely stop snooping now. (Not that he is snooping. This was all accidental, remember?) He should go back to finding Chris' essay so he doesn't fail his assignment.
But then again…
Okay, confession time.
No, Eddie doesn't snoop on his son. That was all true.
However, that doesn't mean that Eddie doesn't love being nosy.
He can't help it! He loves gossip. He loves juicy secrets. He wants to know everything.
He tries to resist the telenovela-loving, drama-hungry, self-indulgent monster inside of him. He tries, okay? He really does.
But the monster has a mind of its own. It somehow takes control of his body and somehow moves the mouse and somehow clicks the file and somehow presses play.
Christopher's voice fills the room immediately, a mischievous smirk on his face.
"So. It finally happened. Dad and Buck figured it out. Or maybe they didn't, but you're still disgusted by their sappiness. Either way, Theo, I've been preparing for this my whole life."
Eddie's stomach turns harshly.
"You're probably too young to have noticed—or maybe they took another eight years, and you've been just as tortured—but our dads are completely in love."
Oh. Eddie's going to throw up. Awesome.
"I know you're probably thinking how gross that is, but, frankly, it's—" Chris cuts himself off and pauses for a few moments. Eddie nearly bites his nails down to his cuticles, sitting on the literal edge of his seat.
"Listen, when I was younger, I thought it was gross too. Every kid thinks their parents are gross, right? But they've kind of set the world's best example of love that a kid could ask for.
"Dad and Buck would literally die for each other. And I covered that in 'Mixed Feelings of Kids of Firefighters' and 'Dealing With Passively Suicidal Parents', but hopefully you'll never need to watch those. Point is, our dads love each other so much. They love us, too, obviously, but they have a very special kind of bond.
"Buck once dug with his bare hands to save my dad. And my dad, your Eddie, rode across the desert on a horse to find Buck. They would do anything for each other if necessary. But they also show up for each other when it isn't really necessary at all…"
Eddie blinks, watching his son go on about the small sacrifices the two of them have made over the years. Buck, cooking meals for them when no one asked, much to Christopher's delight. Eddie, driving out of his way to pick up Buck when his leg was broken, just so the three of them could have movie night.
Various moments that have stuck out to Christopher. Things that Eddie never thought twice about. Of course, he'd get his Abuela to make her famous cure-all soup when Buck is sick. Of course, Buck would watch Chris when Eddie picks up an extra shift. Of course, he'd throw Buck a surprise party. Of course, Buck would remember his coffee order.
Of course. Of course. Of course.
"They've taught me what love means. And hopefully they'll teach you too. I'm not sure when they'll figure it out—God knows I've been waiting long enough—but one day, they'll come to their senses. Until then, we'll have to continue dealing with their lovey-dovey grossness. Oh God," Chris stops, putting his hand over his face and cringing, "They're gonna be so much worse when they finally get together, aren't they, Theo?"
Eddie huffs a small laugh, amused by his son's embarrassment.
"So, about surviving it? Well, honestly, we're really, really lucky, Theo. The two of us, having dads who love each other so much, setting such a good example. As soon as they get their heads out of their… out of the sand… Just remember to look away when it gets to be too embarrassing, and you'll be fine.
"And when they finally make it official?" Chris snorts a small laugh, "Well, good luck to us both, Theo."
The video cuts off with a wink, and Eddie blinks a few times, wondering if what he just watched is real or not.
He's incredibly conflicted.
On one hand, Eddie is beyond honored that Chris feels like he has such a safe and secure example of love and kindness to look up to.
On the other hand, Eddie is going to throw up.
The thing is… he's known for a while that he loves Buck. It's not something he ever doubted, but in the past few years, he's realized what that love really means.
But Eddie, who ruins every good thing he touches, won't go there. He won't risk such an important friendship. He won't risk such a stability in Christopher's life, not when he already has before.
And besides, Buck would've done something by now if he felt the same way.
===
"Eddie?" Buck calls out as he enters Eddie's house, pocketing the key he'd gotten not too long after meeting him, and slipping off his shoes.
He hears Christopher's voice coming from his room, and he frowns in confusion. He checks his watch.
He doesn't need to check his watch. Theo is at school. Chris should be at school too.
And where's Eddie?
"Chris? Eddie?" Buck walks towards the back of the house, finding the familiar route to Chris' room. He'd be able to get there with his eyes closed if necessary. Say…, if the house is on fire and the smoke is too dense to see through… He's practiced for exactly that reason, and no, he won't be ashamed about it.
Through Christopher's closed door, Buck catches the tail end of a sentence.
"…what love means. And hopefully they'll teach you too."
He can tell, from here, that Christopher's voice is coming through choppy computer speakers. A video.
"I'm not sure when they'll figure it out—God knows I've been waiting long enough—but one day, they'll come to their senses. Until then, we'll have to continue dealing with their lovey-dovey grossness. Oh God—"
The voice stops for a moment, and Buck wonders who in the world Christopher is talking about.
"They're gonna be so much worse when they finally get together, aren't they, Theo?"
He hears a tiny muffled laugh through the door. Eddie.
Wait.
Did he just say Theo? Is Chris… talking to Theo? When did they make a video together? Was Eddie recording them?
"So, about surviving it? Well, honestly, we're really, really lucky, Theo. The two of us, having dads who love each other so much, setting such a good example.
Oh shit.
Holy fucking—
He's—
Chris is—
He's talking about—
"As soon as they get their heads out of their… out of the sand… Just remember to look away when it gets to be too embarrassing, and you'll be fine."
Buck holds back a pathetic little groan of embarrassment. He's going to die right here on the creaky floorboard in front of Christopher's room.
"And when they finally make it official?" Chris' voice snorts a small laugh, "Well, good luck to us both, Theo."
Oh dear lord.
Buck's been found out. By Christopher of all people.
His dumb, stupid little crush on Eddie is being exposed by Christopher.
Dammit.
He needs to get out of here. He has to go. Before Eddie finds him listening in.
He turns to leave, trying to make a quick escape, but he's forgotten about the creaky floorboard. It screeches obnoxiously, and Buck curses under his breath, hoping Eddie didn't hear it.
He makes a run for it, as dignified a run as he can, and books it towards the front door.
He's a very fast runner, thank you very much, but his legs fail him today.
"Buck?"
He freezes, caught by the door with his shoes in his hands.
Buck turns around and finds Eddie staring at him from the hall, eyes fearful and apologetic.
"How much of that did you hear?"
Buck nods frantically and shrugs, unsure what else to do but come clean, "Enough."
"Okay." Eddie takes a deep breath and sighs it out, "Right, so, kids have very active imaginations…"
Buck nearly cries with relief. Eddie thinks Chris imagined it all. He thinks Chris imagined Buck's giant crush on him. Thank fucking god for that.
"And I know it might seem like I'm in love with you… I—I get how this looks; my kid, making a video for your kid, explaining our deep love for each other, it's—it's a lot. And I'm not gonna do anything—I mean, I'll talk to Chris about it, but my feelings are—don't worry about it, okay?"
Woah.
Woah woah woah.
Wait a damn minute.
"Your feelings?"
Eddie frowns, matching Buck's own expression.
"I… yeah. But I promise, you have nothing to worry about. Like I said, I'll talk to Chris about the whole… imagining we're in love thing."
"You think he's imagining things?" Buck asks, eyebrows scrunched together. He's so confused right now.
"Well, obviously. He thinks we're secretly pining for each other. I'm pretty sure that's a one-way street. Don't worry about my feelings, alright? I'll sort this out."
"Your feelings?"
"I'm just saying, you don't have to ruin what we have. Our friendship is far too important, Buck. We can just pretend this never happened."
Oh.
Eddie is sparing Buck's feelings. And he doesn't want Buck to worry about how Eddie feels about the situation.
He's the greatest friend in the world.
Even if it crushes Buck's soul a little.
"Right." Buck nods. "I—I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I thought I was, y'know, hiding it better. But if even Chris—"
"Wait, hold on. Hiding what?" Eddie's eyes narrow at Buck, and Buck feels his face heat up.
"Don't make me say it, Eds. We just established that we're pretending this never happened."
Eddie shakes his head, "I'm not sure either of us have successfully established anything here."
"You've made yourself clear enough, Eddie."
"No, clearly, I haven't. What do you think is going on here?"
Buck frowns again. He feels like they're playing some weird mind game. Like they're a couple of rats trapped in an experiment set up by Christopher Diaz—Lead Scientist.
"You're… letting me down easy…?" Buck doesn't mean for it to sound like a question, but he's really confused here.
"No…" Eddie hesitates, sounding just as dazed, "I'm letting you off the hook…?"
"Letting me off of what hook?" Buck is absolutely baffled right now, his heart picking up speed with every inch that Eddie closes between them.
"Oh my god," Eddie breaks into a smile as he steps even closer. "Did you think I was rejecting you?"
Yeah, I mean—You—" Eddie's hand lands on Buck's bicep, holdin git gently. Buck rattles his head. "I'm so confused. Can we start over?"
Eddie laughs, and it helps ease the tension in Buck's shoulder. He smiles back at him. "Sure. Let's take it from the top?"
Buck nods, dumbfounded by how beautiful Eddie looks right now. He seems carefree and hopeful, and Buck just really hopes he's not dreaming right now.
"Buck, how much of Christopher's video did you hear?"
"Uh…" Buck buffers as Eddie traces his arm, fingers dancing up to his shoulder. "Line?"
"Enough." Eddie supplies easily, eyes full of mirth. Buck's heart skips a thousand beats.
"Right, um—Enough. I heard enough."
"To know I'm in love with you?" Eddie prompts.
Buck nearly chokes on air. His heart jumps. His stomach flutters. His blood rushes.
"Because, y'know, I am in love with you. And based on context clues and my son's video diary, I think you feel the same."
"You don't think he's imagining it?" Buck asks stupidly. Eddie leans closer, shaking his head. "And, uh, am I imagining this?"
Eddie laughs, pure and free, breath lingering before Buck's lips, mixing with his own shallow breathing. "Nope."
Buck can't take it anymore. He closes the gap between them slowly, letting himself enjoy every second of it.
He's not sure a first kiss has ever felt this good. This freeing. This comforting.
It's slow and languid, and Buck drinks up every ounce of it, revelling in the taste of Eddie's lips.
They startle apart at the sound of Buck's ringtone, loud and shrill.
It's a particularly alarming ringtone, one that he has set for his favorite people or emergencies. Reserved for Eddie, Theo's school, Christopher's school, and…
"Chris?" Buck answers the phone with a question. "Aren't you in school?"
"It's lunchtime. Listen, Buck, Dad's not answering his phone, and I really need him to send me my essay. Can you put him on?"
Buck, feeling caught, stares at Eddie with wide eyes. "What makes you think I'm with him?"
"I checked your location on that stupid app you guys made me get. You're home, and so is he. So hand over the phone so I don't fail this assignment, please."
Buck's going to have to talk to Christopher about his bossiness, but at least he said please. And he sounded very stressed out.
"Alright, bud. Here." He passes the phone to Eddie, who is barely hiding a smile behind panicked eyes, and watches as Eddie calms down Chris.
"Hey, it's going to be fine, Chris. I'm looking for it now." He starts walking back towards Chris' room, and Buck follows. "Yes, I know how to email a file, Christopher, I'm not ninety."
Buck stifles a laugh and gets a glare from Eddie. It's harmless and holds no real anger. In fact, Buck sees the fondness seep through and wonders how it took them so long to figure it out.
He examines Christopher's desk as Eddie searches for the essay, and he comes across an open notebook.
The page it's on is titled in sloppy handwriting:
Brotherly Advice for Theo
It's a bulleted list with items like Tsunami, and Dad's Cooking, and Buck/Dad jokes.
Buck tries not to tear up, but he was already on the way just from the title of the list alone.
When Eddie's done sending Christopher his essay, he hangs up and hands Buck his phone back.
"So…" Buck starts, rocking back and forth on his feet, "Are there more videos?"
Eddie grins at him, "Yes, but I don't want to snoop more than I already have."
"Bullshit. You're dying to watch them." Buck calls his bluff, and Eddie laughs.
"Alright, fine, just one."
Buck pulls a chair from the kitchen and sits next to Eddie. They scroll through the rather cleverly titled videos, arguing over which one to watch.
Eddie lets Buck pick in the end.
It's fine because they both know they'll watch more than one.
"So, you're probably the coolest kid in your class anyway, Theo, but you're about to get way cooler. You have two firefighter dads and an entire firehouse to support you. The other kids will be so…"
Buck smiles at the screen, trying to hide his blush when Eddie links their fingers together.
He's warm all over. It's perfect.