Archive of Our Own ^beta

1. Bobby, February 2018

Bobby knew his probationary firefighter had potential. Only a few months into the job and Buck had shown incredible natural instincts and reflexes. It was like the boy was born for the job. However, one thing that Evan Grant did not poses was the ability to temper his emotions. He would run head first into danger without a second thought and was constantly speaking his mind. Don’t get Bobby wrong he was a kid, and a great addition to the team but, what happened today. That crossed a line.

“If this baby dies it’s on you.”

Screaming at a police sergeant in the middle of an active scene was way beyond what Bobby had thought the probie was capable of. The thought of a suspension had been running over Bobby’s mind before the ambulance even drove away from the scene. Buck had been dead silent since the doors closed. The tension was so thick you could hear a pin drop the entire way to the hospital, and then back to the station. Buck had jumped out of the rig before it had even parked in the bay and Bobby was quick to follow. Enough was enough and this kid needed to know that there would be consequences for his actions. However before Bobby could utter a single syllable a different voice came booming though the station. A very familiar voice.

“Evan Samuel Grant.” The entire station stopped including the man in question. Sargent Athena Grant was strutting up the bay hands on her duty belt and sunglasses over her eyes. Her face was as cold as stone, she was here for business. She was headed straight towards a certain blond-haired firefighter who had all but cursed her out not one hour earlier. Buck turned quickly coming face to face with the woman stopping a few feet away from him. Bobby noted that though Buck was trying to stand tall and hold his ground there was a particular air of fear in his eyes.

“Young man are you out of your damn mind.” Athena bellowed harshly, pushing the sunglasses off her face and onto her head. Buck swallowed and had enough common sense to shrink down some. “You were taught better, raised better, and know better, than to do what you just did. It was unprofessional, uncalled-for, and an egregious disrespect to a superior officer…” Buck shifted on his feet as Athena kept on ranting. Buck knew he deserved it, but he also knew why he acted the way he did.

“…Do you have anything to say for yourself?” Buck took in a deep breath before opening his mouth.

“I’m sorry but that girl has no idea the kind of pain she just caused that baby. She abandoned her child; it doesn’t matter how old that baby gets they are going to carry that burden of being abandoned for the rest of their life. If they even get one, she’s in critical condition because of that… TEENAGER!” Buck was yelling by the end of his rant and Athena was waiting patiently for him to be done. She knew exactly why Buck acted the way he did.

“And you and I both know that all too well. But if you want to stay in this line of work you need to check yourself because personal opinions are not a good enough excuse to judge that girl in the way that you did today.” Buck sighed rubbing a hand down his face.

“I know, I know I’m sorry…” Buck stuttered and Athena interrupted.

“Oh, I know your sorry. Let’s just hope you don’t do anything that stupid again because next time. I won’t be as nice.”

Bobby cocked a brow glancing at Hen who was standing a few feet away snickering into her hand. They along with the rest of the station were watching the entire event play out like a tella novela. Nice was not a word he would use to describe what just happened. The sergeant had just chewed his firefighter out for eight straight minutes before basically telling him to stick his emotions where the sun don’t shine.

“Yes Ma’am.” Buck relented quietly. Athena gave Buck one last look before dropping her sunglasses back on her face and turning to walk out of the station.

“Oh, and Evan. Grounded. For a month.” Bucks mouth dropped open watching the Sargent’s retreating form. He took a few meaningless steps towards the woman quickly retorting the statement.

“But wait, I don’t even live at home. I’m an adult, and you can’t just…” Buck cut himself off stopping in his tracks when it was clear Athena wasn’t stopping.

“And I am still your mother.” There was an inaudible gasp through the entire station as realization washed over the building. Maybe Bobby didn’t know Buck as well as he thought he did.

2. Maddie, September 2018

“Mom, May!” Buck called pushing open the door to his childhood home. He hadn’t seen Michael’s car out front so his dad and Harry were probably still on their way. Since his parents split and subsequent divorce his family had gone through a lot of changes, like the fact that his younger siblings split time between the house and Michael’s apartment. One thing that hadn’t changed however was weekly family time.

At the start of every month calendars were compared and a time was picked out once a week for everyone to get together for quality family bonding. It was both a comfort and a necessity for the family who was just now settling into the new normal. This week that day had landed on Saturday so everyone was going to congregate at the house for lunch and then they were going to spend the afternoon on a family hike.

“In the kitchen baby.” Buck wiped off his shoes, before making his way down the stairs and through the living room. He stopped by the table pulling his little sister into a hug and ruffled her hair before May could duck away.

“Hey watch the curls. You know better.” May yelps twisting away from her brother in annoyance. She set another plate down with a mock glare at her older brother, who like the very mature adult he was stuck his out in retaliation. The siblings were best friends, and not in the forced sibling’s way in the real call each other at three in the morning to discuss what really came first, the chicken or the egg? May rolled her eyes and watched Buck walk over to their mother. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and plants a kiss on her cheek.

“Hey Mama.” Athena smiles into the embrace leaning into Bucks chest.

“Hey Honey. Shift go, okay?” Buck hummed letting go of his mom to grab a stack of cups and help May set the table.

“Fine long but I got a full night of sleep so that was exiting.” Athena turned and gave her son a smile over her shoulder. Ever since the baby in the pipe incident Buck had been like night and day. He had gone back for his next shift with a new attitude and new perspective of the job he loved so much. He had soared after that and now more than 14 months into the job he was a real asset to his team.

“Yeah, I heard from Lew that the night shift was pretty calm as well…”

“EV” Athena was cut off by a young exited voice. The sound of shoes being chucked against a wall echoed through the house. May and Buck looked at each other quickly, eyes wide knowing what was coming. Less than five seconds later their little brother had launched himself onto Bucks back making him stumble and brace himself on the table.

“Oof, Hey buddy.” The weight suddenly dropped and Harry stepped around Buck to wrap his little arms around his big brother’s waist. Buck bent down and hauled the little boy up onto his hip. Despite the 19-year age gap they were still as close as brothers could be. Harry idolized his big brother and he was practically Evan’s mini me. “I missed you so much!” Harry hugged Bucks neck tight and all the man could do was smile and hug back.

“I missed you too little man.” Normally Buck tried to be around as much as he could but this week had gotten away from him with work and his own life so he hadn’t seen his family since last week’s family dinner. Apparently seven days was to long for the little boy. Buck set Harry back on the ground and the boy went running to Athena.

“Hey I missed you too.” Buck turned seeing Michael standing behind him arms outstretched for a hug. Buck stepped forward happily letting the older man envelop him into one of his big papa bear embraces.

“Hi Dad.”

“Hey son.” Michael had been the only father figure Buck ever knew. The memories of his life before Athena adopted him was scares at best. A little girls voice and the name Maddie that he later found out belonged to a biological sister. Hospitals and one distinct memory of an oxygen mask being placed over his face were all he remembered so for all intense and purposes Buck considered his life started when he met Athena, his mom. It had taken a while for Athena to introduce the man to her son, but Michael was patient learning about the boy and his story letting Athena take all the time she needed. Michael was all in, whenever both her and Evan were ready. It took exactly ten minutes after meeting for Evan to like him and 11 minutes after meeting to all but drag him over to help build the lego house he was working on. Michael took the little boy in as his own flesh and blood and wouldn’t be told otherwise. The rest as they say is history. The embrace was broken a few seconds later when the doorbell rang.

“Anyone expecting company?” Athena said wiping her hands on a towel. The family looked around each other confused and shaking their heads. Athena chuckled rolling her eyes at the entire family looking like deer caught in head lights. “I’ll get it.” Athena smiled she wasn’t exactly sure what she was expecting when she opened the door but she definitely wasn’t expecting a complete stranger with a little girl on her hip. Athena was pretty good at remembering faces and she was positive she hadn’t ever seen the young brunet woman nor the little blond-haired girl before.

“Hello can I help you?” Athena kept her distance standing in the doorway her cop instincts kicking in, as she took in the woman. Nothing was immediately alarming about her. She looked kind, a bit frazzled, and nervous, but otherwise innocent.

“Hello. I’m sorry to intrude like this but are you Athena Grant?” Athena raised her eye brow it wasn’t like people didn’t know who she was but if this woman was here for a police inquiry she would really love to know where she got this address.

“Yes, I am. And yourself Ma’am?” The woman smiled a sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness I came to the right house.” The girl chuckled but Athena wasn’t so easily amused. “Right sorry.” The woman shifted on her feet nervously and cleared her throat before she continued. “My name is Maddie Kendall; this is my daughter Halle.” At the sound of her name the little girl perked up.

“Hi.” She waved at Athena and Athena waved back giving the girl a small smile in return. She wasn’t a monster. Maddie smiled at the little girl, rubbing a hand over her daughters back before continuing.

“I have been looking for someone, and I think you might be able to help me. I recently found out that you adopted a little boy in 1995. He would have been three at the time, and from Hershey Pennsylvania. I had a brother disappear around that time. My parents told me he died but it wasn’t until a few months ago that I found out they abandoned him at a police station here in LA. I have been looking for him ever since. Kendal is my married name but my maiden name is Buckley, and I was wondering if it would be possible for me to meet your son, because I think he might be my brother.” Athena's mind was racing a mile a minute. She honestly never thought this would happen.

Athena had been the one to find Evan sitting on a bench outside her station with a backpack tied to his shoulders so it wouldn’t fall off his tiny frame. Inside was his birth certificate, social security card, a packet of medical records, and all other government documents. A packet of papers filled out by his biological parents waving every single parental right they had to the boy, and a note saying they were sorry but they just couldn’t take care of him anymore. Athena had scoured every inch of the case trying to find answers for the tiny boy she was falling in love with. She didn’t understand who wouldn’t love this child. She came up empty handed. It was like the Buckley’s had dropped off the face of the earth.

Like any curious kid Evan had asked question as he got older, and Athena had given the case another go for her child. That time she had come up with more. She found the Buckleys living in a new town, hours away from Hershey. Phillip the father owned a small Law firm and they had a daughter. Maddie. If anything, that made Athenas blood boil even more. If they could love one kid. Why couldn’t they love another. Evan however took it all in stride. He was content with the answers and was thankful that they did give him up, even if he still didn’t know why.

“Mama if they hadn’t abandoned me. You wouldn’t be my Mama, and Dad wouldn’t be my dad. That would be a pretty messed up world.  What would you do without me.  I’m awesome.”

Those words had made Athena laugh, pull Evan into her arms and hug the living daylights out of him. They left it at that and never looked back. Her baby boy was happy so she was too.

“Excuse me.” Both women turned seeing Michael standing behind Athena looking at Maddie with daggers in his eyes. Athena blinked a few times before stepping aside and letting Michael step closer. She had been able to let go of her feelings towards the Buckley’s but Michael. Not so much.

“Maddie this is my ex-husband Michael Grant, he is also the father of my children.” Maddie smiled shyly at the man. “Hello Mr. Grant. I’m Maddie Kendall.”

“Oh, I know who you are, I heard enough to comprehend. I am just wondering what you think gives you the right to show up here out of the blue and make a claim on my child like that.” Michael crossed his arms and Maddie gulped. Michael had clearly scared her, and Athena did feel a little bad.

“I have pictures, if you want to see and a copy of my brothers birth certificate.”

“Yes please.” Athena cut in before Michael could do any more damage to this poor frightened woman. Maddie let one strap of her purse fall off her shoulder and reached in with the same arm fishing out a large yellow envelope holding it out for Athena to take.

“He was born on June 26th 1994, at Milton S Hershey medical Center. His name was James Andrew Buckley.” Athena and Michael didn’t even spare a glance at Maddie as she talked to engrossed in the pictures. The birth certificate was an exact replica of the one currently sitting in the safe with the rest of Evans old documents. However, they would have known based on the pictures alone. It was pretty evident that their son was her brother. Evan’s unmistakable birthmark above his right eye and there it was in every one of these baby pictures along with his sparkling baby blues, and blonde curls. There weren’t many and they mostly consisted of Evan, and Maddie. One with another boy and two with who Athena assumed to be their parents.

“Yeah, that’s my boy I would know that birthmark anywhere.” Michael relented rubbing a hand over his face. And as if he had perfect timing a head of dirty blond curls poked out the front door.

“Hey is everything okay… Oh sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Buck’s parents looked between Maddie and Evan and themselves not really knowing how to deal with the situation.

“Oh my God.” Maddie whispered covering her mouth softly.

“Maddie this is my son Evan. Uhm Evan sweetie this is Maddie Kendall, and her daughter Halle.”  Buck walked out of the house standing in between his parents smiling brightly.

“Hi pleasure to meet you.” He held a hand out and Maddie shook it sniffing a little. “Are you okay Mrs. Kendall?” Maddie smiled brightly wiping away a stray tear that had escaped. It was like a dream come true for her. All of her hard work paying off.

The day that she had found out her little brother wasn’t dead after all was the same day that Doug had nearly beat her to death. It was the last straw and that night she grabbed her daughter and took off into the night. She had a plan, a bad plan but a plan non the less. She was going to find her brother.

“Yeah, Yeah, just wow. Umm.” Maddie looked at Athena as if asking “can I?” and with a quick shrug from Michael Athena nodded quietly. “I just. You are so big.” Buck furrowed his eye brow.

“Oh okay… thank you? I’m sorry but do I know you?” Athena could see the dots connecting in her son’s head before he even had real answers. Maddie chuckled again before taking a deep breath.

“I’m sorry that probably sounded like I’m a stalker I promise I’m not. My maiden name is Buckley. I had a brother who was born in Hershey Pennsylvania on June 26th 1994. His name was James Andrew Buckley. I was the one who named him actually. I practically raised him too. He disappeared a few years later and it wasn’t until very recently that I found out he was given up for adoption in Los Angelis California.” Maddie was silently crying as she watched the grown man Infront of her. She hadn’t seen him in over 2 decades but she still knew that he was her little James.

“You used to sing to me.” Maddie’s face lit up as she started nodding. “I don’t remember the words just that you sang to me and your eyes. I remember your eyes they look the same.” Maddie chuckled wiping away tears.

“Yeah, you never liked bed time so I would sing to you until you fell asleep. Your favorite was twinkle twinkle little star.” Buck smiled softly like something was clicking into place.

“Well then, your family. You came just in time we were about to sit down to lunch would you and Halle like to join us. Give us all a chance to get to know each other?” Buck held a hand out and Maddie wiped some more tears away before taking it.

“Yeah, yes, please. We would love that.”

3. Eddie, February 2019

All in all, Eddie’s first week with the 118 was going pretty good. The entire team was great. Captain Nash was amazing and everyone had welcomed him with open arms. One of the paramedics Hen had even gone as far as to bring him a giant cupcake on his second shift solving the mystery of why her first question to him had been if he had any food allergies. The answer to which was yes, shellfish, but that clearly hadn’t mattered. Apparently there had been an issue on his new partner Buck’s first day when Hen had given him a dark chocolate cherry cheese cake without knowing he was allergic to cherries, and the first call of the shift had been taking Buck into the ER for an anaphylaxis reaction. All of that however did not dissuade Eddie from currently hating the entire team. Every last one of them had made it their life’s mission to give him shit at every opportunity. Earlier that morning he had accidently backed the Engine into a police car and caved in the entire rear bumper.

Hen, started snickering again from her spot next to Eddie. She was currently demolishing him in Mario cart.

“What.” Eddie says annoyed as he almost rolls off rainbow road for the third time. Hen cackles some more as she laps Eddie yet again. You would think someone with a kid would be better at this but nope.

“Just Thenas face was so priceless when she saw the car.” Eddie groaned in annoyance letting himself fall right off the bridge as he slumps against the couch.

“Hey winning isn’t fun if you forfeit.” Hen protests but Eddie just groans again. He can hear Buck chuckle from his spot in the corner of the sectional. Eddie peaks one eye open and gives his partner a death glare. The incident that morning had only been worsened by the fact that apparently the entire crew knew the police sergeant that the car belonged to. A Sargent Athena Grant. He had learned the hard way not to call her an officer.

“Really loving that you guys are finding joy in my humiliation.” Buck snickered into the screen of his computer and Hen just patted him on the back.

“It’s not the humiliation part that we are finding joy in. It’s the fact that your first impression on Thena was you ruining her car.” Hen’s voice had slipped into her mom voice, treating Eddie like a five-year-old.

“Shut up.” Eddie brushed Hen’s hand off his shoulder about to speak up again but Chimney’s voice carried up the stairs.

“Hey Cap your girlfriend is here and she brought Dinner!” Chim took the last step up to the loft five Pizza boxes in hand and one Athena Grant by his side. Eddie stopped short for a split second. Girlfriend, as in the girlfriend Cap would never shut up about. Perfect just freaking perfect.

“Eww Chim really.” Buck called tilting his head back to look at the man with the pizza giving him an incredulous look. Chim just smirked caring the Pizzas the rest of the way over to the kitchen, while Athena rolled her eyes walking over to Buck. She took a seat above the man on the back of the couch looking over his shoulder at his computer screen.

“May’s rough draft.” Buck nodded craning his head back to look at the woman. “How’s it coming.” Athena asked running a gentle hand through Bucks curls.

“It’s an amazing start.” Athena smiled as Buck looked back at the screen and Eddie watched on with a look of horrified confusion. He knew Buck had been working on an Essay for his little sister who was apparently in over her head with the work load from her AP Lit class but he wasn’t sure how that connected to Athena running her hands through Bucks hair like she had done it hundreds of times before. Athena glanced over catching his eye. She sat up straighter looking Eddie in the eyes.

“Firefighter Diaz.”

“Sargent.” Eddie squared his shoulders gulping.

“You might be one heck of a driver but your background study checks out. Welcome to the team.” Eddie blinks at the woman. His what and she what? She was a much nicer person out of uniform.

“Hey Mom can you do a final look over before I send all this back to May?” Buck suddenly said tapping a few more times on the keyboard before looking up at Athena. Eddies brain short circuited. She was Bucks Mom. That thought had never even crossed his mind. He had noted the last names but chocked it up to LA being a massive city.

“Wait she’s your mother.” The entire loft stopped and looks at Eddie. Buck raises an eyebrow in his partners direction and slowly nods.

“Yeah, you didn’t know that.” Eddie shook his head eyes wide and confused and suddenly Hen burst out laughing.

“Oh, this makes it all so much better!” Eddie shoots her a glare. That would have been a nice fact to know earlier. So, he not only backed into Bobby’s girlfriend’s car, but also Bucks mother’s car. His brain short circuited again at the latest revelation.

“Your mother is dating your captain.” Buck groaned and Hen all but flopped onto the couch her entire body shaking with laughter. Eddie shook his head out at the entire situation and smiled. Yeah, he would be fine here.

4. David, February 2020

Hand to heart if you asked David if he had ever felt this nervous, he would have to say no. He was a pretty level headed guy. He performed lifesaving brain surgery every day but the thought of meeting Michael’s family was spiking his anxiety to levels he didn’t know were possible. His fingernails were nonexistent at this point. He had chewed them down to nubs, and if he chewed anymore, he would start to draw blood. A hand came from his left gently covering his hands and lowering them from his face to his lap. Michael laced their fingers together and the action forced David to take a deep breath.

“Hey it’s okay.” Michael soothes rubbing his thumb over the back of David’s knuckles. “They will all love you don’t worry.” David knew Michael was right. Anyone that Michael considered family was going to be a good person he knew that much, but clearly the anxiety wasn’t getting with the program. David took a deep breath giving Michael a placating smile. Michael had been trying to plan this dinner for weeks, but David’s schedule and Michael’s family’s schedules never seemed to line up. weather someone was on shift, or a kid had a school or sports event. They had been like ships passing in the night. Until now.

“What if Evan, May, or Harry don’t like me.” David finally released his worst fear. Michael had been very upfront about his unique family dynamic from the get go. He had wanted David to know what he was getting into, and that if he could respect and accept it there wasn’t a future between them. The proclamation had only made David fall deeper in love with the man. It was clear how much of a family man Michael was and how much he adored his kids. They were the loves of his life, and if they didn’t like David, it was either going to make or break their future.

“Baby trust me you have nothing to worry about. Unless you have some reason to question my parenting. I have three amazing kids who will love you, because I love you. Oh, also because you are an incredible human being, and they care about that kind of stuff. Good parenting and all.” David rolled his eyes cracking a smile. This man could always make him smile. “And here we are.” Michael pulled up in front of a beautiful house that Michael had no doubt designed, and David gulped. He felt a rush of uncertainty flow back into his body. He felt wholly unprepared for this. Despite how much Michael loved his family he wasn’t to keen on giving up personal details about them. Something about letting them be their own people and getting to know him on their own terms. David understood the method of parenting, but at the current second hated it.

“Come on let’s go.” Michael gave David’s hand one last squeeze before letting go and hopping out of the car. David took a deep breath and followed suit. Michael took David’s hand in his own half way up the driveway and when they reached the door Michael didn’t hesitate in opening it and letting them in. David wasn’t sure why he was shocked at the action but he was non the less. Yeah, it had been his house but it wasn’t anymore. Michael wiped his shoes off on the large mat in the entry way and David followed suit, before Michael pull him down the small staircase and into the house. It took less than five seconds for a young boy to run towards Michael and attack him like a koala bear.

“Hey little man.” Michael wrapped the boy up into a tight hug. The interaction causes Athena to poke her head out from the kitchen smiling at the two men. David notices her right away. She looks exactly how he imagined. Kind eyes and a warm smile coted over with an air of confidence. Definitely someone he wouldn’t want to cross.

“Michael, David. I’m so glad you both could make it.” Athena smiles walking up to the two men arms open wide. “David it’s so good to finally meet you. Athena Grant-Nash.” Athena smiled before pulling David into a quick hug that he reciprocated.

“Likewise, I have heard so many good things. Thank you for hosting.” David smiled politely as he let go his anxiety slightly lessening with the warm welcome. Athena pursed her lips waving her hand.

“Oh of course. Can I get you two anything to drink. Water, wine, beer.” Michael gave David a reassuring rub on his boyfriends back causing David to relax even more.

“Wine would be amazing.” David chuckled out a breath and Athena nodded her head understanding how nervous the man had been. Michael let Harry go turning him towards David.

“David this is my youngest Harry.” The boy smiled and waved. David bent down to be more eye level with the young kid and stuck a hand out. If David knew one thing from being an uncle it was that kids always liked feeling grown up.

“Mr. Harry. It so good to finally meet you.” Harry puffed out his chest taking David’s hand and giving it a firm shake. A bit to firm but David wasn’t about to say anything.

“You too Mr. David.” Harry dropped David’s hand and the man could see the mental wheels spinning in the boy’s eyes. “Mom said it was impolight to ask but do you really get to cut open brains every day!” The question came out so fast that David’s head spun. Athena was chastising Harry from the kitchen and it took every ounce of strength in David’s body not to burst out laughing. If he had a dollar for every time a kid asked him that he wouldn’t need to be a brain surgeon.

“No, no really Athena it’s okay. I get asked all the time. And to answer your question Harry no I don’t cut brains open every day… just most days.” Harry’s eyes go comically wide looking at his father before moving and running over to the table, and Athena's phone.

“I have to tell Denny and Chris!” Michael rolled his eyes taking David’s hand and leading him over to the kitchen table where Athena was pouring two new glasses of red. She hands one over to Michael and sighs.

“Do you mind going and helping Dumb and Dumber over there.” Athena tilts her head and David and Michael both turn their heads. Through the back patio doors, they could see two men tinkering with a fancy looking grill. The older one was flipping through an owner’s manual and the other much younger man was twisting and pushing all kinds of knobs and buttons.

“Oh my God is that it!” Michael looks like a kid on Christmas morning and Athena rolls her eyes responding with a calm “yes” that sounded like it had been perfected over the years. Michael set his glass down running out of the house and to the two men. David watched on slightly confused but mostly amused. He had zero idea what was going on but watching his boyfriend wrinkle his eyebrows and rip the manual out of the older man’s hand was pretty amusing.

“I swear those three are worse than preteen girls sometimes. Not that I don’t love them to death. That is some new fancy grill my parents got my husband for his birthday. I refuse to go near it.” Athena chuckled, and David smiles. The older man must be the said husband Bobby and he didn’t know about the other. Maybe Bobby had a son that Michael never mentioned. The thoughts were quickly pushed to the back of his mind when he offered to help Athena. He was a decent cook if he said so himself and his mother did raise him with manners.

“Where are the girls?” David lifted his head from where he was chopping vegetables beside Athena watching as Michael reentered the house the other two men behind him. They all looked rather confused. Athena shook her head, they looked like a pack of puppies, big curious eyes, and a cloud of cluelessness. If anyone had told her three years ago that her ex-husband and her new husband were going to be two peas in a pod she would have laughed in their face. If she knew her son was going to be pulled into their antics 90% of the time she would have down right walked away. Yet here they were.

“Don’t you to ever listen…” The three men looked at each other then back to Athena who mumbled something along the lines of lord give me strength. “May went to pick up H&M. Maddie’s car broke down on her way over. She went to rescue them.” David watched as the younger man wiped his phone out quickly blinking at the screen.

“Why didn’t she call me?” The man was clearly a little butt hurt and David wasn’t exactly sure why. He also wasn’t sure who this H&M were. Michael let out some sort of indignant squawk that was parotid by an almost identical one from Bobby. David watched the two men have some sort of telepathic communication.

“United front.” Michael finally said as Bobby nodded.

“I’ll get my computer you start looking on your phone.” Bobby clapped Michael on the shoulder as he passed him walking deeper into the house and disappearing through a doorway. Michael whipped his phone out going to sit down on the couch. David was so incredibly confused.

“What on earth just happened?” David asked chuckling. He was starting to get borderline uncomfortable at the level of cluelessness he was experiencing.

“The duo that makes up Athena Grant-Nash’s past and present love life.” The younger man says snickering into a beer bottle narrowly dodging a piece of airborne broccoli from Athena's hand.

“That is my husband, Bobby. He and Michael must have been soul mates in another lifetime. It’s the only thing that makes sense.” Athena rubbed her temple in an attempt to calm down as she pointed towards the duo.

“We call them the twins” The man adds again before his phone rings and he steps away answering it. David nodded taking in the new information. He looked over at his boyfriend again who was now peering over a computer with Bobby by his side.

“Uh huh and what exactly are they doing.”

“Trying to find a car to buy for Maddie.” Athena relents.

“Ha.” Harry laughs and David turns towards the boy still sitting at the kitchen table. Athena's phone in hand.

“Maddie has this beat up old Jeep that is constantly breaking down. The twins have tried convincing her to let them buy her a new car for months but only an idiot would try arguing with Maddie so they keep losing.” Harry and Athena hummed in agreement and David is buried deeper into his confusion. Who on earth was Maddie.

His question was answered not even 2 minutes later when the door opened and a little girl ran into the house yelling “Auntie Thena” before barreling straight into the woman’s waiting arms. Athena laughed happily as she hauled the little girl up onto her hip hugging her tight.

“I hope she didn’t break a rib. She has been talking about Auntie Thena all day.” David turned towards the new voice seeing a brunet woman walking towards the table with a younger teenager by her side. David immediately realized the teenager must have been May, and that the older woman was probably Maddie.

“Oh no she is just fine.” Athena assured the woman before glancing at David. “Girls this is David Hamilton, David this is my Daughter May, my honorary child Maddie, and this little darling is Halle, Maddie’s daughter.”

“Hi. Can I give you a hug?” Halle questioned energetically, and David chuckled at her forward personality before opening his arms and letting the little girl jump into his lap. After Halle was securely back in Athena's lap Maddie was the first to step forward with an outstretched hand for David.

“Hi it’s so nice to finally meet you. Michael has been raving about you for months.” David stuttered for a second. Clearly Maddie was close to the family in one way or another but he had zero idea how. He hadn’t ever heard of an honorary child. Granted he also didn’t hear about Athena's apparent step son.

“Nice to meet you.” David shook her hand before looking over at May. The teenager gave him a genuine smile before asking for a hug that David obliged.

“You have probably realized that we hug in this family.” May chuckled pulling back. “I’m so sorry it’s taken this long for us to meet. I’m May it’s so nice to finally meet the man that has been making my dad so happy.” That got David to blush a bit. His anxiety was flowing off him in waves, and looking back he had no idea why he had been so worried, anxiety was weird like that. Michael was an incredibly kind human. It only made logical sense that his family would be kind as well.

“Maddie, the twins want to see you in the living room.” The younger man from earlier said walking into the kitchen setting a beer bottle into the sink and grabbing a water bottle covered in stickers from off the counter.

"Why?" Maddie looked at the man skeptically. 

“They’re buying you a car.” The man says with a shoulder shrug, cool as a breeze as he opened the bottle and took a big sip. Maddie squawked turning on her heals and walking towards the couch.

“Oh no you two are not.” The man chuckled.

“Halle take note this is what Crazy mommy looks like. If someone you know offers to buy you a car out of the goodness of their heart. Take the car.” The little girl nodded her head seriously and Athena brushed a hand over the girl’s blond ponytail in amusement.

“Oh my gosh. You two were never introduced. David this is Evan.” Athena motioned to David and Buck swallowed his sip of water before walking over and offering a hand to shake, and David was stunned speechless. He was confused. Evan, Athena called him Evan. This was Michael and Athena's oldest. David looked at the very white hand in his own and then back up at the young man. He probably looked so incredibly rude right now.

“Good to finally meet you David.” David stuttered before catching himself.

“Yeah, you too.” May is the first one to break the awkward silence and snorts out a laugh.

“He did it again didn’t he.” Athena hummed looking at the sky.

“Lord, give me strength. David this is our oldest Evan. I adopted him before Michael and I met. A fact I am sure his father never mentioned.” Buck rolled his eyes looking down at his mom.

“Or just forgot to mention. The man is colorblind.” Buck chuckled taking another sip of his beer, and almost spitting it out when Athena pinches his side playfully.

“Like you are any better.” David watched the interaction as everything clicked into place. The instinct to protect his family was probably a defense mechanism built up over years. They were a blended mixed race, melting pot of love and acceptance. It was truly beautiful.

“WE DON’T CARE MADELYN.”

“That’s not even my name.” Every single head in the house turned to watch the argument go down between Maddie, Bobby, and Michael.

“If you think about it happening without the voices its way funnier.” David looked over at the snickering little girl in Athenas lap. Buck snorted a laugh before putting out a fist for his niece to bump.

“And that would be my sister. Word to the wise don’t argue with her… Ever.” David looked at the woman who had subtle similarities to Evan. There weren’t many but they were there. He cataloged them his brain finally connecting all the dots.

“A biological sister?” Buck smiled nodding.

“You catch on fast to our crazy crew. Yeah, Maddie and I share the same birth parents but I was given up when I was a baby and Maddie was left to fend for herself.”

“Evan.” Athena tisked swatting at her son, who mumbled an apology.

“It’s a long story. You’ll get used to it.” Buck smiled and David nodded. He sure hopes so. He was in this for the long haul.

5. Taylor, June 2020

“Breath, Tay you’re like the energizer bunny.” Buck said as he stopped at a red light reaching over to take Taylors hand in one of his own.

“I’m sorry I’m just happy. I finally get to meet people.” Buck chuckled and accelerated through the now green light. Today was a big day for the new couple.

The two had met when Taylor was moving into the building next to Buck’s. Taylor ran into him with a giant box and they quite literally fell for each other. They hit it off instantly, but unfortunately the lockdown happened less than a month after they met. It put a damper on things naturally, but they took it in stride. Getting to know each other over FaceTime, text, and a snap streak that was taken very seriously by both parties. Once they both felt comfortable enough with the state of the world they started slowly hanging out in person, and began to date. Now three months into their relationship Taylor was finally going to meet the group of people Buck called family at the first post Covid Fire Family Barbecue witch also just happened to land on Bucks Birthday.

“I’m happy too. I’m glad you’re so excited. When David came to meet my family, he nearly had heart palpitations from a panic attack.” Taylor cocked an eyebrow amused and Buck shook his head in surrender. “Look I don’t know the man is like the walking definition of cool as a cucumber. He cuts people’s brains open for a living but that day he could barely get two words out.” Taylor rolled her eyes. She had heard so many stories about Evans family. She felt like she already knew them without even seeing a picture. Witch if she really thought about it was kind of weird, but everything about anything was weird right now.

“Your house is beautiful.” Taylor leaned forward craning her neck to see out of the windshield as Buck pulled into a driveway.

“Thanks, my dad designed it. Come on.” Buck unbuckled and hopped out of the car Taylor following suit. Buck waited in front of the car with a mask on holding out his hand. Taylor put her own mask on and took Bucks hand in hers. The masks were a precaution. Over half of the people here were first responders and the other half were loved ones so precautions were of the utmost importance. Buck let them into the house wiping off his shoes before leading her down the steps and out the giant glass doors. The first thing Taylor noticed was just how many people were here, all standing around in groups chatting and laughing. A group of little boys ran right in front of them and Buck had to grab Taylor’s arm so she wouldn’t get plowed over. One of them called a sorry over their shoulder and Taylor just smiled. She didn’t have a whole lot of experience with kids but she loved them.

“Hello, hello.” Buck called making their presence known. The attention was turned to them and everyone there cheered. May was the first to jog up and hug him, Covid be damned.

“Happy Birthday Big Brother.” Buck hugged his sister back taking in the fact that they could actually hug again.

“Thanks May-May.” Buck hugged back and Taylor stood behind watching the exchange between siblings. The not seeing any pictures thing was starting to ring bells in her head. May’s mocha colored skin contrasted Evans bright white, and it was clear they didn’t share the same set of parents. Not that it mattered to Taylor. She didn’t even have parents anymore so she was the last person to judge a family who loved each other. The thought that maybe May was adopted crossed over her mind in a fleeting second but was quickly brushed away when Buck looked back at her. She stepped forward and Buck wrapped an arm around her waist.

“May, this is my girlfriend, Taylor. Tay this is my little sister May.” May lit up and opened her arms for Taylor who happily obliged giving the younger girl a quick hug. Taylor had learned very quickly that her boyfriend was a hugger so it made sense that his family was as well.

“Hi, sorry but I just have to hug you. I have waited to meet you for so long.” May practically squealed pulling away keeping Taylor at an arm’s length. “I now have an equal number of sisters to brothers it’s a dream come true.” Taylor was a little stunned by the statement but was touched non the less. As an only child the concept of siblings had always been a novelty to her and when she found out Buck was one of four kids, she couldn’t wait to meet them.

“Oh my gosh. You are so sweet.” The girls giggled at Buck who scoffed at the borderline insult May had said about her brothers.

“Wow May, I see how it is. What about Chim?” Buck asked addressing his coworker and Maddie’s Fiancé. May shot her brother an annoyed look before answering. Hip popped every bit the sassy teenager she could be when she wanted to.

“They aren’t married yet he doesn’t count.” Taylor snorts and Buck rolls his eyes. “Where are Mom and Dad?” Buck asked changing the subject as he scanned the back yard not catching sight of either parent. May smiled letting go of Taylors arms.

“Mom went inside to change. Denny ran into her and she spilled lemonade on her shirt. As for Dad he was just here somewhere with Bobby and David.” May looked around faking cluelessness, and Buck knew better and before he had a chance to hide, he was attacked from behind by airhorns. A body wrapping their arms around his shoulders, and Buck shot up into the air screaming bloody murder.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY.”

“OOOH MY GOD DAD WHY.” Taylor braised a hand against her chest. She had nearly jumped out of her skin at her boyfriend’s scream. She watched as the man hanging off her boyfriend laughed and dropped to the ground. Buck turned around and was immediately pulled into a hug.

“Because its tradition. Happy 29th.” Buck rolled his eyes glaring at the blond man who had answered the question. Taylor assumed that he was Evan’s biological dad. The other two were probably his step dads.

“Did you get it?” The other man in the trio asked and Taylor turned to see a brunet woman giggling at her phone with a little girl on her hip. “Oh yeah. Nice jump little brother. You clutched the girls and everything.” So that must be Maddie Buck’s older sister, and the little girl must be his niece Halle. Taylor turned her head back to see the man who had attacked Buck cupping his face and talking to him quietly. Buck was nodding his head silently and now Taylor was confused. Who was this guy and why was he so close to Buck’s face.

“I heard a scream the birthday boy must be here.” Taylor watched as a short African American woman walked out of the house and straight towards Buck with open arms.

“Come here Baby.” Buck smiled taking a step away from the man, throwing his arms around the woman. Taylor had never seen him smile as big as he was just then. The two grew silent for a moment and it was clear to Taylor that some sort of moment was happening with the way everyone went silent after them. Buck finally pulled away putting the woman at an arm’s length.

“Happy Gotcha day Mama.” Athena cupped her sons face with one hand taking in her boy.

“Oh, my boy. Happy Gotcha day.” Taylor let her mind process everything that was going on. Clearly this was Evans mom, that much was obvious. As was the fact that the family was blended. That made the situation a lot less confusing, and now Taylor wanted to figure out who was who’s parent. She was not in the mood to make a gigantic disrespectful ass out of herself later in conversation if she got something wrong.

“You look confused.” Taylor glanced to her left. May was still standing at her side but now sporting a smile like she knew exactly what Taylor was thinking. It was a little disconcerting.

“Uhm. A little. What is a Gotcha day?”

“It’s the anniversary of the day someone got adopted. Today is Buck’s Gotcha day with our mom.” Taylor’s mouth dropped open in an oh as some things clicked into place. May wasn’t adopted Buck was. Clearly before he was adopted by his dad who was probably the man that he had been whispering with. Hence the close contact. That left the two other men to be his step dads, who was whose significant other was the new question. As well as how Maddie came into the family. This detective work was kind of fun. Maybe she went into the wrong profession.

“Tay.” She was snapped out of her thoughts at the call of her name and saw Buck waving her over. She walked forward taking Buck’s outstretched hand stopping at his. She stood in front of a man and a woman. The man looked nice, but the woman was colder. Arms crossed an air of seriousness around her. These were Evans parents no doubt.

“Taylor this is My mom Sargent Athena Grant- Nash and my Dad Michael Grant. Mom and Dad this is my girlfriend, Taylor.” Taylor smiled and waved. Handshaking was a thing of the past now and she wasn’t super fond of the whole elbow bump thing.

“Hello, it’s so nice to finally meet you both. Evan had told me so many great things.” Michael was the first to smile.

“Same here. It’s great to meet you.” The introductions flowed smoothly after that. Athena was a little prickly but Buck had warned her of his mom’s overprotectiveness and had prepared accordingly. She learned that the older white man was Bobby Athena's husband and the other was David Michaels boyfriend.

Taylor settled into the group seamlessly, and the night flew by. Before Taylor knew it they were crossing onto the highway a box of presents and leftovers in the back seat both happy and tired. However now that they were alone Taylors question filled mind got the best of her and she took a deep breath before asking the question that she had done her best to push away all night.

“So, your adopted?” Buck glanced at her a flash of nervousness in his eyes. “Not that it matters of course I just thought that maybe that might have been something that you would have brought up whenever we talked about family.” Buck was constantly talking about his family in one way or another and a couple of weeks ago Taylor had gotten a notice for her father’s upcoming parole hearing. Buck had seen it and as a result she opened about her own family past. Her mom’s death and her father’s incarceration. Living between two extended families that hated each other.

“To be honest. It never really crosses my mind to mention. Yeah, I realize there is a glaring difference between me and most of my family members but it doesn’t feel that way. Mom, adopted me on my third birthday and at that point, I had already been with her for months. I was so little I barley remember the adoption or anything before it. I knew I was adopted obviously but Mom never told me any details until I asked. She wanted me to learn everything on my own time, when I was ready, and curious.” Buck paused and Taylor reached over resting a hand on his thigh. Buck dropped one of his hands form the steering wheel to cover it and gave it a squeeze.

“I was 10 when I first asked about my biological parents, I think. My mom told me everything she knew. I was born in Hershey Pennsylvania my bio parents are names Patrick and Margaret. I was abandoned outside a police station with a backpack full of documents and papers signing away my parents’ parental rights. Mom was the one to find me. She had tried to track them down back then but it was like they fell of the face of the earth. When I was 14 I asked my mom to look again and that time she found them. They had moved a few hours away and basically started new lives with their daughter.”

“Maddie.” Taylor amended and Buck nodded.

“Precisely. Maddie is my biological sister. I hadn’t met her until a few years ago when she came looking for me. That was also when I learned the real truth. I rather we had an older brother named Daniel. He had cancer, and needed a bone marrow transplant. None of the family was a match so my bio parents decided to have another child in hopes that they would be a match. It’s called a savior sibling. So, they had me, not wanting another kid but doing it to save Daniel. I was born and I was a match, but the cells didn’t graft and Daniel still ended up dying. After that they resented me and they hadn’t even wanted me in the first place so they flew to California on the guides of spending Christmas on vacation. Once we got there Margaret told Maddie that I was sick and she was taking me to an urgent care, while our dad took her to the beach. She dropped me at a police station door an hour later and told Maddie that I had died from complications.” Taylor gave Bucks hand a squeeze a single tear falling down her cheek.

“I am so sorry that’s awful.” Buck shrugged. It wasn’t like he remembered any of it. All he knew for as long as he can remember was love support and family. For a while it bugged him, especially after meeting Maddie but he worked through it in therapy and had made peace with it.

“Honestly it was for the best. They never cared about me. They just had me for parts. They were so preoccupied with Daniel that Maddie was the one who actually took care of me. She even named me.” Taylor smiled into the darkness. She loved Buck’s name.

“Maddie picked out Evan. How old was she?” Buck shook his head at the question. “Nine but she didn’t pick Evan. She picked my birth name. Mom picked Evan Samuel out with my supposed help. I don’t know how much help I was at two years old, but non the less it was changed at my adoption hearing.” Taylor opened and closed her mouth like a fish. She didn’t really know the proper etiquette for this particular situation.

“You can ask anything you want I don’t mind.”

“What was it? The name Maddie picked out.”

“James Andrew Buckley.” Taylor raised an eyebrow at that surname and Evan snorted. Yeah, it was pretty ironic. “Absolutely no connection to my nickname. That I got from Bobby in my probationary year because I was young and reckless.”

“I like Evan better.” Taylor finally said resolutely and Buck smiled flipping his hand over to lace their fingers together.

“Me too.”

+1

Athena stood up from her chair and walked up to the front of the room. She took the mic from Kayla. She was Taylors best friend, matron of honor, and wedding planner rolled into one. To add to it all she was also seven months pregnant, the woman was a saint.

“Thank you.” Athena says into the mic smiling as the applause dies down. She was following the maid of honor and best man speeches kicking off the family portion. Athena took a deep breath into the mic gathering her thoughts. She had been planning this speech for weeks, and after one-to-many headaches she had decided that curating some picture-perfect page of words wasn’t for her. She was winging it, something she had come to call speaking from the heart. She knew the general message she wanted to go off of and really these words were for Evan and Taylor. She didn’t need to impress anyone.

“I am pretty exited right now because for the first time in my son’s life I don’t have to explain who I am.” The joke caused laughter throughout the entire room and Athena smiled.

“I have thought a lot about what I wanted to say today, how I wanted to convey everything that this day means to me in a single speech. It is much harder than it seems and I almost always ended up thinking back own memory lane to Evan’s childhood. My sweet boy all grown up it was surreal to think about. What was even more surreal was the realization that Evan started this family.” Athena paused looking at her son. Evan’s head was tilted in confusion making him look exactly like the lovable golden retriever he was teased to be. A smile was still spanning his face bigger than any Athena had ever seen.

“The day I adopted Evan will always hold a special candle in my heart. I hadn’t told anyone about the day. I knew friends and family would make a big fuss but I was too scared to be exited. That day I as a young, single, black, police woman sat alone in front of a very big very imposing, very white man named Judge William Rose, and I prayed. I prayed that the Almighty would show mercy on this man, make him see that this precious little white baby in my lap was my child. That God had created this baby to be my son not matter how he came to me.” Athena started to blink away tears. Thinking back on that day always choked her up. She had woken up on an emotional roller coaster that had no end in sight. That day would have either been one of the best or worst days of her life.

“I don’t think I took a single breath while the proceedings were opening and I must have looked downright petrified because the first words Judge Rose said when he looked at me were ‘Miss. Carter. What makes your son laugh?’. He had this big happy smile on his face and I was so shell shocked that like a fool I told the man the truth. ‘Watching people stub their toes. Especially if it’s me and extra giggles if I start cussing.’” Athena gave the crowd a dead pan look as everyone burst out laughing. Anyone that knew her knew how out of character that would have been for her.

“I was mortified. I had wanted to go in. Present as the perfect mother, give them no reasons to take my baby away, and I had just said extra giggles...” Athena paused letting people chuckle. “I went to start correcting everything I had just said when Judge Rose started laughing, and told me that his five-year-old's first word was fuck.” The room started laughing again and Athena joined for a few seconds before she took a breath gathering herself.

“At that second as I was laughing with this man it felt like boulders were dropping of my shoulders one by one. Like I could breathe for the first time in my life. He saw me as a human being, not my job, not my relationship status, not my race. He saw me, my son, and how much I loved him.” Athena paused letting some people wipe their eyes, and she sniffed not even trying to wipe away the first of what was sure to be many tears running down her face. Athena turned her body so she was facing the couple, and her eyes sought out familiar green.

“Evan Samuel Grant. That day we started a family, and seeing it evolve with you by my side has been the greatest joy of my life. I have watched you become, a son any parent would be envious of. An older and younger brother that your siblings can always count on. An uncle that your nieces adore. A responsible respectful, resilient man, with a girlfriend, a fiancé, and now a wife. Every one of those milestones correlates with the growth of this family and for that I want to say thank you.” Athena watched the tears fall from her son’s eyes as he mouthed an ‘I love you’ at her. She took a moment for just them, a moment for the original members of this beautiful family. Athena dabbed the corners of her eyes before turning to the newest member of the family. The newest milestone.

“Taylor… I thank God every day for bringing such an empowered, tenacious, and kindhearted woman into my son’s life. In you he has found his perfect counterpart, confidant, and partner for this journey we call life. I am blessed that he is so safe in your arms and that you are so safe in his. You are everything and more I could have ever dreamed of and I could not be prouder to officially welcome you to this family.” Taylor was balling by the time Athena stopped. Taylor hadn’t had a mother for so long and losing her had been the hardest thing she had ever gone through. Athena had been a blessing to the young woman. Coming from such a broken home hearing the woman Taylor came to love like a mother welcome her like a daughter was everything.

“To both of you your steadfast, fearless, and unconditional love for each other is an inspiration, and watching it evolve has been an honor. I love you both with all of my heart, and I cannot wait to see what else the Lord has instore for you two because I know he is nowhere near done.” Athena handed the mic back off to Kayla and walked over to hug her son and daughter in law. There wasn’t a dry eye in the entire room but no one cared.