Chapter Text
The day after building gingerbread houses with Christopher, Harry, and Denny at his home, Buck headed to the law office, where Maddie's Estate lawyer, Donna, contacted him about meeting him at Maddie's request.
Buck's eyes widened when he saw a check for over $350,000 written.
"When I met with Maddie at the prison yesterday about her martial assets from her marriage to Doug, she told me to give you $350,000 of the check, $5,000 to Mr. Howard Han, and place the rest in her bank account," said Donna.
"Does she have any motives like needing me to visit her, quitting my job as a firefighter, or getting her a new defense attorney in the hope the charges she's spending five years locked up for to get dropped?" asked Buck.
Donna shook her head, "She didn't say anything but that she's sorry about her behavior over your injuries and career this year and she's been talking to a psychiatrist twice a week and taking medication to help her with her C-PTSD."
Buck sighed in relief, "That's good because she never took therapy seriously until now."
"She also wanted me to give you this," said Donna as she passed Buck an envelope with Buck scrawled on the front.
A moment later, Buck was reading the letter from his sister.
I know Donna will tell you that I asked her to tell you that I'm sorry about my behavior this year regarding your health, your career, still seeing you as the little boy I had to take care of instead of an adult, and dating someone you work with, which led you to be transferred away from the man you looked up to as a father and your best friend. I've been seeing a psychiatrist twice a week while I've been taking medication to help me with my mood. I wanted to tell you why I reacted the way I did over your job because Mom and Dad told me not to tell you.
You had an older brother who became sick with juvenile leukemia in July of 1988, and he didn't respond to treatment while no one in the family was a match to donate bone marrow. So, as a last attempt to save Daniel, they decided to have you as a savior sibling. You were a perfect match, but the bone marrow didn't graft, and Daniel had a relapse before passing away when he was eight, and you were one. Our mother has been suffering from post-partum depression ever since, and that's why she never bonded with you while she resented you for not saving Daniel.
I didn't want you to return to firefighting because I couldn't lose another brother, and attending court-mandated therapy while in prison made me realize I handled everything wrong. It turns out I've been resenting you for having to give up a lot to take care of you before I allowed myself to marry an abusive man to escape our parents and being forced to take care of you when our parents checked out after Daniel's death.
Even if Mom and Dad made me promise not to tell you, I'm sorry for not telling you when you were old enough to understand.
I asked Donna to give you the check. I don't care if you keep it, donate it to charity, or burn it. I wrote my ex-boyfriend a $5,000 check to replace everything I destroyed when he broke up with me.
I'm sorry for everything, and I understand if you don't respond to this letter.
When Buck found out that Bobby was debating between ordering Chinese food or burgers for dinner on Christmas Day, Buck secretly started arranging a Christmas dinner with turkey, ham, and various other dishes and desserts while asking Athena, Karen, Ali, Tia Pepa, Eddie's Abuela, and even Ali who was on bed rest unless she had to use the bathroom, attend her weekly appointments, or get up to do some walking to prevent blood clots to help him prepare dinner and have various family members of the 118 to show up after learning how upset Christopher, Harry, and Denny were about him, Bobby, Hen, and Eddie having to work on Christmas Day.
Athena gave her eldest son an amused look as everyone plotted what they were going to bring and who would contact who for the other 118 members so Buck wouldn't be on his phone a lot, "Are you going to be this much of a handful during holidays that requires you to be on shift?" asked Athena.
Buck gave Athena an angelic smile, "Can you blame me? This year was rough, and we need another good thing to finish the year."
"I have to agree with Buck. Hen's ambulance accident last month and IVF failing was difficult for Hen and me," said Karen.
"While Eddie and Christopher lost Shannon, and then Evanito and Christopher almost died in the tsunami," said Abuela softly.
"I agree this year was rough," said Athena.
Lying down on Buck's Lovesac couch, which Buck bought thinking an eight-seater ten-side Lovesac sectional couch would be epic for forts, sprawling out with Cora, Nate, and a visiting Christopher while watching movies or playing video games, and even provide additional sleeping space for guests, Ali rubbed her belly, "Cora and Nate will be my Christmas gift to you if they're born before, on, or after Christmas on their induction date in two weeks."
"I'm counting Cora and Nate and getting adopted by Ma and Pops some of the best things this year," said Buck.
"I agree about those two moments being good things, Baby," said Athena.
Karen decided to change the topic, "Buck?" asked Karen.
"Yes?" asked Buck.
"Hen told me about the call she went on that involved that boy ending up in a group home while his mother's in the hospital, and I was wondering if it'd be an issue to invite the entire group home to the 118 for Christmas dinner," said Karen.
Buck nodded, "Even if I got the OK from Chief Alonzo to arrange a Christmas dinner for the 118 and their family members while on shift, I don't think he'd have an issue with foster children being invited since we have the space."
"Ask him so we can make enough food," said Athena.
Buck, who liked the idea of using the check he got from Maddie to buy gifts for the children from the group home, May, Harry, Christopher, and Denny nodded, "I will."
"Now how are you going to get everyone out of the 118 so we can sneak in?" asked Tia Pepa.
"Even if Maddie's in prison, I'm still in contact with Maddie's former coworkers Sue, Josh, and Linda. They offered to keep us busy, and I could text Ma or May a codeword to let you guys know we're on our way back," said Buck.
"What word are you thinking?" asked Athena.
"Turkey," said Buck, causing Athena to laugh and shake her head.
Ali shook her head. "I wonder if I should be grateful I won't get to witness Cora and Nate possibly becoming dramatic, crazy, and mischievous like you when I'm cleared to start traveling all over the country for work again, and I only show up if Cora and Nate ask about me?"
Buck smiled as he approached Ali, who was lying down on the couch with a smile on her face thanks to the live-in nanny Janice, who's childless and used to be a pediatric oncology nurse for 25 years before burning out and became a live-in nanny so she could around children for a happier reason bringing Ali over to the 118 for the Christmas party he arranged with Athena, Karen, Abuela, and Tia Pepa's help after Christopher got upset about both Eddie and him having to work on Christmas Day, "Merry Christmas, Ali," said Buck.
"Merry Christmas, Buck," said Ali.
Buck then rested his hands on Ali's stomach and grinned when he felt two kicks in different places, "Merry Christmas, Cora and Nate. Daddy loves you two so much."
Ali groaned when she felt Cora and Nate kick again, "Cora and Nate are telling us that they love you, too."
"Have Cora and Nate been kicking a lot?" asked Buck.
Ali chuckled, "Cora and Nate were kicking away when Christopher sat by me and talked to the twins about how you made sure he would spend Christmas with his Dad and plotted with Athena, Karen, his great-grandmother, and his great-aunt."
"You were a big help by talking to everyone for me so I could be on my phone less," said Buck.
"Helping with this gathering kept me busy, and everyone had me direct where to put up the Christmas decorations for the party while the kids kept me company," said Ali.
"Want me to help you get to the table?" asked Buck.
Ali nodded, "Please, and here's a heads-up that Christopher and Harry already insisted you sit between them."
Buck chuckled as he thought about the kids of the 118 all adoring him, "Alright."
May looked at Buck and said, "I'm looking forward to being one of Cora and Nate's favorite babysitters when you give Janice time off, and I'm not in school."
"Not if we babysit first as their Memaw and Gramps," said Athena.
Karen, who was upset about IVF failing even if she and Hen were thinking about fostering while doting on Cora and Nate. "Or as their Aunties."
"Don't forget me as their fun uncle," said Chimney.
"Or Chris and me as Uncle and cousin," said Eddie.
Buck laughed as he thought about how loved Cora and Nate were going to be with his found family, "You're going to be their favorite Aunties, May."
"Have you figured out a rate for me yet? Mom said I can't charge you $100 an hour because of me being your sister," said May.
"While $50 an hour is too much, too," said Athena sternly.
"How about $25 an hour?" asked Buck.
May held out her hand and shook it with her older brother, "Deal."
"It's going to be weird being almost 11 years older than my niece and nephew," said Harry.
"Either way, Cora and Nate will have fun with you," said Buck. He looked at Eddie and said, "I know you're a lapsed Catholic, and I was raised Episcopalian, but I'd like you to be Cora's godfather."
"I'm honored," said Eddie.
"If you named Eddie as Cora's godfather, does that mean I'm going to be Nate's godfather?" asked Chimney.
Buck nodded, "Yes."
"I'm in for being Nate's godfather, but be prepared for me to spoil both twins with movies," said Christopher.
Buck laughed, "I figured you'd spoil them with movies."
Buck looked between Hen and Karen, "You two get to decide who's godmother to be."
When Bobby walked away to talk to a depressed-looking Michael, Athena looked at Buck, "Are you looking forward to getting the hardware removed?" asked Athena.
Buck nodded, "I'll finally be off blood thinners and be allowed to do rope rescues again."
"Even if you're going to be adjusting to fatherhood to twins with an Aircast," said Athena.
"It'll suck, but my surgeon said it's better to get the hardware out sooner than later," said Buck. He grinned, "Plus, I'm grateful I'll be bearing weight with an AirCast right away while I'll have Janice, who used to be a nurse, helping out."
"You'll also have multiple people who'll come over to help out while you're on medical/paternal leave, too," said Athena.
After a group picture was taken to celebrate Christmas, Ali grimaced as she rubbed her lower back.
Buck noticed Ali's discomfort, "You alright?" asked Buck.
"Another Braxtion Hicks contraction," said Ali.
Buck thought about the pregnancy books he read: "You're 36 weeks, and fraternal twins are usually born between 35 and 38 weeks. Dr. Halson did tell us you were three centimeters dilated and could give birth at any time during your check-up two days ago."
"It can still be Braxtion Hicks," said Ali.
The sound of water hitting the floor sounded, causing Buck to notice the wet front of Ali's dress.
"I don't think that was my bladder," said Ali.
Buck's face lit up into a large grin as he exclaimed, "You're in labor! We need to get you to the hospital now."
Bobby, Eddie, Hen, and Chimney, who had heard Buck shout, quickly ran over just as the alarm went off.
Chimney noticed the children and said, "Shoot. We're not going to be able to take you by ambulance."
Athena made her way over and looked at her husband, knowing that Janice had left the station to have dinner with her sister, brother-in-law, niece, and nephews, "If you can spare Buck, I can drive Buck and Ali to the hospital."
"That would be helpful," said Bobby.
Buck looked at Ali and said, "Aside from me having to change into my civilian clothes, I can see about getting you a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt of mine before Ma drives us to the hospital."
"OK," said Ali.
Later on that evening, at 9:10 P.M., Buck and Ali were watching Cora and Nate be born by C-section when the OB-GYN discovered that Nate, who was in the position to be born first, was feet first, and Ali needed to fast for a while.
An hour after Cora and Nate were born, Buck, who was grateful that his twins were healthy enough to avoid the NICU, grinned down at Cora and Nate, who was wide awake in his arms while both twins had the same birthmark as him on opposite eyebrows, "Hi Cora. Hi Nate. I'm your father, and we're going to be having a lot of fun adventures together. We're going to enjoy having trips to zoos, parks, beaches, parks, and aquariums while you two are going to be spoiled rotten by your family of firefighters, paramedics, and even police officers thanks to your grandmother being a police sergeant while the older kids of the 118 are going to be protective over you two," said Buck. He then saw a tear of his fall onto the blanket Cora was swaddled in, "Even if your mother and I won't be together, you two are the best Christmas gifts your mother gave me."