Archive of Our Own

September 21st - 15 Weeks

Phillip Buckley knew that he had been a bad father.

He had watched his son die from leukemia, had held his small hand as he slipped away like he was going to sleep, and it had thrown him into a level of grief he never would have thought possible. A hole had opened up in the middle of his heart and had seemingly consumed everything in its vicinity, rendering his entire body numb to anything but the thousands of needles that sunk into its flesh with each passing second.

He hadn’t known how to go on, how to keep living with a piece of his soul suddenly missing, but he had known he had to. Daniel was gone, ripped from them much too soon, but Maddie and Evan were still there, and they needed him far more than he could anticipate. Maddie had been nine and suddenly without her little brother, and Evan, only one, completely unable to understand what had happened, or what his role in it all had been, had been in need of support, far more than he could ever possibly have given.

He had known he couldn’t lose himself, even if his grief seemed insurmountable.

But Margaret hadn’t.

Following Daniel’s passing, Margaret had gone almost catatonic. She had seemingly never stopped crying, had talked about wanting to die, had ignored Maddie’s and Evan’s needs beyond the basics.

And then she had demanded they give up their memories of Daniel. Had simply decided that they would throw away everything that held reminders of him, had decided that neither he nor Maddie were ever allowed to even mention his name again. Evan was to never know he ever had an older brother.

And Phillip had allowed it to happen. He had wanted to be a supportive husband. He had wanted to validate Margaret’s loss. He had thought he could do that while also supporting Maddie. And he had been mistaken.

He had known even back then that what he was doing was wrong, but he had been so caught up in the wild jumble of his own emotions and Margaret’s destructive wrath that he had ignored the growing desolation in Maddie's eyes and Evan’s confusion, growing up knowing something was the matter, yet having no way of understand just what it was.

Bit by bit, year by year, the onslaught of Phillip’s bad decisions had cost him his children. From Maddie entering a relationship he had known wasn’t healthy, to Evan growing more and more distant as the years went by from the continued neglect he and Margaret subjected him to, to cutting Maddie off after her wedding to Doug (He hadn’t known. Evan was right that he should have , but he hadn’t.), to Evan traveling across America without ever reporting back to them.

Phillip had lost all three of his kids. And two of them were his own fault.

*

“You have a lovely home,” Phillip said with a light smile, wine glass in hand. He and Margaret had been quite surprised when Evan Buck, Phillip reminded himself for the umpteenth time, had given them a call two weeks ago and asked them to fly out. They knew he had just (rather abruptly) moved in with his boyfriend of only six months, but this invitation didn’t seem like a housewarming event. And they had clearly been right, since it was only the two of them and Evan and Tommy at dinner tonight.

The thing is, it was pretty obvious what was going on. Buck wore a baggy sweater tonight (it very clearly actually belonged to Tommy) when he had preferred tight fits since he was a teenager, he was the only person at the table who hadn’t had a single drop of alcohol, and paired with the hasty move in, Phillip could pretty much guess that his son was pregnant. When he had realized it earlier tonight, he had been excited at first. Another grandpup was wonderful news, after all!

Then the realization that Buck had no reason at all to want them in his pup’s life hit him. He and Margaret had been terrible parents, terrible people to both Evan Buck and Maddie, and to this day, almost four years later, he still wasn’t sure why exactly they had decided to forgive them. They didn’t deserve it. At all. Not for the first time, Phillip wondered how his children turned out so well, so unrepentantly kind when he and Margaret had pretty much gone out of their way to make them resentful.

That Evan wanted the two of them to be part of his pup’s life, albeit on his terms, and his terms alone, was a genuine surprise. He had figured Evan Buck would keep them at a distance (and he would have understood) and that his Captain would step in as Grandfather (which Buck had made clear he would. Captain Nash was, in fact, going to be as much the pup’s grandfather as Phillip). Words couldn’t describe just how grateful Phillip was to Evan Buck for this.

“Thank you,” Tommy answered him, his tone quite neutral. Tommy’s tone had always been neutral the few times they had talked at Maddie and Howard Chimney’s wedding. When Buck had actually come over to introduce Tommy, both of their faces still covered in soot, leaving no discussion on just what they had done before coming up here, both of them had been… guarded, as if they had expected an explosion of epic proportions.

And granted, Margaret might have actually caused one if Phillip hadn’t grabbed her hand to hold her back. He also would have liked a… heads up on their son’s newfound bisexuality, but what he or Margaret wanted was largely irrelevant. It wasn’t like Evan had ever been one for subtleties over extravagance anyway.

“You don’t trust us,” Phillip said, matter-of-factly. Tommy’s eyes widened for a second before he let out a deep sigh and simply shrugged. Phillip chuckled. “I get it. He… doesn’t really have reason to trust us.”

Tommy swallowed and simply nodded. Phillip put his wine glass down on the coffee table. He and Tommy had sat down on the couch while Margaret had gone to the bathroom to freshen up and Buck went to prepare some coffee (and tea, for himself). Phillip had decided to try and use this moment to… maybe clear the air with Tommy a bit.

“Evan… he…” Tommy began. And yeah, that was another thing. Tommy called Buck ‘Evan.’ He was one of two people who were allowed to use his first name, the other being Maddie. “He appreciates that you’re making an effort. He really does, Mr. Buckley. But-”

“But he can’t be sure that we don’t go back to how we were,” Phillip nodded with a sigh. Because as much as it pained him, he got it. “Yeah, that… that makes sense.”

The two men fell into a heavy silence after that, both of them avoiding each other’s gaze at any cost. Phillip wanted to keep talking, but he didn’t really know what about. It was clear Tommy didn’t have the highest opinion of him or his wife, and again, he understood. Doubly so if Tommy knew about the… circumstances of Buck’s conception. After all, they had moved to Hershey shortly after Daniel died because of how much everyone in their old neighborhood judged them for having Evan.

“Learning… learning about Daniel screwed him up,” Tommy said suddenly. Phillip’s head snapped over to him, Tommy now intensely staring at him. “That he had a brother, that he was a savior baby … He’s still struggling with that.”

Tommy’s blunt remark knocked the wind out of Phillip and made him flinch. ‘Savior Baby.’ A term that had haunted him and Margaret, a term they had decided to run from when Evan had been barely a year old. He knew the practice was… questionable, ethics-wise, but when Daniel had fallen ill… he and Margaret had been desperate, and while they hadn’t planned on a third child, they were ready to love a third child.

But then Evan’s cells wouldn’t graft.

Then Daniel had passed away.

Then Margaret had drowned in her grief, and Phillip had allowed it to happen.

Phillip blinked back the sting of tears, regret searing through him. “I can’t even begin to imagine how he must've felt, discovering all that,” he murmured, voice thick with emotion. “Just… we love Evan, Tommy. We always did, we just…”

He trailed off, and Tommy’s gaze softened slightly. “Grief can do… a number on you. I get that.” He sighed, and finally broke eye contact, looking to the floor. Phillip raised an eyebrow at him. There was something in his voice that told him Tommy was speaking from experience, but he didn’t dare pry. “But it doesn’t excuse what you did.”

Phillip nodded, his throat tight. Tommy’s words, however harsh they may have been, rung true, and Phillip knew that. He had known that since Evan was a toddler, back when he had still hoped that Margaret would come back to her senses. "You're right. There's no excuse. Nothing can undo the damage we've caused." His voice was a whisper, strained with the effort to keep his emotions at bay.

Tommy glanced up, his expression skeptical. "He gave you a chance, though. That says a lot about Evan. About just how good he is. Because I won’t lie, I wouldn’t ever have spoken with you again."

Phillip could only nod. "I know," he said simply, the two words heavy with regret. "I know we've been given a second chance that we don't deserve. I'm just... grateful that Evan–I’m sorry, Buck –and Maddie can see something in us worth trying for."

Tommy sighed again. He sat up straight and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I trust Evan. And Evan, for the most part, trusts that you actually changed. So, I trust you too.” Then, his face grew hard and he leaned in slightly. “But I want you to know one thing, Mr. Buckley. If you ever, at any point, threaten the peace Evan has earned for himself, I won’t be held responsible for my actions.”

Phillip’s eyes grew wide at Tommy’s threat, his breath getting caught in the back of his throat for a second. A shiver ran down his back, but at the same time? He felt a surge of pride flow through him. This man in front of him was ready to protect his son from everything , including his own parents, should he have to. He still didn’t really know Tommy, but Phillip felt a sense of gratitude that someone was so prominently in Evan’s Buck’s corner.

Phillip took a deep breath and leaned back, allowing Tommy’s words to settle. “I understand,” he finally said. “I respect that. I want the same thing for Buck, for him to be happy, at peace. We’re not here to disrupt that.”

Tommy’s expression softened ever so slightly, though his body was still rigid. “I hope that’s true, Mr. Buckley.”

The sound of footsteps out in the hallway alerted Phillip and Tommy to Buck and Margaret’s imminent return. With one last glance and a court nod at each other, both of them relaxed. Phillip grabbed his wine glass again before turning back to Tommy one last time. “Tommy?”

“Yeah?”

“Call me Phillip.”

*

December 1st - 25 Weeks

“Green, huh?” Eddie asked, checking the paint cans. Marisol behind him bit her lip trying to hold back her laughter. “That’s a very… gender neutral color.”

“Now that you mention it, yeah, it is,” Buck answered with a teasing grin. He dropped the last can to the ground and straightened out his back with a groan, his thumbs pressed into the sides of his spine. His stomach had swollen significantly at this point, to the surprise of no one. With Buck and Tommy both being as tall as they were, their pup being huge was pretty much a given. “It’s almost like that’s the entire point.”

Buck and Tommy had learned Baby Kinard’s sex at their appointment last week. They had also refused to disclose that piece of information to anyone, and it drove Eddie insane. He was Buck’s best friend, and the absolutely obvious Godfather pick. Buck was his son’s Godfather, he would be Buck’s pup’s Godfather. And as the Godfather-To-Be, he should have some kind of learn-the-sex right. Or something.

“Yeah, yeah, keep us guessing,” he said with a roll of his eyes and turned around to face his girlfriend. “And shouldn’t you be on my side?”

Marisol, her eyes still sparkling with mischief, walked over to loop her arm through Eddie’s. “Maybe,” she admitted with a small smirk, resting her head on his shoulder. “But I do love seeing you squirm, baby.”

Eddie hummed, but couldn’t suppress a soft smile. He pressed a soft kiss to her head before letting out an exaggerated sigh. “Still a bully I see.”

“It’s part of my charm.”

“Oh is it ?”

“You love it.”

“Do I? Or do I just put up with it?”

Marisol chuckled and gave Eddie’s arm a soft squeeze before turning to Buck. As the self-proclaimed Home-Improvement-and-DIY-Queen, she had taken charge the moment Buck and Tommy had asked for help with the nursery. She and Buck had obsessed over color pallets, had critically reviewed every piece of furniture to almost ludicrous degrees, and the absolutely venomous looks they had sent everyone who dared question their choices and critiques had been the source of nightmares.

Eddie had thought that Buck with a clipboard was the most horrific thing in existence, but a pregnant Buck with a clipboard and Marisol by his side was like regular Clipboard Buck on steroids.

“So, sage green,” Marisol hummed approvingly. “That will go great with the stickers we ordered.”

“Stickers?” Eddie raised an eyebrow. Back when Christopher had been born, he and Shannon had simply painted the walls in a nice blue color, put the furniture in there, and that had been it. “What stickers ?”

“Wall stickers,” Buck said as if it was the most natural thing in the world (which it maybe was. Chris was thirteen now, maybe putting stickers on the nursery wall was normal now.) “Some palm trees, and a bunch of jungle animals. A lion, a giraffe, a tiger, you know?”

Eddie nodded with a gentle hum. Yeah, he could see that, even if it still seemed weird to him. But hey, not his pup, not his nursery, not his business. With a shrug, he knelt down to open up one of the paint cans and pour some out onto a tray. He dipped a roller into the light green paint and started applying it to the wall, the color spreading smoothly under his steady hand.

“Okay, I’ll help Eddie painting,” Marisol said, grabbing a roller of her own, her phone in her other hand. “Buck, Tommy and Bobby should be here soon with the crib and the changing table. Open the door for them, but for the love of god, please don’t try to help them carry!”

Buck rolled his eyes, his hand instinctively rubbing his swollen stomach as he made towards the front door. "Yeah, yeah, I know, I've been banned from heavy lifting for the foreseeable future. The doctor, and Tommy, and Bobby were very clear about that," he called over his shoulder, a grin plastered across his face despite his obvious annoyance.

As Buck shuffled off to the door, Marisol and Eddie fell into a quiet rhythm, the soft swishing sound of rollers against the wall filling the nursery. Eddie felt a content smile creep onto his face. Godfather. A full blown, actual Padrino. He’d always known he’d get there, but as the nursery came together under his hands, it all felt more real. More imminent. He couldn’t wait to spoil Baby Kinard rotten.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Marisol teased gently from the other wall.

Eddie looked back at her, his eyes crinkling with genuine warmth. "It's not every day you get to prep a nursery. Especially for a pup that's gonna call me 'Tío Eddie'. Plus, working with you isn't the worst way to spend an afternoon. Even if you’re a bully ."

Marisol laughed, her voice echoing slightly in the empty room. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Diaz."

(They pointedly ignored the calls of “I’m not an invalid!” and “You’re carrying precious cargo!” from out in the hallway.)

*

January 29th - 34 Weeks

Tommy was woken from his most peaceful of peaceful slumbers by a shaking at his shoulder. His first instinct in his still half-asleep mind was to swipe away whatever wouldn’t leave him alone, but then his Omega’s voice reached his ears.

“Tommy. Tommy. Tommy.”

The moment it registered, Tommy was on high alert. Evan wouldn’t wake him up for nothing. He was considerate of others to a fault, even this far into his pregnancy. Despite his significantly swollen stomach, Buck still never really asked others for help unless it was absolutely necessary, even going against his doctor’s orders on several occasions (Tommy and Bobby especially gave him stern talkings to, but Eddie, Maddie and Athena weren’t far behind). If Evan decided to wake Tommy up in the middle of the night, it had to be serious.

“I’m up, I’m up,” he groaned, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. He looked over at Evan, who… appeared perfectly calm and fine, actually. “Are you okay? Are they?”

Evan just looked him in the eye for a bit, baby blue to baby blue. Tommy had gotten lost in those eyes many times before, their color like the clearest water of the sea. They were striking, breathtaking , especially when Evan got excited and his eyes started glistening and shining.

“I need nuggies, strawberry jam and soy sauce.”

Tommy blinked, his brain struggling to shift gears from emergency to...nuggets? "What?"

Evan nodded, as serious as one could be at three in the morning, his voice steady. "Nuggies, Tommy. And strawberry jam. And soy sauce. Please."

Tommy, still groggy from sleep, simply stared at Evan for a few moments, his brain desperately trying to catch up. Evan had had several cravings early on in his pregnancy, but they had largely fallen off after his sixth month. He really hadn’t expected them to come back at this stage, but here they were.

“Okay,” he nodded eventually, getting out of bed. He grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt from around the room and made for the door of the bedroom after putting them on. “Be right back.”

“What are you doing?”

“... I can’t really go to McDonald’s naked, right? We don’t have frozen nuggets anymore.”

“Oh,” Evan blinked before a guilty expression spread across his face. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. The craving’s probably gone by the time you get back anyway.”

Rubbing the last bit of sleep out of his eyes, Tommy turned to look at Evan and raised an eyebrow. “Evan, if my Omega asks for nuggies and jam, he gets nuggies and jam.”

Evan smiled, that sweet, tentative smile that had first drawn Tommy to him back when he, Eddie and Chimney had shown up to ask him for help. It was that smile, plus the honest vulnerability in those beautiful, brilliant eyes, that could still knock the wind out of him.

"Okay," Evan said softly. "Thank you, Tommy."

Tommy nodded and gave Evan a quick peck on the forehead and his bump before he headed out the apartment. The streets were eerily quiet at this ungodly hour, the night deep and undisturbed except for the occasional distant siren or the rustling in the bushes (which didn’t freak Tommy out at all, thank you very much!). Tommy usually wasn’t a fan of quiet. It completely freaked him out, made him more uncomfortable than anything else, to the point that he couldn’t sleep without music. Tonight, maybe because he was on a mission, the quiet seemed calming, somehow.

First, Tommy stopped at a 24-hour-convenience store to pick up the jam and soy sauce. He was pretty sure they still had both at home, but it was 2:30 am, and he was not risking having to go out again. He pointedly ignored the cashier’s raised eyebrow, or her low chuckle, or her very accurate analysis of the situation (“Mmh. First pup?”), paid, and then drove on to the nearest McDonald’s drive-thru.

An order of twenty nuggets, a Big Mac, two large fries and a large cherry coke (So he got a little hungry, sue him) later, Tommy found himself pulling back into their apartment complex. He balanced the McDonald's bag and the small grocery bag in his hands while carefully nudging the door open with his elbow. The apartment was dimly lit, and he could see Evan resting on the couch, one hand resting on his baby bump while the other scrolled on his phone. He glanced up the moment Tommy entered, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

“You’re back! You got them!” he exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face as Tommy set the bags on the coffee table.

“Of course I got them,” Tommy said with a smile, taking a seat beside Evan. “Like I said, anything for my babies.”

Evan’s grin softened into a shy smile as he leaned over to press his lips to Tommy’s. Tommy reached up to cup Evan’s cheek and deepened the kiss, feeling the tension of the night begin to melt away. It was these small, tender moments that reminded him why he went through all the trouble in the first place.

Then, rather suddenly, Evan flinched out of the kiss, his hand flying to his bump. Tommy went into high alert for all of two seconds before he realized that Evan’s face was contorted in annoyance rather than pain. “Hey, you okay?”

“Yeah,” Evan nodded, with both a chuckle and a grimace. “ Someone just decided to start doing gymnastics in there.”

Tommy chuckled, his earlier worry swiftly turning into amusement as he patted Evan’s belly, trying to soothe the restless little gymnast inside. “Seems like they’re excited about the nuggies, too.”

Evan let out a chuckle that quickly turned into a laugh, a sound filled with relief and joy. He rested his head on Tommy’s shoulder, who in turn wrapped his arms around him. “Must be. They’ve got good taste already,” Evan said, nuzzling into the crook of Tommy’s neck shortly before he turned to the table and started unpacking.

In record time, Evan tore open the convenience store bag to grab the jar of jam and heave a big spoonful into a small bowl he must have brought before. He then opened up the bottle of soy sauce and poured a copious amount over the jam before he stirred it all together and grabbed the McDonald’s bag. Evan quickly plucked out a nugget and dipped it into the jam-soy sauce concoction, his expression one of intense concentration. He took a bite, eyes closing as he chewed slowly, a small moan escaping him. Tommy watched, fascinated, yet slightly repulsed. If Evan was happy, that was all that mattered, but… well.

"So?" Tommy asked cautiously. "How's it taste?"

Evan's eyes popped open, and a grin stretched across his face. "It's fucking amazing . Wanna try?"

Tommy gave a hesitant smile and shook his head. "I think I'll pass on this one. But I'm glad you're enjoying it."

Evan simply shrugged and dug in, happily alternating between nuggets, fries, and his… questionable dipping sauce. Tommy leaned back, letting the comfort of the couch envelop him as he indulged on his burger and fries, and sipped on his cherry coke. The rhythmic sounds of Evan's munching, combined with the quiet night, created a sense of serenity in the dimly lit apartment.

A comfortable silence spread between them, both of them enjoying their food. Evan stole a few sips of coke every now and again, which Tommy shot him playful glares over. Evan, for his part, eventually grew a shit eating grin, took a big dip from his hell-concoction on a nugget, shoved it in his mouth, and then leaned over to try and kiss Tommy on the lips.

“Oh no, you don’t!” Tommy cried out and recoiled in a panic, but Evan didn’t give up. He scooted after Tommy, holding on to his shirt and (feebly) trying to pull him in. Tommy, however, took advantage of being not pregnant, and jumped up off the couch, taking several steps away.

“Okay, that is cheating!” Evan said, sitting back up. He was slightly out of breath, and his attempt at standing up to follow Tommy failed horribly. Tommy simply watched him from a distance for a few seconds, his lip caught between his teeth to hold back his laughter. “Aren’t you supposed to support me in sickness and health and all that jazz?”

“Well, first of all, baby, we’re not married yet,” Tommy said with a smirk, crossing his arms. “Second of all, I don’t think murder-dips are included in that.”

Silence filled the room following Tommy’s tease. He was pretty sure if a pin dropped, he’d be able to hear it. He blinked several times and simply stared over at his Omega. Evan’s eyes went wide as saucers and his jaw went slack. Panic slowly crawled through Tommy’s body, cold and dreadful. Had he said something wrong?

“Not married… yet? ”

Evan's voice was a whisper, barely audible over the faint hum of the city outside their window. Tommy froze, the words hanging between them like a spark ready to ignite. In the dim glow of the apartment, he could see the flicker of something in Evan's eyes—a mixture of hope and vulnerability.

Tommy took a hesitant step forward, his mind racing. He hadn’t meant to say it, not yet, not like this. He'd been carrying around the ring that Eddie and Maddie had helped him pick out for weeks, waiting for the right moment. He’d even asked Bobby for his blessing (because he knew Bobby’s opinion mattered the most to Evan, more so than his actual parents) and had (very enthusiastically) gotten it, along with a hug, and a shovel talk (He learned that day that Bobby Nash, no matter his age or his being an Omega, was a very scary man when he wanted to be).

“Yeah, not married... yet ,” Tommy repeated, his voice steadier than he felt. He let out a nervous chuckle, trying to gauge Evan’s reaction. “I mean, if you... if that’s something you want.”

Evan’s expression softened, the initial shock melting into a gentle smile. “Thomas Kinard, are you proposing to me over nuggets?” he teased, though his voice trembled slightly.

Tommy’s heart thudded in his chest as he closed the distance between them in two quick strides. He knelt beside the couch, taking Evan’s hands in his. “No. Yes. I mean… Hold on.”

He quickly ducked down and fished around under the couch until he found what he was looking for. With a flourish, Tommy pulled out the small, velvety box he had hidden away. His hands were slightly trembling as he opened it to reveal a simple, elegant silver ring that caught the soft light of the room, making it sparkle just enough to draw a breathless gasp from Evan.

Evan's eyes widened, his lips parting in surprise. The air seemed to hang still around them, charged with the intensity of the moment. Tommy took a deep breath, his heart pounding so loudly he wondered if Evan could hear it.

"Evan Buckley," Tommy began, his voice steady despite the emotions threatening to boil over inside him. "From the moment I met you, I knew you were special. You… um…" He let out a short chuckle, a fond smile spreading over his face. “You showed up at Air Operations with Eddie and Chimney and asked me to fly you into a hurricane. Which, you know, was insane !”

Tommy continued, his eyes locked with Evan's, both sets crinkled from their matching smiles. "But that's just who you are. You dive headfirst into the storm, you fight for what's right, and you protect those you love with a fierceness that I've never seen before. And somehow, you picked me to be your partner in crime through all of it."

He squeezed Evan's hands gently. "You've made me laugh on my worst days, brought me peace in the chaos, and showed me love in ways I never knew I needed. You've become my best friend, my rock, my anchor... and I can't imagine my life without you in it. I know it’s soon, that… that we’ve been together for less than a year. I know that we’re kinda rushing everything, and that we should probably slow down a bit. But I love you more than words can say, and I want to be there with you, for you, always, whether we’re flying into hurricanes, or dealing with happy little accidents,” he went on, running a hand over Evan’s bump at the last part. 

Then, he looked down to the ground and took a deep breath before locking gazes again. “Evan Buckley, will you do me the highest honor I can think of and marry me?"

Tommy's words hung in the air, thick with anticipation and the soft glow of the apartment lights reflecting in their eyes. A brief silence followed, and for a moment, the world seemed to pause around them.

Evan's breath hitched, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears as he looked down at the ring, then back up to Tommy's earnest, hopeful face. His voice, when he finally spoke, was choked with emotion but clear. "Tommy, I—"

He broke off, swallowing hard, his fingers tightening around Tommy's. “Listen, I know this isn’t exactly… romantic ,” Tommy swallowed, though still smiling. “If you want a do-over, I can do that.”

“Tommy, please,” Evan let out a shaky laugh, overwhelmed. "You fly into hurricanes for me, go to McDonald’s in the middle of the night for my crazy cravings, and now, you’re asking to marry me?" His voice was incredulous but filled with warmth. "How could I say anything but yes?"

It took Tommy a few seconds to register Evan’s answer, but once it did, he couldn’t stop himself from fist-pumping the air and letting out a probably too loud cheer. He quickly surged up from his position on the floor to engulf Evan in a hug before slipping the ring onto his finger. It was a bit big, but they could get that fixed later.

Then, Tommy stood up and pulled Evan off of the couch, pulling him into a deep kiss. Evan reciprocated, wrapping his arms around Tommy’s neck. Tommy, careful about Evan’s bump, pulled him closer, and Evan’s fingers found their way into Tommy’s hair and quickly tangled themselves into it.

“You know, I’d suggest celebratory sex right now,” Evan said when they broke apart. He was slightly out of breath (and so was Tommy), but he was smiling that brilliant smile of his. Tommy could propose over and over again, honestly. “But it’s 3 am and I’m really tired. And also the devil dip makes me feel less than sexy.”

Tommy chuckled and pulled Evan into another kiss. “Okay. Then let’s tuck you back into bed.”

Tommy led Evan back to the bedroom, their steps light and hearts lighter. The apartment felt cozier now, almost as if the love between them had seeped into every inch of the walls, the floor, everything. Tommy helped Evan settle back into bed, propping up the pillows so he could lie back comfortably. He couldn't resist leaning down for another soft kiss, this time on Evan’s forehead.

Evan's hand lingered on Tommy’s cheek, a tender smile playing on his lips. “Did you really plan all this?” he murmured, his eyes gleaming with joy and a hint of mischief.

“Well, the proposal tonight was a bit of a surprise to me too,” Tommy admitted, chuckling softly. “But I’ve been carrying that ring around for weeks, looking for the perfect moment. Guess it found us instead.”

Evan laughed, a sound that Tommy thought he could listen to forever. “I love you, you know. So much.”

“I love you too,” Tommy replied, his voice thick with emotion. They gazed at each other, the weight of their future promises filling the room with an electric charge.

Tommy pulled the covers over Evan, ensuring he was snug and comfortable. He then slipped into bed beside him, wrapping an arm around Evan to draw him close. Evan rested his head against Tommy's chest, his breaths deepening as he began to drift towards sleep.

“Did you seriously hide the ring under the couch?”

“Sure. When was the last time you were able to actually look under there?”

“Point taken.”

*

March 14th - 40 Weeks

“Maddie? Take Line 3, someone’s asking for you!” Jamal called over as Maddie made her way back to her desk from the break room. “Dude refuses to speak to anyone but you. We tried to get him to talk for the last fifteen minutes, but no dice.”

Maddie blinked at him with a raised eyebrow. In her time as a dispatcher, she had experienced a ton of crazy stuff, sometimes even got involved in it (and the less anyone talked of the time she stalked a caller and then thought about killing said caller’s husband, the better), but this… was new to her.

“Asking for me? We’re 9-1-1!” With that, she moved over to her desk and put her headset on. She took another deep breath, shot one more look at Jamal, who simply shrugged at her, before she finally tapped into line 3. “9-1-1, this is Maddie Buckley-Han, how can I help?”

“ Maddie? ”

Maddie blinked. Then blinked again, before a sense of panic spread through her chest. “Evan?!”

“ Y-Yeah, it’s… it’s me. Um… How do I put this? It’s- fuck shit goddamn! ”

Oh.

Oh, he… Buck was in labor. She… honestly figured Baby Kinard would be late. Jee-Yun had been. And she knew from Mom that she, Daniel and Evan all had been late as well. Buckley babies were late. That was a family tradition, basically.

Then again, from the beginning, Buck and Tommy had made clear this was a Kinard baby. So apparently, the Buckley rules didn’t apply.

“Okay, Evan, I need you to stay as calm as you can. How far apart are your contractions?” Maddie went into dispatch mode immediately, her fingers flying over the keyboard at breakneck speed. Her stomach was churning, and every part of her body wanted to throw the headset at Linda or Josh and jump into her car to drive over to Buck and Tommy’s apartment. But she didn’t. She knew she couldn’t.

“ Uh… t-ten… ten minutes? Give or take? ”

Maddie let out a shaky breath. Ten minutes. That was manageable. She needed to get help to Buck fast, but it wasn’t overtly dangerous yet. “Okay,” she said, her fingers hitting away once more as she dispatched an ambulance. “Okay, we have some time. I sent an ambo your way, let’s see what we can do until it arrives. Is anyone with you?”

“ No, I’m alone. Tommy… Tommy started a 24 hour shift this morning, ” Buck panted. Maddie silently cursed under her breath. She could work with Buck alone, but someone with him would have been preferable. Looking over her monitor, she saw Josh making his rounds and quickly waved him down.

“Okay, Evan, I’ll have Josh try to get in contact with Tommy,” she said, her voice calm amidst the storm. She quickly relayed what was happening to Josh, who gave his affirmation before walking off to do his thing. “How long have you been in labor?”

“ Um… a few hours? This morning, probably… ”

…

…

…

Wait.

“This… morning…” she asked, blinking a few times. He wouldn’t. Buck was reckless, but he wasn’t this reckless. “Did… did you let Tommy go to work when you were already in labor?! ”

“ I thought it was Braxton Hicks! ” Buck exclaimed. A primal edge to his voice. “ You and Bobby said I was gonna have them! Well guess what, I didn’t have Braxton- fuck fuck FUCK! ”

Maddie's head began to spin. Her brother's unique ability to combine ignorance and stubbornness into a near-catastrophic cocktail never ceased to amaze her. But now was not the time for sibling spats. Focus , she reminded herself.

“Okay, that was not ten minutes,” Maddie said, her voice firm yet gentle. Buck was in enough distress right now, and with how fast things were progressing, she needed to calm him down. “I need you to focus on breathing. Deep breath in, hold it, and then let it out slowly. Can you do that for me?”

“ Yeah, okay, okay. Breathing. ” Buck’s voice came through strained but compliant, his breaths audible over the line. Each exhale sounded labored, underscored with a hint of panic that Maddie knew too well from countless calls over the years.

Maddie continued to provide instructions, her voice a steady, soothing presence as she guided him through the breathing exercises. Meanwhile, her mind raced as she pulled up all the resources she could think of. “Evan, I need you to find a place to lie down or at least sit comfortably. Can you do that?”

There was silence at first, or at least Maddie thought that there was. Then she heard the quiet, almost maniacal sounding chuckle ring through her headset. “ Maddie. I am about to squeeze two whole ass human beings out of my ass ; do you really think I’ll be comfortable in any way?! ”

Maddie rolled her eyes and covered her mic with her hand so Buck wouldn’t hear the scoff that escaped her. She knew this was hard. Of course she knew, she’s been through it. At least Evan hadn’t tried to go to work while in labor (admittedly one of her… less brilliant moments). She took a deep breath to ground herself, because god knew it wouldn’t benefit anyone if both of them freaked out now.

And then she realized what Buck had just told her.

“I’m sorry, did you just say two ?!”

There was a beat of silence, a suffocating, tangible thing that Maddie felt compressing her from all sides. She couldn’t have heard him right.

The line crackled with Buck’s pained laughter, his breathing erratic and sharp. “ Uh… surprise? ”

Maddie’s heart skipped. This call was slowly getting away from her, and things just kept piling on at this point. Twins . Twins often meant more complications, potentially quicker labor, and definitely more stress. All of which meant that Buck should have been in the hospital hours ago. She needed to move fast. Evan was having twins , and he was alone, and Tommy was on a 24 hour shift, and—

She shook her head. This was not the time to panic. No matter how out of her head and scared she was, Buck felt it all tenfold. With another deep breath, Maddie centered herself. She had been an ER nurse for over ten years. She’d now been a dispatcher for almost six. She thrived in stressful situations and prided herself on being able to keep calm and supporting people through their darkest moments. Yes, things were different when it was someone you knew (which is why the protocols she currently blatantly ignored existed in the first place), but she couldn’t let that stop her now.

“Okay, Evan, I need you to go lie down on the couch, and try to stay propped up. I’ll be gone for a few seconds because I need to relay that you’re having twins to the ambo.”

“ Got it, ” Evan said, his voice strained. “ What house did you send anyway? ”

Maddie sighed as she switched lines to talk to the ambo. “Your family.”

*

Chimney hit the horn over and over, the siren above him roaring out its usual tune to warn every Angeleno on the street of their coming. His mind had tunnel visioned the moment he had realized just what address dispatch was sending them to, and he was willing to try and break the laws of physics to get to Buck as fast as humanly (or inhumanly) possible.

While he had taken the wheel, Hen and Eddie had jumped into the back of the ambulance to prep everything for every possibility. Chim had at first tried to trade places with Eddie (He trusted Eddie implicitly, but not with his ambo!), but Hen had pushed him toward the front. She didn’t trust Eddie to drive safely when Buck was their patient, and she insisted that Eddie was impossible to work with unless you had experience with him (Eddie had shot her a venomous look at that one, but had stayed silent. Probably for the best.) Chimney had relented. He trusted nobody as much as Hen, so if she insisted this was the way to go, this was the way to go.

“ Dispatch to Ambo 118, do you copy? ”

Hearing his wife’s voice usually warmed Chim up from the inside. In this situation, though? It probably meant that issues were arising, and it made his heart drop. “This is Ambo 118, go ahead, dispatch,” Chimney answered, grabbing the ambulance’s radio.

“ Chim, prepare your team. Buck just told me he’s having twins . ”

…

…

…

What?

“I’m sorry, dispatch, could you repeat that?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady. “It sounded like you said that our favorite Buckaroo decided to make everything more complicated by omitting a very crucial detail.”

Chimney's grip on the steering wheel tightened, the squawk of the radio momentarily silenced as Maddie confirmed, her voice strained but clear, “ Affirmative, Ambo 118. Evan is expecting twins. He’s alone, contractions under ten minutes apart. Prepare for urgent care. ”

Hen's voice came through from the back, tinged with both urgency and exasperation, “Twins? Seriously? He couldn’t have mentioned that a bit sooner?” There was the sound of equipment being shuffled rapidly as she and Eddie prepared for what was clearly going to be a more complicated scenario than they had anticipated.

Chimney sighed and pressed his foot down on the gas pedal even more than before, the gravity of the situation settling in as he wove through traffic, the siren a continuous wail in the busy Los Angeles streets. “Understood, dispatch. We’re five minutes out. Keep us posted on any changes.”

He couldn’t help the exasperated groan that escaped him. This was textbook Buck behavior, and maybe they should have expected something along these lines, but good lord was this still frustrating and infuriating. Several people were going to have words with both Buck and Tommy over this once Buck and the pups were safe and fine.

“What were they thinking not telling anyone about this?!” Eddie’s voice rang forward. The shuffling in the back got more frantic. Obviously, Chimney thought. Now that they knew Buck was having twins , they had to prepare for twice the babies, twice the neonatal care, twice the possible complications. “Do we have enough supplies for two babies?”

“Must have,” Chim called back. “I restocked after the Pregnancy Camping Trip of Doom two days ago.”

That call was the worst. Four pregnant people, three women, one man, had decided to go camping together before their due dates. Alone. With not a soul there to act in case something went wrong. Needless to say, one of the women had gone into labor, then the next had followed, presumably due to the stress of the first one, the man had followed while still on the phone with 9-1-1, and then the last woman had gone into labor right after the first pup had been delivered.

It had been hell , but it had also taught Chimney to always come prepared for seven babies more than you expect.

Eddie and Hen grunted an affirmation and continued their preparations while Chimney turned into Buck and Tommy’s neighborhood. He sped down the road so fast he was sure he was breaking the sound barrier and then came to a halt in front of their building with a screeching halt. Without wasting another second, Chim jumped out of the ambo and rushed through the front door, Eddie and Hen, equipment in hand, right behind him. 

They rushed past the elevators and right up the stairs. Buck and Tommy’s apartment was on the third floor, waiting for the elevator to come down would be a waste of the already little time they had. With more than determined strides, the three made it down to Apartment 3F, where Eddie quickly smashed his spare key into the lock to allow all of them access.

As soon as the door swung open, Chim, Hen and Eddie rushed down to the living room. Buck, drenched in sweat and visibly struggling with each breath, clung to the back of the couch, his face contorted in pain. The apartment was in disarray, evidence of his solo battle through labor scattered around; cushions on the floor, a hastily abandoned glass of water, a blanket half-dragged off the sofa.

“Buck, buddy, we’re here now. You’re not alone anymore,” Chimney announced as he entered, immediately taking charge. Eddie was right behind him, medical kit in hand, which he deposited on the coffee table before squeezing Buck’s shoulder. “Eddie, towels and water! Hen, take his vitals and give me the deets!”

With a nod, Eddie rushed off to get everything ready, while Hen knelt down by Buck’s side. “Okay, Buck, I need you to try and relax for me. We’re gonna take care of you,” Hen said soothingly. She brushed a strand of hair out of Buck’s face and quickly opened the kit Eddie had brought in to begin her assessment.

Buck, gasping through the pain, managed a weak smile at the sight of his friends, his voice trembling. “Guess I’m really screwing up the day, huh?”

Chimney couldn’t help but let out a half-laugh, half-sigh. “Only you, Buck. Only you could think having twins was just another day at the park.” With that, he pulled up his radio. “Dispatch, this is Leading Paramedic Buckley-Han, we are on scene, patient is conscious and responsive. Assessing situation now.”

There was a brief silence before the radio cracked back to life with Maddie’s voice. “ Copy that, Howie. Keep me updated. ”

Chimney put the radio away and moved over to assist Hen in whatever she might need him for. “Alright, Buck, just keep breathing like we taught you. We’re going to get through this together,” she said, her tone steady despite, well, everything .

As Eddie returned with the supplies, his role became supportive as he positioned himself behind  Buck, who was clearly struggling with both pain and fear. Chim couldn’t hear exactly what Eddie mumbled into Buck’s ear, but it seemed to work, as the Omega visibly relaxed. Meanwhile, under Hen and Chimney’s efficient work, the living room transformed into a makeshift emergency ward as they quickly built up an area to work.

Chimney checked the time and then looked over at Hen, “Contraction timings?”

“Getting closer, about five minutes apart now, and intensifying,” Hen reported as she monitored her watch closely and spread Buck’s legs to check his cervix. “Ten centimeters. We’re not going anywhere, these pups are coming now .”

Chimney cursed under his breath, but quickly took back control of the situation. “Okay, then let’s do this! Eddie, get on the couch behind Buck, I need you to support his back! Hen, get everything ready for postnatal care, I’m on delivery!”

*

Tommy was pretty sure he was breaking the speed limit ten times over as he floored it down the street away from the station. He’d been in the air. There was a massive pile up on a highway, and several air evacs had been necessary. Tommy in particular had gone back and forth four separate times before he returned to base to get the chopper topped up.

He hadn’t even really been out of the cockpit when someone from the ground crew had approached him and told him the news. Evan was in labor. His pups were being born right now , and that was all he needed to know before he ran off still in his flight suit, threw himself into his car, and sped off, his heart violently banging against his ribcage.

It was happening again. He wasn’t there for Evan when he should be there again , just like when he had fallen off the ladder during that cat rescue! Useless Alpha, can’t protect your fiancé, can’t protect your pups, can’t do anything right! The voice in his head sounded suspiciously like his mother, so he did as he did with the real deal and tuned it out. Horns sounded behind him as he ran another red light, and several cars in front of him swerved to the side as he approached. Tommy was aware that a massive fine was awaiting him in his near future, but he couldn’t possibly care less right now.

He just wanted to know why ! Why had Evan not said anything this morning? If the babies were coming now, that would mean he was in labor all day, didn’t it? And yet, Evan had kissed him goodbye this morning, had sent him on his way with a cheery ‘See you tomorrow!’ Was it a test? Because obviously, he should have seen the signs of Evan’s labor, but hadn’t.

Tommy gulped hard as he turned into their street. What if it actually had been a test? If Evan had sent him on his way to see if he was reliable, if he could tell when something was wrong? He shook his head. Because No. Evan wouldn’t do that. Evan was better than that, was too kind to do something like this to him.

After what felt like an eternity, Tommy came to a halt in front of their building, right behind the ambulance. He could park it somewhere else later, right now he just needed to get up into his apartment and to his Evan. He raced through the lobby and up the stairs, taking two steps at a time. When he finally arrived on his floor and at his apartment, he burst through the door, still open from when the team must’ve come in. Sweat was flying in beads from his hair, his eyes going wide at the scene before him.

Evan was on the couch, propped up against Eddie’s chest. Hen stood by with clean gloves, clamps and scissors at the ready should they be needed, while Chimney crouched between Evan’s legs, ready to bring the pups into the world.

“Tommy…”

Evan’s voice was a quiet sob, tears streaking down his beautiful face, and he held out his hand. Tommy rushed over, sliding into the crowded space by the couch, grabbing Evan's hand with a firm, reassuring grip. The room was filled with tense urgency, but the warmth of Evan's palm in his seemed to slow everything down for just a moment. "I'm here now, sweetheart. I'm so sorry I took so long."

Evan's other hand clutched at his own stomach, his breaths short and pained. "It's okay," he gasped, "just… just stay with me."

Chimney looked up at Tommy with a tight nod, acknowledging his presence before turning his attention back to the task at hand. "We're almost there, Buck. On the next one, I need you to push as hard as you can."

The atmosphere grew tense as everyone waited for the next contraction to hit. Tommy and Evan shared a look and a nod, and Tommy squeezed Evan’s hand reassuringly. He was here. He was constant. He wouldn’t leave his Evan alone anymore. Then, Evan’s hand tightened hard around Tommy’s.

"Okay, Buck, big push," Chimney instructed, his voice calm but firm.

Evan let out a loud scream, the sound an amalgamation of pain, bravery, and sheer determination, as he followed Chimney’s instructions. Tommy squeezed his hand, completely in awe at what was happening in front of him. He had always known Evan was strong, but what was happening here made it clear that he was even stronger than Tommy had realized. So, he did the only thing he could do and whispered words of encouragement into Evan’s ear, "You're doing amazing, baby. Just a few more."

The strain was evident on Evan's face, each muscle tense as a bowstring. Eddie, steady as he always was, gave Evan a soft pat on the shoulder, and Tommy a quick nod. Evan’s next contraction hit, the room once again filled with a loud yell, and then… a tiny, but vigorous cry. Chimney immediately softened, his professional demeanor giving way to a broad smile. "It's a boy," he announced, the relief in his voice echoing around the room. “Hen?”

Quick as can be, Hen rushed in and clamped the umbilical cord with practiced precision and speed, before handing a pair of sterilized scissors to Tommy with a gentle expression on her face. “Your time to shine, Dad.”

Tommy’s eyes widened as he took the scissors with a shaky hand. He shot a quick look toward Evan, who, despite all the pain he must’ve been feeling, gave him a weak, crooked smile and nod. With a gulp, Tommy took a deep breath, steadied his grip, and carefully snipped the cord, the tears that had been pooling in his eyes now flowing down his cheeks.

Chimney, still grinning, handed Baby Boy to Hen, who wrapped him in a clean, soft towel, and immediately started neonatal care. Tommy couldn’t take his eyes off of them. That was his son. He had a son now. A soft sob escaped his throat, and he quickly ran his sleeve across his eyes. He squeezed Evan’s hand and slowly pulled it up to kiss his knuckles. 

Then, Chimney cleared his throat. "One more time, Buck. There’s another one waiting to make an entrance."

Evan sniffed once, before taking a deep breath. Then, he gave Chim a determined nod. “I’m ready.” He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths, and Tommy wrapped both his hands around Evan’s. For the next few seconds, everything was calm except for Baby Boy Kinard, who was still crying his little lungs out, desperate for his Papa. Then, Evan tensed up again, and soon enough, a scream emerged once more.

“Okay, okay, okay, push, push, push! ” Chimney chanted, and then there was another piercing cry, softer but just as life-affirming as the first. The room held its breath, the tension almost palpable.

"It's a girl," Chimney announced with a weary but joyful chuckle, the stress of the moment dissipating as he carefully lifted the second newborn, cradling her gently. He looked over at Evan with admiration and relief, "It’s… it’s a girl. You did it, Buck. They're both here, safe and sound."

Hen quickly took the baby girl from Chimney, performing the same careful procedures as with her brother. She handed the scissors to Tommy once more, allowing him the honor of cutting his daughter's umbilical cord as well. This time, his hands were steadier, the awe and joy of the moment grounding him.

As Tommy cut the cord, Evan's eyes met his, an exhausted but blissful smile spreading across his face. "Tommy, Tommy, they’re…," Evan whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.

“Perfect,” Tommy breathed out, leaning down to tenderly kiss Evan's forehead. An almost primal surge of pure love ran through his body, large, and warm, and fulfilling. "They’re perfect . I love you so much, Evan. Thank you for this, for… for them ," he murmured, his eyes darting between Evan and their children, his heart swelling with pride and joy.

“Okay, so,” Hen began now, having finished the initial check ups on the pups. “Apgar scores are good, they’re breathing well, seems like they’re absolutely perfect for now. Let’s get you three to a hospital, okay?”

Her assertion was met with nods all around, and Chim and Eddie joined her to prepare for transportation. The chaos of Evan’s labor had given way to a peaceful calm that Tommy, who had sat down on the couch next to his fiancé, now basked in as Hen carefully handed him his son. He looked down on him, rocking him gently, still not fully believing that he was here now, and that he was his .

Tommy, with a soft smile, looked over at Evan, who had now been handed their daughter. The sight of Evan cradling her made Tommy’s heart grow, or at least that’s what it felt like. That was his Omega. Smiling down at their daughter. That they made together.

Evan looked up and locked eyes with him, shooting him the single most radiant smile that had ever existed, and Tommy felt more tears rush into his eyes. (How was that even possible? He felt like he already lost enough tears for three people!) He draped his arm over Evan’s shoulders and pulled him close to press a soft kiss to his hair before resting his cheek against it.

“Chim, we good to go?” Hen asked, checking her equipment one last time.

“Almost,” Chimney replied, helping Evan to his feet. Tommy almost felt like growling at the man for taking his Omega out of his arms, but he bit it back. This was necessary. He knew that. Evan and the babies needed to get checked up at the hospital. Chim was cautious and gentle, treating Evan with the utmost care he deserved, and Tommy couldn’t help the satisfied, appreciative hum that escaped him at the sight. Chimney only chuckled at him. “Eddie, let’s get Buck comfortable.”

Eddie nodded, assisting Evan with the same gentle efficiency he had maintained throughout the emergency. With Evan and the babies ready, the group made their way to the ambulance, their movements a well-orchestrated dance of professionals used to handling life’s most delicate situations.

Tommy followed close behind, carrying his son, his protective gaze never leaving Evan and their daughter. The night air was cool, a stark contrast to the warmth swirling through him. Tommy’s senses were in overdrive as his brain couldn’t decide whether it wanted to stay with Evan and the kids to shower them with love, or go on the prowl to eliminate threats that Tommy knew weren’t there, but still felt the urge to track down.

As they settled into the ambulance, Chimney grabbed his radio with a wide grin on his face. “Dispatch, we’re transporting. Omega and twins are stable and on their way to the hospital. Congrats on being an Aunt.”

“ Copy that, Ambo 118, ” Maddie’s voice crackled through, a touch of relief evident in her tone. “ Great work, everyone. I’ll see you all at the hospital in a bit, okay? ”

The ambulance doors closed with a definitive thud, sealing the small family inside with their team of guardians. As the vehicle pulled away, the sirens were silent, a peaceful journey to the hospital awaiting them.

Inside, the atmosphere was calm, a stark departure from the chaos earlier. Tommy looked over at Evan, who held a radiant smile. “They really are perfect, aren’t they?” Evan whispered, his voice hoarse but filled with wonder.

“They are,” Tommy agreed, his voice thick with emotion. “You were amazing, Evan. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”

Evan shook his head slightly. “No apologies, Tommy. You’re here now, that’s what matters. We did this together.”

Tommy squeezed Evan’s hand, their joined ones resting gently on the blanket that swaddled their son. The road to the hospital was smooth, the city lights blurring past as they moved swiftly through the quiet streets, a calm peace spreading between them.

*

Several hours later, the ‘118 + Family’ group chat pinged with a message. A beautiful photo of Buck in his hospital bed, with Tommy next to him was inside. In Buck’s arms lay a small, light blue bundle, while Tommy held a pink one.

“Tommy Kinard and Buck Buckley are proud to introduce the newest members of the 118 and Air Operations, Benjamin Robert and Emily Jane Kinard.”