Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“What is it you truly desire?”

“To be good enough for someone to stay.”

"Evan, this is a surprise." Lucifer purred as he sauntered up to the young man he hadn't seen in his club for years. Reaching out Lucifer ran his fingers along Buck's cheeks, frowning as Buck shuddered in pleasure and leaned into his touch. "Evan, talk to me. What has happened?"

The last time that Lucifer had seen Evan like this was when he first stepped foot in his club, touch-starved and looking for something. Lucifer had willingly taken the young man to his bed and shown him the pleasure of what it was like to be with another man.

Evan had been a very good student.

"I needed to see you Lucifer," Buck whispered leaning into his touch. He can't remember the last time someone had touched him like this. Maddie and Chimney were busy planning their wedding and spending time with Jee. Karen and Hen were preparing for a new child in their home. Bobby and Athena were still recovering from their disaster of a cruise. And Eddie.

Eddie was too busy with Marisol and now Tommy to even notice that they hadn't talked in weeks.

Running his thumb across Buck's lower lip, "Talk to me."

Buck looked at Lucifer with tears in his eyes, "Why aren't I ever enough?"

Lucifer remembered that night Evan first walked into his club. It was rare for such a truly pure soul and Lucifer had been enchanted from that meeting. He might no longer be an angel but he couldn't deny the call to protect this one.

From that first meeting, Evan Buckley was under his protection.

The first to face his wrath was Dr Welles.

Freddie had no idea what was waiting for him when Lucifer entered his cell and the young man was still screaming as he relived the pain Buck went through while trapped under the fire truck.

"You are enough and those who can't see it are fools." Placing a hand on Buck's hip Lucifer's free hand slowly stroked his cheek, "Dance with me." Lucifer whispered.

"Always."

Lucifer easily moved them out onto the dance floor where Buck all but melted into the devil's embrace.

"Tell me what you want," Lucifer whispered in Buck's ear.

"To be loved. To be enough." Buck whispered feeling the tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Then let me love you." Lucifer's eyes shone with desire.

"Please." Buck needed to be touched, he couldn't remember the last time he had been touched.

Sliding his hand into Buck's hair Lucifer kissed him deeply and Buck all but became jelly in his hands.

Buck lost himself in Lucifer's kiss, he was taken back to the first time he met Lucifer how he had taken him to bed and shown him pleasures he never experienced before. Breaking the kiss Buck looked into Lucifer's eyes, "Take me to bed, please."

"Your wish is my command," Lucifer vowed to make sure Evan knew how special he was as he took him apart beneath him. Pulling away he took Buck's hand in his and led him off of the dance floor and into his own private rooms.

"You still have the red bed sheets," Buck commented as Lucifer closed the door behind him.

"You look divine in red and on my sheets." Lucifer nipped at Buck's neck, grinning as he felt Buck's heartbeat pick up.

"Lucifer." Buck moaned as he tilted his head giving Lucifer better access to his neck.

"Be prepared to say that a lot this weekend. I have no plans on letting you out of bed until you have to return to work." Lucifer vowed as he moved him and Buck towards the bed.

Buck could only shiver at Lucifer's promise and he knew from the past that Lucifer meant every word.

Wanting to show Buck the care he deserved Lucifer slowly undressed Buck, taking time and care to kiss each and every scar he cared on his body. "On the bed," Lucifer ordered once Buck was naked.

Doing as he was ordered Buck climbed onto the bed, he turned to look at Lucifer and pouted, "It's not fair that I am naked and you are not."

Laughing, "That can easily be ratified, my dear Evan."

Watching with hooded eyes Buck enjoyed the sight of Lucifer pealing himself out of his suit. Naked Lucifer was truly a sinful sight.

"Lay back," Lucifer ordered as he joined Buck on the bed. His fingers gently traced the scars Buck carried from the fire truck, he could feel Evan's shame over them and hate towards them. "They are not ugly, they are a sign of your strength. You survived something that so many wouldn't. You came out stronger than before." Lucifer placed a kiss on what Buck considered the ugliest of scars. "You amaze me, Evan." Crawling up Buck's body Lucifer covered the younger man's with his. "I am going to show you how much you amaze me and how beautiful I find you."

No one had ever seen his scars as beautiful the only ones who had seen them in bed had been Taylor and Natalia. Taylor asked him to cover them up while Natalia wanted to know all about what it felt like being trapped under the fire truck and how close to death he had been.

"Please Lucifer." Buck pleaded.

"Shh, my bright star I will take my time in showing you how special you are," Lucifer promised.

Buck knew from the tone in Lucifer's voice that he was going to be deliciously sore by the time was done and he couldn't wait. For one weekend he wanted to be able to stop thinking about Eddie and his unrequited love for his straight best friend.

As Lucifer kissed him all thoughts of Eddie slipped his mind and Buck gave himself over to the pure passion Lucifer was offering him.

Chapter Text

Lucifer wasn't one to cradle his lovers in his arms but Evan was different, he had always been different.

'If I could love a mortal it would be you.' Lucifer thought as his fingers trailed along Buck's birthmark, an angel's kiss or the mark of the Morning Star. Lucifer rather liked the idea of Buck carrying a mark of his.

Evan looked completely peaceful, and a smug smirk appeared on Lucifer's face. 'Evan should sleep soundly after all I wore him out this weekend.' Evan might walk with a slight limp and have a few hickies he can't fully hide but he rather enjoyed the idea of everyone knowing Evan was claimed.

But Evan wasn't his to truly claim. Evan was a mortal and his soul shone so brightly that he was destined for upstairs unless he did something truly evil to taint his soul to make him doomed for his realm but it wasn't in Evan, he wasn't evil.

Then there was Eddie Diaz. A breath escaped Lucifer. Evan's heart longed for the man and his soul ached for its other half. Most of humanity believed that soulmates were a myth that they didn't exist but that wasn't true. There were truly special cases where two souls were created to be each other's half, they were drawn and pulled to one another and created a strong bond unlike any other. Eddie was Evan's other half even if the man was denying it and trying to find what he needed in others.

Tracing Buck's face Lucifer wasn't ready to let the younger man go, call him selfish, which given that he is the Devil is on par with him, he wanted to keep Evan for as long as he wanted to be with him. Buck shifted moving closer to Lucifer's warmth and exposing the scars on his legs.

He remembers the night he watched the bombing and how he wanted to rip that little brat apart, and make his soul scream like he was making Evan scream. The way he taunted Evan when he was helpless, he still enjoyed making him pay. Mazikeen was who held him back from exposing himself even though she claimed to get to torture Freddie's soul when he entered hell.

"Mmm Lucifer?" Buck questioned sleepily as his eyes fluttered open a smile appeared on his face as he took in the sight of the other man's naked chest and trailed his fingers up his chest. "I should get ready to go soon but I can treat you to breakfast after the amazing weekend you gave me."

Catching Buck's hand Lucifer pressed a kiss on it. "I can think of a different type of breakfast I wouldn't mind enjoying instead." Lucifer's eyes shone with lust as he drank in the delectable sight of Evan Buckley naked in bed.

Buck could feel himself blushing. "As much as I would enjoy another round I have work to get to and need to eat and go home and pick up my work bag." Biting his lower lip Buck wasn't sure how to bring himself to ask what he wanted to.

"You can ask me anything, Evan," Lucifer reassured him.

"I know that you don't really do serious and I am not up for anything serious after my last girlfriend only cared about my death and Taylor was before her."

Lucifer remembered when he felt Evan's soul in flux where he hovered between life and death and he had been ready to rage war on Heaven itself to get Evan back, it hadn't been his time, the world would be so much colder without him in it.

He was much colder without him in it.

He had gone to death herself and demanded Evan's soul back.

"So even the Devil can love." She had allowed him to take Evan back and he remembers cradling Evan's soul, his bright and beautiful soul, in his arms as he returned it to his body. Evan was a fighter and he had found his way back to them.

Lucifer had never once denied her claims.

"Evan, you are special to me. You are someone I never expected to have in my life and I want you in it. You are right, I normally don't do commitment but you are special and I want you in my life in any way whether it as friends or something more. I want you." Lucifer gazed into Buck's blue eyes that were brighter than the sky. "I prefer you in my bed but you might be the only person I could try for something more with. I am willing to try if you are."

Buck knew that it wouldn't be easy to get over Eddie, he had loved him for years but Lucifer had a place in his heart, had since he met him. Lucifer might be the only one he could love as much as he loves Eddie. "I am."

Cupping Buck's face Lucifer's lips met his in a deep consuming kiss.

Eddie woke up gasping feeling like he had just lost something important. He felt so cold when he normally ran hot. He griped at his shirt right above his heart. It felt like half his soul had been ripped from him. He didn't know what it was but he would get it back.

Chapter Text

No one missed the distance between Buck and Eddie. How quiet Buck had grown the more Eddie talked about what he had done with Marisol or Tommy. No one certainly missed the lack of mention of any new Buck and Eddie adventures.

“Please don't bother Eddie about this, he is happy and that is all that matters.”  Had been Buck's plea when Bobby asked him.

It had been a month since Eddie had asked Buck to do anything. The way that Buck seemed to withdraw more and more into himself, his blue eyes becoming dull and reminding them of grey skies, no longer the Buck they all know and love. Buck had been suffering in silence and only a few had noticed.

But today that was all different Hen raised an eyebrow as she watched Buck stroll into a station a beaming smile on his face and his blue eyes sparkling with happiness. Hen didn't waste any time in pulling Buck into a hug.

"Hen, are you alright?" Buck asked worry filling his voice.

"I'm fine I'm just happy to see the old Buckaroo back," Hen whispered as she held Buck close.

Buck knew what Hen was talking about she had been so worried about him and the abrupt change in his and Eddie's relationship. Closing his eyes Buck held her closer. "I'm okay Hen." Buck knew that dating Lucifer wasn't going to be a magical cure and make his love for Eddie disappear but Lucifer was someone special and he might be what he needed to get over Eddie. "I even had a date on our days off and he is taking me out again."

Pulling back Hen studied Buck, she knew of Buck's love for Eddie. She had known it the moment he tossed himself screaming Eddie's name as he tried to dig him out of the mud bare-handed. She had been there when Eddie started dating Ana and she was there the night that Buck came to her and Karen with tears in his eyes as Buck told her how Eddie had asked him to look after Christopher while Eddie was going to trivia night with Tommy. Everyone knows how much Buck loves trivia night, he and Karen always claim each other for their team and wipe the floor with everyone else.

It had taken both of them to stop Karen from hunting down Eddie and Tommy and letting loose just what she thought of Eddie going along with Tommy and leaving Buck in the cold.

"I'm so proud of you baby. You know that Karen will want to meet him. And Athena but we will try to hold that meeting off as long as possible."

Buck blanched at the idea of Athena meeting Lucifer. Lucifer is a badass but Athena is Athena and she is in a whole other league.

Fidgeting Buck didn't want to keep a secret of who he was dating and Hen and Karen were the only ones who knew about him being bisexual. Denny had presented him with his own build-it bear dressed in all the bisexual colours. "If you and Karen aren't busy and Toni is okay looking after Denny, why don't you meet him on our next day off."

"I'd love to baby. Can I at least know the name of the man you are dating?" Hen asked.

"It's Lucifer Morningstar," Buck whispered a soft smile appearing on his lips as he thought of the man who had kissed him goodbye so sweetly.

Hen's jaw dropped, "You're dating Lucifer Morningstar as in owner of Lux?"

A thud sound stopped Buck from answering and both turned to see Eddie standing there staring wide-eyed at the two. "You're dating who? I didn't know you were interested in anyone." There was hurt in Eddie's voice and a tinge of jealousy the kind Hen knew Eddie always got when Buck had a new partner in his life.

'Oh, Eddie.' Hen knew that Eddie never liked it when Buck had a new love interest, hell he had hated Abby with a passion and she was gone before he arrived but he had never forgiven her for ghosting and hurting Buck. And she wasn't even going to touch the landmine that is Taylor Kelly but no one could make calm, cool and stoic Eddie lose it faster than the redhead.

Buck shifted from foot to foot this wasn't how he wanted to come out to Eddie. He never really told anyone but Hen and Karen that he was bisexual, most just thought he was straight never noticing that a lot of his past partners had gender neutral names. Though after Lucifer his relationships had all been with women. "Umm...I had a date this past weekend and I have another one this week on our coming up days off. I was inviting Hen and Karen to come with me to meet him, he owns the Lux." Taking a deep breath Buck felt his heart pounding as he licked his suddenly dry lips as he made his next offer, if he was going to try and move on from Eddie to be able to just go back to being his best friend he needed to take this next step. "If Marisol and Tommy are free why don't you bring them along I'm sure Lucifer would love to meet more of those I call family."

Eddie wasn't sure why it felt like his heart had just been turned into ice and then smashed by a hammer shattering pieces all around him. "You're dating a guy?"

"Is that a problem?" Buck asked.

Shaking his head no quickly, that was the last thing Eddie wanted Buck to think. "No that will never be a problem for me. You are still Buck and nothing will change that." Eddie didn't know why he hated the idea of meeting the man Buck was dating, he knows he wasn't homophobic he just couldn't explain why the thought of Buck with another man, hanging out like they did. 'Only it won't be like you. He gets to hug, kiss and see every inch of Buck's naked skin.' A voice mocked him. Clearing his throat Eddie answered, "I'll check in with them and see what they are doing."

"Great. I'll see you both up there I'm going to help Cap." Buck smiled at the two of them before finishing buttoning up his uniform and bouncing out of the room.

Leaving Eddie alone with Hen who was giving him a knowing look, "Hen?"

"I have tried to stay out of this and I have but Eddie look at your phone and check your messages and see when the last time you two exchanged messages and think of when the last time you did something with Buck, just Buck." Hen moved closer to Eddie, "I love you Eddie you are like one of my brothers but if you mess up this for Buck it won't be Athena you need to worry about it will be me and Karen."

Eddie had been in war zones and never had he been so scared, once Hen was gone he sat down on the bench and pulled out his phone. Finding Buck's name was easy he was at the top of his contacts but as he opened the message thread he felt himself freeze. "No, this can't be right." The last text message he had responded to was a month ago. The ones that Buck had sent him went unanswered and Eddie frantically searched his memories for the last time that he and Buck had done something together.

Go-karting. Buck had asked him to go go-karting but he had to turn him down because it had been Christopher's first date and Marisol had offered to chaperone with him. Something he hadn't wanted. He had wanted Buck there with him but Marisol had overheard and thought it would be a good step for them. His girlfriend of only three months had decided she had more of a right to be with him than his best friend the man he had been co-parenting his son for almost six years. It was why he wanted Buck to talk to Christopher, his son had needed Buck.

He meant to arrange to take Buck up on his offer to go go-karting then everything happened with Bobby and Athena. Then he met Tommy and it was like he met someone who understood what it had been like to be in a war zone. They had so much in common and Eddie could talk to Tommy without burdening Buck anymore with his demons. "I am a horrible best friend." Eddie had vowed that he would never leave Buck, that he would never cut him out of his life and a shiny new friend came along and suddenly he had no time for Buck. 'I'm damn lucky Athena isn't the one who talked to me.' Eddie didn't know how he was going to make things right with Buck.

He needed to get his head on straight, fix his friendship with Buck and be okay with Buck dating again. It would be in Buck's right to make him work for his forgiveness but Buck wasn't like that, he would be happy to have Eddie making time for him and that made him feel worse.

"I can do this for Buck, I can be happy for him." Eddie just didn't know why the idea of Buck with this Lucifer made him feel like he had lost part of his heart.

Chapter Text

"Lux? And the Lucifer?" Karen demanded as she turned around to face her wife. "You are telling me that our sweet Buck is dating Lucifer and we are going with him to Lux?"

Biting her lower lip Hen could only nod.

"Oh god, we need new outfits! We need to look our sexiest and best if we are hitting the Lux!" Hen barely had a chance to catch what her whirlwind of a wife was saying as Karen kissed her on the lips and headed for the door. "Where are you going?"

Turning Karen gave Hen a look of sheer disbelief. "I told you, we need new outfits so you are going to look after Denny while I get us outfits that will knock the socks off everyone at Lux. Don't burn down the house." Karen stopped her hand on the doorknob. "Call Buck and tell him I am picking him up, he needs to have something that will leave Lucifer drooling for our double date."

Hen didn't even have a chance to answer before the door slammed closed behind Karen. "Well, I better let Buck know that Hurricane Karen is heading his way."

Buckaroo, you have a wild Karen heading your way to take you shopping. She is determined to make you look good for your man.

I always look good! But I'm sure Lucifer will love the new look.

Hen could only roll her eyes her wife and Buck should never be left alone together they were pure chaos unleashed. She just hoped that Karen didn't go overboard in buying them outfits, they had a closet full of clothing and she couldn't understand why none of them would be good enough for Lux.

+*****

"Everyone is going to be so jealous when we tell them we have been to Lux." Karen gushed as she shoved another pile of clothing into Buck's arms. "I am happy for you, sweetheart."

A faint blush appeared on Buck's face before he cleared his throat. "I did tell Eddie that he could come and bring Tommy and Marisol along as well." He wasn't sure how he would handle it if Eddie took him up on his offer.

A knowing smile appeared on Karen's face as she reached out and cupped his face in her hands. "You have such a gentle heart. Eddie is a fool for not seeing what he has right before his eyes."

"I can't force Eddie to return my feelings and if he finds something with Marisol and sees a new friend who understands him better and isn't carried and weighed down by the past I am happy for him."

Sadness filled Karen's eyes, "Eddie hides what he feels. He did this with Ana and he is doing it with Marisol and Tommy. None of us know anything about Marisol, she hasn't come to any of the team BBQs or nights out and Eddie is caught up in a new friendship with Tommy and it is wrong that he is ignoring you. So I am proud of you for moving on and finding something new with Lucifer. When Eddie comes to his senses you make him work for your forgiveness. He is a great guy but he had no right ignoring you. You have been his rock and support since you got over your fear of being replaced by him. I love that man but he can be blind sometimes by his need to get his parent's approval."

"I think part of me will always love Eddie but for my own mental health it is time I stopped waiting for him and move on I love Lucifer in a different way than I love Eddie, but I still love him," Buck admitted in a soft voice.

"And you have every right to find happiness with someone other than Eddie. I saw you with Abby, Taylor Kelly, and Natalia and you gave them your heart and they trampled on it. Never once did you speak or have that look in your eyes or that smile on your face like you do when you talk about Eddie and now Lucifer." Karen reassured him. "But I will be giving Lucifer the shovel talk and making sure he knows that I have access to very dangerous equipment that I will use if he hurts you."

Buck could only laugh and he would hug Karen if his arms weren't full of clothing. "I better get trying some of these on, we need to find the right outfit to drive Lucifer wild."

"That's the spirit. Oh, I called May, she is going to be joining us in helping pick out an outfit for you." Karen added as she spotted the girl in question and waved her over.

Buck's smile grew at the sight of his adopted sister.

"Alright time to make someone's jaw drop." May stated with glee as she shoved Buck towards the changing rooms.

Diaz's Home

Eddie knew he was sulking and he had no right to, he was the one who pushed Buck out of his life to make room for a relationship with a woman that was going nowhere and while he likes Tommy, he is a good friend, he would never be Buck. He had pulled off the calendar that had been on his fridge and he wanted to destroy it as he noticed how many days he had made solely to hang out with Tommy. Days that he used to spend with Buck. He was lashing out, he had been since that day Buck told him that Natalia saw him. Like he hadn't. He thought no one saw Buck better than him but was wrong. He even started dating Marisol because Buck was in a relationship with Natalia. He likes Marisol but there is no future there. He just didn't know how to break up with her. But he didn't want another Ana on his hands. Marisol had even been dropping hints about her moving in and they had only been dating for a few months. He had a son to think about, he couldn't just move her in when Christopher was having issues about people leaving him. Unless Marisol and him were endgame she wouldn't be moving in.

Then there was Tommy and he likes the guy it is easy to talk to him. Not the way he can talk to Buck. He didn't want to weigh Buck down again with his problems and instead, he ended up taking advantage of Buck's good heart and pushed him away.

Into the arms of another man.

Eddie had lied to Buck, something they didn't do but when Buck had asked him what he remembered about him being shot. He lied. He remembers reaching out for Buck. He remembers seeing Buck covered in blood and the fear that gripped him that Buck, his Buck had been shot if it hadn't been for Christopher he would have traded his life for Buck right there in that street if it meant Buck got to live. He remembers meeting Buck's eyes as the man rolled under the fire truck, the monster that had nearly taken Buck from him and something Eddie knows Buck still has nightmares about being trapped under, something that gets when his leg is bothering him. Buck had saved him that day.

He remembers asking Buck if he was okay. He needed to know that Buck was okay because if he wasn't life wasn't worth living if he wasn't. It would destroy Christopher if he lost his Buck.

His feelings for Buck had always been more than friendship but he couldn't act on them. He couldn't risk losing Buck from his life. So he dated Ana, despite the way she called him Edmundo and tried turning him into something he wasn't, she didn't want Eddie she wanted Edmundo. He hated how she did her best to push Buck out of his and Christopher's life.

Buck had been there for him so much and he hadn't returned that. He took advantage of Buck's friendship.

"Hey, I thought you were inviting Evan to come," Tommy asked as Eddie slid into his truck. "He's cute, I wouldn't mind getting to know him."

Eddie hated how comfortable Tommy was calling Buck Evan and the way Buck seemed okay with it. He certainly didn't like how Tommy was calling Buck cute. "Christopher claimed him for the night." Eddie lied. He hated the way Buck's blue eyes dulled when he asked him to babysit Christopher instead of inviting him along.

Eddie wondered why he lied that night, why he didn't invite Buck along. Buck loves trivia night. Looking over how he treated Buck he felt like such an ass. 'Was that the moment that broke Buck and drove him into Lucifer's arms?'

Abuela cupped Eddie's face as she kissed his cheeks. "I hope the next time I see you will be when you invite me to your and Evanito's wedding."

"Abuela, we don't love each other like that."

Isabel just sighed, "He does love you. I see it in his eyes and the way he looks at you. I know what your parents have told you and you are afraid of action on what you feel for Buck. But you must not wait too long or he might move on which would be his right."

It looks like his Abuela was right and he had no one to blame but himself. He had taken Buck for granted and now that Buck was happy in a new relationship that made him smile in ways Eddie had never seen him smile he would do his best to support him and be a friend like he hadn't been in a month.

Arms wrapped around him and he tried not to flinch as Marisol's perfume filled his senses. She had taken to hugging him from behind and kissing him, something he didn't like. The only person he didn't stiffen up at doing so was Buck because he could trust Buck to have his back. He didn't trust Marisol to do so.

"Hey, handsome. I thought since it is just the two of us tonight we could have an adult night in." Marisol purred, her fingers already working on the buttons on Eddie's shirt, not noticing how he stiffened at her touch.

Eddie couldn't stand it, her hands on his skin were making him panic and he batted her hands away before jumping to his feet and quickly redoing the buttons on his shirt up.

"Eddie?" Marisol didn't look happy at Eddie's actions.

"I'm not in the mood and next time make sure I don't want to be touched like that." Crossing his arms over his chest Eddie looked anywhere but her.

"Excuse me? I am your girlfriend, we are getting ready to move in with one another. I shouldn't need to ask anything."

"We are not moving in together we are nowhere near ready for that step and it doesn't matter if you are my girlfriend that doesn't give you the right to touch me without my consent." Eddie didn't know why she was acting like this.

A growl escaped Marisol. "I thought now that you had gotten that parasite Buck out of your life you would see reason. I mean the only reason you had issues with touching is because of that freak."

Eddie saw red, "Get out of my house! And you can consider us over. No one talks about Buck like that."

A huff escaped Marisol as she grabbed her purse, "Call me when you come to your senses."

A weight felt like it had been lifted off of Eddie as the door slammed close behind her. Now he just had to make things right with Buck if he could. It would be in Buck's right if he wanted nothing more to do with him.

Chapter Text

"Nope." Lucifer turned on his heel to head back to where he came from.

"Oh don't be like that Lucifer. We want to hear about your boyfriend." Trixie appeared out of nowhere and wrapped herself around the man's legs.

"Come on we want to hear about the man who stole your heart. Maze is being very tight lip about him." Chloe spoke up from where she was sitting at the bar with Maze and Ella all three watching him as Trixie unleashed her puppy dog eyes on him.

"You three should never have been allowed to meet let alone get together." Lucifer truly regretted the day that those three became an item.

"You wouldn't be able to handle the pining. You were the one who made us admit our feelings for one another." Maze countered.

"She's got you there." Ella grinned up at her girlfriend.

A defeated sigh escaped Lucifer. "Yes, I have someone very close to me but he has been hurt in the past, deeply. By people he thought he could trust so we are keeping it between the two of us for now. When he is ready then I will introduce him to you." Lucifer shot Maze a glare.

"His ex-girlfriends have been the worst. I wanted to deal with them but Lucifer wouldn't let me." Maze grumbled under her breath.

Trixie had an understanding look on her face, "You are just protecting his heart, I understand."

Lucifer was certain that Buck would adore Trixie the moment they met but he wasn't up for sharing his partner just yet, he knew that it wouldn't be long before Buck was making plans to take Trixie to places and introducing her to his niece and Christopher. As much as Lucifer wasn't fond of Eddie Diaz he had no issues with his son.

"Thank you for understanding Trixie, I can always count on you."

Buck was exhausted after his day of shopping with Karen and May. He loves and adores them but they were merciless when it came to shopping. Bundled down with bags he could have headed to his loft instead he wasn't surprised when his feet led him to Lux.

"You look exhausted love," Lucifer commented as he watched Buck put the bags down on one of the tables.

"May and Karen will get along great with Maze." Licking his lips Buck looked at his very tempting boyfriend. "I invited them to come to Lux and meet you. If that is okay?"

Crossing the room Lucifer kissed Buck softly, "That is more than fine love." He wondered if Eddie would come and they would meet. Taking Buck's hand in his he tugged him out onto the dance floor. "Dance with me." Turning on the music he smiled at the song that came on.

As You Are by Daughtry started playing Buck melted into Lucifer's arms.

You're feeling isolated
And all kinds of frustrated
But I love you as you are, love you as you are, yeah
And don't worry about the haters
You don't fit in those boxes they create
And it's tearing you apart, it's tearing you apart, yeah

Buck remembers how lost and alone he felt when he arrived in LA, still looking for what he was missing. It wasn't until he met the 118th and Lucifer that he felt like someone was finally starting to see him.

And when you build those walls to keep you safe
It's like a prison you can't escape
You tear them down, you just might hear me say

Lucifer remembers his fall, he remembers being cast down to hell because he couldn't see what his Father saw in humans. He locked his heart away. He never expected someone like Evan to break through the walls he built around his heart. It was easy to take people to his bed and get his fill of sex but the first time he had taken Evan to his bed it had been different. The first time he kissed Evan he knew that this man was special. For the first time, he could see what his Father saw in humanity and their hearts.

I love you as you are
I love you as you are
And when the whole damn world
Don't know what they got 'til it's gone, I love you
I love you as you are
I love you as you are

Buck remembers the elderly couple who went together. "You don't find love, you make it." It took him longer than he would have liked to realize that he was still looking for love instead of trying to make it. He tried it with Taylor and that had been a disaster. Natalia and him was something that should have never started especially after the first time she walked out on him. He had lied about dealing with his death, about being okay with it, he wasn't. He just didn't know how to talk to any of his friends because he knew that it affected them. He knows Chimney blamed himself and that it should have been him who had gone up. Bobby and his fears that he lost another son. Hen thought she lost a brother. Maddie had to live with the fear of losing a brother again and that Jee would never know her uncle.

Eddie.

Eddie thought he lost a partner and Christopher thought he lost a second parent.

So Buck couldn't put them through what he was going through so he latched onto Natalia, someone who sees him the one after his death. He knows he hurt Eddie by saying that to him but he was just so damn lost. He just needed to talk to someone who wasn't his family. He just wishes that he had reached out to Lucifer, someone who would understand and not Natalia who was more interested in his death.

Eddie and Lucifer were the only two people he allowed to see all of himself.

And when the whole damn world
Don't know what they got 'til it's gone, I love you
I love you as you are

Lucifer remembers how cold it was when he thought Buck was dead. Never before has anyone fought Death, no angel, no demon and not even his Father. When Death comes for someone that it is their time is done. Someday Death will even reap God. Life and Death are forces beyond even God. In the end, they will be all that remains.

It wasn't the first time that he had faced Death for Evan's soul. The bombing when Evan's pain-filled screams still haunt him he had sought her out.

"He is not mine. He is in limbo he will either live or he will be mine to claim."

Lucifer felt his powers surging forth, "He is not yours! He is mine! I will not allow you to have him."

Death tilted her head a smile tugging on her lips. "Lucifer fighting for a human, I never thought I would see the day. I do not see him joining me. He is strong and a fighter. But you can't always protect him. One day he will be mine and you will have to give him to me."

"Never. Evan Buckley is mine." Lucifer declared.

"You are not the only one who fights for Evan Buckley or his heart but you are the most interesting. He must be someone special to have the Devil himself twisted up in knots for him."

"He is."

You can come out of the shadows
They're only scared of what they don't know
But I love you as you are, love you as you are, yeah
Yeah, you waged this war within yourself
Wasting time dying in a shell
They don't define you, just know they never will

Buck knows that Lucifer isn't human. He has seen the way his eyes flash red and can fill the power he holds and he will keep Lucifer's secret but he won't force Lucifer to tell him what his secret is. He will wait until Lucifer feels comfortable in telling him.

Lucifer is not a replacement or a rebound from Eddie. He knows this. Both are different from one another and special in their own way. He cares for them and loves them differently.

Lucifer was the first person to see beyond the frat boy, manwhore that everyone saw. He saw something in him. Everyone believes that Abby is his first love when it really is Lucifer. Abby will forever hold a special place in his heart despite how much Lucifer and Eddie each hate that idea. One of the few things the two men agree on.

I love you as you are
I love you as you are
And when the whole damn world
Don't know what they got 'til it's gone, I love you
I love you as you are (I love you as you are)
I love you as you are (as you are)

Holding Buck closer Lucifer began singing the lyrics to Buck because damn it, he meant every word when it comes to this young man.

And when the whole damn world
Don't know what they got 'til it's gone, I love you
I love you as you are, yeah
I love you as you are, yeah

As Lucifer sang to him Buck could feel himself tearing up because he believed it. He could feel it in every touch, every kiss and the way Lucifer treated him like he was something special. 'I could love you Lucifer.'

You're feeling isolated
And all kinds of frustrated
But I love you as you are, love you as you are, yeah

I love you as you are (as you are)
I love you as you are (as you are)
And when the whole damn world
Don't know what they got 'til it's gone, I love you
I love you as you are (I love you as you are)
I love you as you are (as you are)
When the whole damn world
Don't know what they got 'til it's gone, 'til it's gone, 'til it's gone

Tangling his fingers in Lucifer's hair Buck pulled him into a kiss. Pouring in everything he was feeling for the man. Every emotion that he was feeling and the words he couldn't voice just yet.

Growling into the kiss Lucifer let himself feel what Buck was feeling and returned it tenfold.

Yeah
I love you as you are, yeah
I love you as you are, yeah
And when the whole damn world
Don't know what they got 'til it's gone
I love you as you are

The song faded into the background as they voiced their feelings the best way they knew how to. With a growl, Lucifer tugged Buck's shirt off as he lowered him onto the couch.

Chapter Text

"I can do this," Eddie muttered under his breath as he ran a hand through his hair, it had never escaped his notice that Buck seemed to enjoy his hair when it was fluffier. He shivered as he recalled the times when they were both worn out and Buck would run his fingers through his hair as a comforting gesture something he did after Shannon died and during the pandemic when missing Christopher was too much to bear and the demands of his parents to send Christopher to them was getting heavier and heavier and Buck's touch had a way of grounding him.

"They will never take Christopher from you. I have ways of getting rid of them." Buck promised one night when he was certain Eddie had fallen asleep after a draining phone call with his parents that ended with Eddie blocking them.

Eddie had never heard Buck talk like that and he didn't want to think about the fact sweet open-hearted Buck had promised to get rid of his parents should they keep trying to take Christopher from him.

"Dad, what are you doing?"

Speaking of his son Eddie whirled around to see his son giving him a judging look.

"Trying to get ready for the night out with everyone." Eddie knew it came off weak.

Raising an eyebrow Christopher studied his dad. "Right, that is why you are wearing your date clothing." A sigh escaped him. "Dad, I know how you feel. I talked about Tommy all the time when hanging out with Buck. I hurt him as well and I am hoping to make it right with him. So maybe you could ask him if the three of us could do something this weekend?" Christopher looked so hopeful.

Crossing the distance Eddie pulled Christopher into a hug and was so grateful when he let him. "You know that Buck loves you, you are one of his favourite people, I think you and Jee are tied. I will ask him and I know that he will say yes."

"I hope so I miss doing things with Buck."

"Me too bud, me too."

Buck was nervous, he was about to introduce the man he was dating to his family.

To Eddie.

Two arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him back to rest against a strong chest. "You don't need to worry. They love you and they will accept you." Lucifer whispered before he pressed a kiss on the mark he left on Buck's neck, he was a possessive bastard he knew that and he wanted to see how Eddie Diaz would react.

Buck could only shiver as Lucifer kissed the mark again, the man had a way of making him weak in the knees and forgetting what he was worrying about. "Nope, we have no time for you to drag me back to bed. We barely had time to get showered off, especially since we decided to share one and I am not wrinkling these clothing. May and Karen would kill me." As much as it pained him Buck pulled himself out of Lucifer's embrace.

"And they have wonderful taste." The blue shirt they picked out matched Buck's eyes perfectly and made them pop, he couldn't wait to see it on his floor after he met his friends. And the pants clung to his long legs and made his ass look delectable, he couldn't wait to feast on it.

Knowing the look on Lucifer's face Buck took a step back. "Nope, no time for that. I know that Bobby and Athena are probably not joining us tonight, so you will meet them later and be on your best behaviour but the others all confirmed that they would be here tonight." Buck wasn't surprised that Bobby and Athena wouldn't be joining them tonight, Lux was well known about their drinks and the last thing he wanted was for Bobby to feel any kind of temptation.

"Alright, I shall behave," Lucifer promised before closing the distance between them placing two fingers under Buck's chin he kissed him softly. "For now." He promised when they broke apart.

"Looking good Eddie," Hen called out as she and Karen arrived at the same time. "Good to see you again Tommy." Hen smiled at the other man.

Tommy grinned at Hen, "At least this time no helicopters need to be stolen for us to hang out again." He took both women in, "You both look stunning."

Eddie had to agree they did, but he found his mouth was too dry for him to say anything and as if reading his mind Karen crossed the distance and hugged him. "It is going to be okay." She whispered in his ear and he could only pray that she was right.

"Hey guys." Ravi greeted only to stumble as his eyes landed on Tommy. "Wait are you the Tommy Buck and Eddie have been talking about?" He asked looking at the man with wonder and Eddie was convinced that was lust in his eyes.

The grin on Tommy's face grew as he checked Ravi out, "That would be me and you are?"

"Ravi." Ravi squeaked out.

Eddie, Karen and Hen all exchanged looks. This was rather interesting.

Before any teasing could start, May, Maddie and Chimney arrived. "Alright let's get this started." Chimney rubbed his hands together as he looked up at the club.

Karen linked her arm through Eddie's as she pulled him into the club.

Lux was everything it was supposed to be and more.

 "You made it!" Buck came bouncing towards them and Eddie was thankful for Karen as he nearly tripped over his feet at how stunning Buck looked and the handsome man strolling behind him had to be Lucifer. Eddie hated him on sight.

Lucifer's eyes caught his and he smiled at him as he came to a stop next to Buck and laid a possessive hand on the back of Buck's back. Yep, Eddie really hated this man.

A blush appeared on Buck's face as he slowly leaned into the other man. "Everyone this is Lucifer Morningstar, my boyfriend. Lucifer, this is my family. The lovely and stunning and best foster parents ever Hen and Karen Wilson. Ravi Panikkar, May Grant the best little sister ever, Tommy Kinard, my big sister Maddie and her future husband and the luckiest man in the world Chimney Han and Eddie Diaz, my best friend and father to the best kid now almost teen in the world."

Eddie's heart skipped a beat at Buck's introduction of him and the soft look in his eyes.

"I have been looking forward to meeting you all. Evan has spoken so much about you all."

Once again Eddie felt himself bristle at the ease at which Lucifer called Buck Evan.

"If I wasn't stickle into women I would be all over you." Karen teased.

Lucifer grinned at her, "A loss for men everywhere. Come let me and Buck show you around." Taking Buck's hand in his they moved away from the group.

Eddie wanted to rip Lucifer off of Buck. 'I should be the one holding Buck's hand like that.' That thought had Eddie freezing in his spot.

While everyone had moved away Hen hadn't and Eddie jolted as she wrapped her arms around him. "I know this is tough but glaring at Lucifer isn't going to help you win any points with Buck. There is still hope for you and Buck."

Eddie looked over to where Buck was smiling and blushing at whatever Lucifer was saying. "I don't know Hen. I hurt him and he has found someone who will treat him the way he deserves. I can't ruin this for him, not when I am not certain of my own feelings."

Hen wanted to ensure Eddie that it would be alright but she couldn't so all she could do was hug him.

Lucifer was the perfect host and Eddie nearly broke the glass in his hand when he took Buck out onto the dance floor and shared a slow dance with him and then a dance that had them looking like they were having sex with their clothing on.

Eddie had refused to enter the dance floor, he wasn't surprised that Tommy had seemed to claim Ravi for the night looking like he wanted to devour the younger man and the younger man making it clear he wanted to be feasted upon.

"Eds, how are you doing?" Buck slid into the seat next to him, a worried look on his face. "I am surprised Marisol isn't with you?" Buck hadn't been blind Marisol was rather possessive over Eddie and it worried him. She more than once made it clear that Eddie was never leaving her and it didn't sound like a healthy relationship. Even before he and Natalia split she had mentioned the same thing.

Eddie rubbed the back of his neck he was glad that he finally had time alone with Buck, now that Lucifer was twirling May around on the dance floor. "Marisol and I broke up. She wasn't who I thought she was and made some rather nasty comments that had me finally seeing what she really is like." Taking a deep breath he knew that he owed Buck this. "I'm sorry for being such an ass. I hurt you by cutting you out with Marisol and now Tommy. Marisol wanted all of my time and she invited herself to be Christopher's chaperone because she thought it should be her role. Christopher wasn't happy and neither was I. Tommy, I never wanted to make you feel like you were being replaced. You have seen me at my worst Buck. When I was broken and damaged you helped pick me up. I felt like I was hurting you by letting you see me like that." Shifting Eddie looked Buck in the eyes. "You have been my north star for so long leading me out of the darkness for so long, I was afraid that I was leading you too far into the darkness. Tommy understands what it is like to be in the army and I could open up to him because I didn't want to taint you any further than I already had."

Reaching out Buck took Eddie's hand in his, "You could never taint me. I want to be here for you in the good times and the bad. You and Christopher mean everything to me. Nothing will ever change that."

Emotions that Eddie has always shoved down came surging to the surface, "Speaking of Christopher he really wants to have some Buck time. Are you doing anything this weekend?"

The hopeful look in Eddie's eyes had Buck's heart skipping a beat, "I am taking Jee to the zoo for some uncle and niece time. Do you and Christopher want to join us? "Umm, Lucifer is coming along as is the daughter of one of his friends as well. Is that okay?"

Eddie hated the idea of spending any time with Lucifer but Buck's attention would be on Jee and Christopher so he forced out, "We'd love to."

"Great!" Buck beamed. "I want you and Lucifer to get to know each other more. You both are so special to me."

"Sounds great." Eddie tossed his drink back.

Saturday came faster and slower than Eddie would have liked. On one hand, he gets to spend the day with his son, Buck, and the adorableness that is Jee-Yun. On the other hand, he had to deal with Lucifer being there as well.

"Come on Dad. Buck and Jee will be waiting for us." Christopher called out.

"Coming," Eddie called back as he got ready for the day at the zoo and also what felt like a battle against Lucifer.

Trixie was bouncing on the balls of her feet, she couldn't wait to meet Buck's friends. She adored the man and she was happy he made Lucifer so happy.

Lucifer was smiling fondly at Buck who was focused on Jee who was babbling at her uncle. Buck was meant to be a father. There was something around him that had children trusting him.

"Bucky!" A younger voice called out as Eddie and a young boy who is clearly Christopher joined them.

"Christopher! Eddie! You made it." Buck shifted Jee in his arms and bent down to hug Christopher, it wasn't as long as he used to give when he was a boy but Buck treasured every hug pre-teen Christopher offered him.

Trixie bounced up to the two. "Hi, I'm Trixie Espinoza." She held out her hand to Christopher.

"Hi, I'm Christopher Diaz." Christopher grinned at her as he took her hand.

The adults felt a chill go through them as if they just allowed two forces to meet that never should have.

"Come on, the zoo awaits us." Buck hiked Jee up higher as his niece cheered along with him. 

As the day went on Christopher and Trixie exchanged multiple looks as it became clear to them that Lucifer and Eddie were engaged in a silent battle over Buck who was too focused on Jee to pay attention to the alphas fighting over him.

"I gotta root for my dad but Lucifer seems to be like a nice guy," Christopher commented to Trixie.

Trixie nodded her head, "He is but your dad seems like a cool guy as well." She tilted her head as she studied Buck. "Do you think we should let Buck know what is going on?"

Christopher shook his head. "Naw, Buck deserves to be wooed and I don't think Lucifer and my dad will do too much damage to one another."

Trixie and Christopher shared another look as Lucifer and Eddie exchanged another glare at one another.

"Buck's mother is one of the scariest women alive and she will put a stop to anything she deems is out of control." Christopher knew Athena wouldn't let Lucifer and his dad do anything that would cause Buck harm, not if they wanted to live.

When Buck had taken the kids to pick out something from the gift shop Lucifer and Eddie entered another stare-off.

"Tell me what is it you truly desire."

Eddie didn't know why but he felt compelled to answer, "To be able to be my true self and stop pretending I am someone I am not."

Pulling back Lucifer studied Eddie, the man was telling the truth. "I will not give Evan without a fight. I have fought Death herself to save him."

Eddie didn't know what that meant but he met Lucifer's gaze head-on, "I won't let Buck go either. He is my north star and I might have lost sight of that for a while I have found my way back to letting him guide me."

Chapter Text

Eddie needed to talk to Buck, alone. He knows he explained at the club and the day at the zoo had helped but Eddie wanted no needed time to talk things out with Buck to make him see that he isn't going anywhere and that no one could ever replace him, he had made him Christopher's guardian because there is no one else in this world that he trusted more with his son than Buck.

Waiting until they were alone Eddie couldn't help but wonder how many times Buck had waited for him. "Hey, are you busy tonight?" Eddie asked as he looked at his friend who was pulling on his shirt and he found his mouth getting dry as took in Buck's smooth back and flickered down to Buck's perfect ass.

'I wonder what it would feel like to have my fingers running along that smooth skin and be able to leave my mark on that ass as I eat him open.' Eddie nearly tripped over nothing as those thoughts slammed into him. He couldn't be thinking about Buck like that, he is his best friend! He has a boyfriend!

'He is your soulmate.'

A little voice whispered in the back of his mind.

'You two have been dancing around one another for years. It should be you Buck is dating, not Lucifer.'

"...ds?" Buck's worried voice and gentle touch pulled Eddie from his thoughts. Buck's eyes swam with worry as he looked at Eddie.

"I'm fine." Eddie did his best to reassure him.

Buck gave him a look that made it clear he didn't believe Eddie but would let it go for now. "If you're sure, I was telling you that I am free tonight."

Now that he had the answer Eddie fiddled with the strap of his work bag, he couldn't understand why this was so hard. "Do you want to do something together? With me, just the two of us? It has been too long since we did something together. I know that it didn't help that I blew you off for Tommy and Marisol and I want to make up for that."

Buck's touch burned as it landed on his shoulder and copied the move that Eddie had done so many times and rested his thumb in the hollow of his shoulder blade. "Eddie, I would love to spend time with you tonight. I have missed hanging out together just the two of us."

"Great." Eddie couldn't understand why he felt like a boy again asking out his first crush. "Um, do you want to meet me at my place and we could go from there?" Eddie wanted to kick himself at how lame he sounded.

The brilliant smile that appeared on Buck's face made it clear he didn't find him lame at all. "That sounds great, Eds. Should I follow you home?"

Something lifted in Eddie's chest eased at the fact that Buck still called the Diaz's place home. "Yeah, that would be perfect."

"Yeah, just great."

Buck was nervous and he knew a big part of that nervousness was because it was clear at the station that Eddie was nervous. It was something new in their relationship and Buck wasn't sure what to think about this new change in their friendship.

Straightening out his shirt Buck was torn between knocking or using his key. The key felt heavy in his hand as he looked down at it, he wasn't sure the last time he used his key. Before he could decide the door was opened and he came face to face with Eddie. Eddie looked unfairly handsome in his cream-coloured Henley and skin-tight jeans. "Um, hi."

"Hey, Buck." Eddie gave him the smile that was strictly Buck's. Moving aside Eddie let Buck enter the house.

"Where's Christopher?" Buck asked looking around, taking in the unusual silence of no video games playing.

"He's at a sleepover, he's sorry he missed you but his friend's mom offered to pick him up after school and take him straight over to their house, he will be back in the morning and is hoping for your famous waffles in the morning." Eddie gave him a soft smile.

Buck felt his mouth twitch up into a smile, "I think I can do that." Buck's eyes flickered to the couch, the couch that he spent countless nights on and couldn't replace in his loft.

Eddie's eyes lit up. "Christopher will be so happy. I will be so happy."

Buck could feel his heart skip a beat. "I will be happy to make my Diaz's boys their favourite breakfast meal, it has been too long."

"You mean Chris' favourite breakfast, we both know that he has you wrapped around his pinky." There was no missing the sadness that appeared in Eddie's eyes, "And it has been too long since we were treated to your cooking and that is my fault."

"No." Buck reached out and cupped Eddie's face between his hands. "I could have said something sooner."

Eddie rested his hands on top of Buck's and slowly pulled them down but kept them linked. "I pushed you out of my life." Eddie took a deep breath, "Can we sit down? And maybe have a beer as I explain or at least try to explain my mindset I was in."

"Of course."

Eddie refused to let go of Buck's hand as he led him over to the couch where two beers were sitting and waiting for them.

Eddie waited until Buck had taken a seat beside him and he turned his body to look at Buck, "Everything I told you at the Lux was truth not just all of it." Picking up his bottle he took a long drag, "My mom is back on her Christopher needs a mother and I should be finding him one and I should send him to live with them, despite him being a teen and there is no way that they would be able to lift him should he need help." A growl escaped Eddie. "She has been pushing for me and Christopher to move back to El Paso, saying how much my Abuela has been missing us."

That had Buck blinking, "Do you think that is why they fought so hard to get Abuela to move down there as a way to convince you and Christopher to move back there?" He wouldn't put it past Helena to try something like that. "I thought you and your dad were getting along better?" Eddie still had a strained relationship with his mother but he and his dad were getting along better.

"We are and I think Dad is truly thrilled to have Abuela living down there." Eddie gave Buck a playful grin, "Dad is loving retirement, he and Abuela have created a whole garden and have taken up antiquing. Dad wanted Abuela down there I think my mom sees her move as a new pawn she can play against me."

"I'm so sorry Eddie, that your mom is still making things rough for you." Buck's heart aches for his friend. "But I still don't understand what that has to do with everything."

Taking a deep breath Eddie took one of Buck's hands in his, "My mom is convinced that you are what is keeping me from finding Christopher a new mom, she thinks our relationship is unhealthy she wasn't stopping and she even told Christopher that he shouldn't be so close to you when eventually I would find another wife and mother for him and that your spot would belong to them." Eddie looked distant. "Marisol agreed with her."

Buck knew that Helena wasn't his biggest fan but he didn't realize how much she disliked him. "I should have known that she would try something like that. She did it when Ana was trying to take over your care." Buck's voice went soft as he remembered getting double-teamed by Helena and Ana it had only been Christopher getting upset and Abuela raising her voice did they back off from him. "When did your mom and Marisol start talking?"

Eddie let out a loud pained groan. "Marisol answered my phone one night when I was trying to cook one night and I came out that they were chatting like old friends. I am so tired Buck. I tried to make it work with Shannon because she was my wife and Christopher's mother and I thought that was what I should want even though I wasn't in love with her. I went all in with Ana because my parents loved her, my mother had our wedding practically planned the moment I met her. She was thrilled I finally found someone worthy to be Christopher’s mother and that I better not screw it up. I let myself be twisted into someone I didn't even recognize because that was who Ana wanted. Then Tommy came along and my mom decided a new tactic that I was the one holding you back from finding someone, that if I really was your friend I would want you to be happy and find someone you could spend your life with. I was having issues with Marisol and instead of slowly down and thinking about what makes me happy I went all in like I always do.”

Slowly Buck reached out and linked his fingers with Eddie's, "Your mother has no say in my life just like my mother has no say in mine. We get to decide who we want in our lives and I chose you Eds. You and Christopher are so deeply entwined in my life that I can't remember what it was like before you weren't in it."

Eddie wanted to ask if that was still true now that he has Lucifer but he couldn't find the strength to. "I am sorry for pushing you aside for Tommy. He is a fun guy and we have a lot of things in common but he is not and will never be you." Eddie wanted to reach out and touch Buck to pull him into his arms and never let him go, but that wasn't his place.

“Do you like him the way you liked Ana?” Buck was afraid to hear the answer.

Reaching out Eddie cupped Buck's face between his hands. “I like Tommy as a friend. And I'm sorry I hurt you. I didn't realize how much I was letting him take so much of my time. No one can take your place. You are so special to me.”

Buck couldn't say anything as Eddie looked at him so softly.

'I want to kiss him.' The urge slammed into Eddie and if he was honest with himself it wasn't the first time. "So why Lucifer?"

“I wanted someone to stay. For someone to choose me.” Buck whispered his eyes never leaving Eddie's.

Eddie wanted to claim that he would never leave Buck, that he would always choose him. But he didn't know if he had the right to anymore. "Does he make you happy?" Eddie hoped that Buck heard his unasked question 'Would I make you happier?'

"He does." 'But I can't stop loving you.' Buck wanted to add on but he couldn't because he loves Lucifer in the same way he loves Eddie. He didn't even realize was crying until Eddie was gently wiping it away.

Blue met brown and the world faded away, it would be so easy to close the distance between them but Eddie forced himself to stop himself because Buck would never forgive himself if he kissed him while he was dating Lucifer, he was still guilty about drunken kissing Lucy while dating Taylor Kelly and instead of breaking up with her like he wanted to he asked her to move in. Lucifer was different it was clear Buck was falling in love with him.

"When I kiss you, Evan, it will be because you chose to be with me," Eddie whispered. "Because I am in love with you Evan and I want to spend my life with you."

Buck licked his dry lips this wasn't what he was expecting when he came over. "Eds." Months ago this would have been his dream come true but that was before Lucifer. Before he found something with him, that could grow into something more.

"I want to be happy for you and Lucifer but I want to fight for you. For us to have a future." Eddie's eyes burned with passion and a promise. "You are my north star and I will always follow your light."

Buck didn't know what to say.

Lux

"Well played Diaz. I look forward to seeing how this battle plays out." Lucifer took a sip of his drink. He wouldn't give Buck up as he informed Eddie, not even Death would take Buck from him but Eddie Diaz was going to be quite the challenge. Buck had a big enough heart to love more than one person but the battle with Eddie would be an interesting one.

Chapter Text

Athena Grant-Nash was an imposing woman, even to the Devil himself. Lucifer hadn't expected Buck to invite him to one of the famous 118th BBQs but here he was following his lover into the Nash-Grant backyard. Athena and Bobby were Buck's true parents that Lucifer felt he needed approval of. She had waited until Buck was over with Bobby, helping him out with a giant grin on his face. Eddie was hovering beside Buck making sure that Lucifer had no chance to be alone with Buck.

"So you're our Buckaroo's Lucifer." Athena didn't look impressed at all and Lucifer knew that Maze would like her, which was a very scary thought.

"It is an honour to meet you, Athena, Evan talks about you a lot. I am glad that he has a true mother figure in you." If he could Lucifer would send Margaret and Phillip's souls to the deepest parts of hell. He will just have to do with the fact that they will never be reunited with their precious Daniel who from what he learned hated his parents for how they treated Buck and Maddie. He wanted nothing to do with them and disowned them as his parents.

"Buck is one of my babies and I will do everything in my power to protect them. Buck has such a caring heart, one that has been broken before. If you hurt him, I will make sure you regret it for the rest of your life."

Lucifer had a feeling that even if she knew who he really was, she would be making the same threat and he couldn't be impressed with her. "I swear that I will never harm Evan, he is much too important to me. He is my sun." Lucifer found himself seeking out Buck who was smiling fondly at Bobby who was looking at him like a proud dad.

Athena followed his gaze, "Good, remember that and we won't have any issues."

Bobby had managed to wait to corner Lucifer while Buck was busy with the children.

"Back when Buck first started working at the 118th I told him that we weren't a family and we weren't until he joined us. He helped pull me out of dark times and he has become like a son to me. I will do everything in my power to protect him. I can't stop his heart from getting broken but I can do everything in my power to help heal it, so if you break his heart I will make you regret it."

The kids of 118th had taken to Trixie as if she was one of their own and Mara had smiled at the fact that she was no longer the only girl in the group, that wasn't a toddler and a college student.

They had taken comparing notes of the foolishness that Lucifer and Eddie were getting up to as they battled for Buck's heart.

"I mean I understand, Buck is awesome." Denny smiled as the others cheered softly. "But why can't they just be honest with Buck and let Buck choose who he wants to be with?"

"Because adults have to make everything complicated." Christopher offered his wise advice.

A pout appeared on Jee's face as she watched her uncle's attention be taken by two men. One was Eddie, who she liked the other was someone knew but she didn't like how close they were both standing to her uncle! This was supposed to be her time with Uncle Buck. Narrowing her eyes she plotted.

"Oh looks like we have an unexpected obstacle." Denny pointed out the small figure of Jee making a beeline for Buck.

"Uncle Buck!" Jee cried, lifting her arms.

"My Warrior Princess!" Buck ducked down to catch Jee as she threw herself into his arms. Once he was certain Jee was safe in his arms he placed a series of kisses all over her face.

Peering over her uncle's shoulder Jee stuck her tongue out at Eddie and Lucifer.

"Did we just get out manoeuvred by a toddler?" Eddie's voice was full of disbelief.

"Well, she is Buck's niece after all so she has her cuteness to factor in. And Buck is weak to children." Lucifer pointed out.

Eddie couldn't argue against that, Buck with children was one of his greatest weaknesses, especially when it was Christopher.

Jee, made sure that Lucifer and Eddie had no chance to be alone with her uncle. The war between Eddie and Lucifer for Buck's heart had just turned into them together against Jee-Yun who had just won the first round.

Eddie didn't know why he was here but his brown eyes narrowed into determination as he steeled himself before he opened the door and entered the Lux.

"Eddie Diaz, my my my, this is certainly a surprise." Lucifer grinned as his eyes lingered on Eddie, there was no denying the man looked like he was ready for war. What a delicious sight that was. 'I wonder what he would look like in his uniform or dress uniform? I do not doubt that Evan has had the same thoughts as I do.'

"Lucifer, we need to talk."

Lucifer quirked an eyebrow. "Indeed we do." Lucifer turned his attention to the bar where Maze was watching them with a knowing look in her eyes. "Maze, you can go. Go visit your girlfriends. I know that they are dying for an update."

A grin appeared on Maze's beautiful face, "That they are. Ella is especially interested. Now don't hurt each other or do anything that would break Buck's heart, I would hate to have to kill either one of you."

Eddie didn't think she was kidding.

"She isn't kidding," Lucifer informed him as if he read his mind.

The grin Maze sent Eddie wasn't at all pleasant. "I not kidding."

"I've made mistakes, I will admit but I would never actively seek to do Buck harm, he is too special to me and my son."

"Good, behave, boys," Maze called over her shoulder as she left.

For a moment silence filled the air and Eddie began questioning himself if he was doing the right thing. He wants Buck to be happy, that is one of the most important things to him. He just couldn't stand the idea of Buck being with Lucifer. When he realized he was in love with Buck it shouldn't have surprised him, Buck had been a part of his and Christopher's lives from the moment he and Buck became friends. Buck is one of the most important people in his life.

"You came to talk to me about Evan and the fact that you are in love with him and he is in love with you but he is falling in love with me." Lucifer's voice cut through Eddie's thoughts.

Eddie blinked at the other man. "If I didn't know better I would think that you were reading my mind."

Lucifer's grinned at the other man, he was enjoying this. "How do you know I am not?" He had no plans at the moment to tell Buck who he truly was, he wasn't sure how to explain to him that he was the Devil and Buck had done the impossible and made him fall in love. He knew that Evan could never be in hell it would take away his bright light. If he had a way he would turn human just to spend a lifetime loving Evan Buckley.

Eddie's eye roll and scoff was very sexy Lucifer had to say, "I don't believe in that kind of stuff." He sobered, "But you are right I am here to talk about Buck and my feelings about him."

"I have been waiting for this conversation for a while. Let's sit and talk."

Something had changed that day at the zoo. Buck was certain of it. After that visit with Eddie when he told him that he was going to fight for him, words that Buck had dreamed of hearing before he tried to make a go of it with Lucifer. It was just his luck that Eddie realized how he felt about him after Buck got a new boyfriend, that he deeply cared for, the universe seemed to truly have it out for him.

Still, that didn't help him figure out what had changed and it was driving him mad.

He didn't want to have to choose between Lucifer and Eddie, they both owned a piece of his heart and it would break his heart to have to hurt either of them. Hurting Eddie was like ripping out a piece of his soul, the lawsuit had been torture to him unable to talk to Eddie and Christopher. It hurt even more than being unable to speak to Maddie. Lucifer, oh it was becoming the same way, if Eddie and Christopher were his world and owned part of his soul and heart then Lucifer was coming to hold the other half.

Groaning Buck's head fell back onto his pillow, "What am I going to do?" Running a hand down his face he glanced at his phone and considered calling Hen. She was the sister he leaned on when Maddie was ignoring him, and stuck with Doug, but at the time Buck hadn't known that he truly thought that Maddie had given up on him as her parents had done. Hen, Karen, and Denny were family. Hen and Karen had been there when Abby left him, allowing him to get wine drunk and spend the night on their couch, where Denny had woke him up the next morning with a smile and a glass of juice.

Hen and Karen helped him as he struggled to understand his confusing feelings about Eddie. They promised that he could come to them anytime he needed to talk and talk to them he did.

"This would be so much easier if Lucifer and Eddie got along and maybe the three of us could work something out," Buck spoke his deepest wish out loud but it seemed like a hopeless wish that would never come true.

It had been only ten minutes but to Eddie it felt like hours as he sat across from Lucifer who seemed to be looking into his soul.

"Evan Buckley is someone special, beyond special. I have never met another soul like him before.

"His heart is too big to love only one person, he has room in it to love both of us. And instead of forcing him to choose between us, because that would just be cruel we could figure out a way for us to learn to be okay with sharing him while we see if we can build something between the two of us." Eddie suggested and he was surprised that he didn't find himself as sick to his stomach at the idea of sharing Buck with Lucifer as he thought he would.

"You are extremely attractive and I doubt I would have any trouble watching you and Evan together, I wouldn't mind watching you Evan and I as well. We can work out how to share Evan in bed, something I think he would certainly enjoy." Lucifer purred.

Eddie felt himself flushed at the idea of him and Buck together, Buck underneath him moaning begging for more or crying out his name. Even the idea of watching Lucifer making Buck come apart was appealing and the idea of Buck between them was an image he soon wouldn't forget.

"We need to talk to Buck, this isn't something that we can decide, or agree upon without him voicing his opinion. We can't decide for the three of us together without Buck being involved." Eddie pointed out.

"Agreed. Buck's opinion is the important one. He agrees and we give this a chance, if he doesn't we continue fighting for his heart and may the best man win."

Buck had been on his way to Hen and Karen's when he got a text from Eddie asking him to meet him and Lucifer at the Lux. Now Buck won't lie that text scared him as he imagined all kinds of things like Eddie and Lucifer having gotten into a fight and one or both of them being seriously hurt or worse of all one of them was dead and the other needed him to help hide the body.

"What happened? Is anyone hurt? Do I need to call Athena?" Buck ran into Lux panting his eyes wild as he took in the room, only calming down when his gaze landed on Eddie and Lucifer sitting across from one another at a table, both looked okay but looks could be deceiving.

"Evan, you need to calm down and breathe."

"Luv, you need to breathe."

Buck hadn't even noticed that he was beginning to hyperventilate until Lucifer and Eddie were both telling him to breathe or that they were at his side leading him to a couch and taking a seat on either side of him. "I feel like I am missing something here."

"Lucifer and I have talked it over and we don't think it is fair to make you choose between us." Eddie began but didn't know how to finish.

Lucifer had no such problem, "How do you feel about the three of us in a polyamory relationship?"

Buck found himself opening and closing his mouth several times before being able to force out, "What?"

Reaching out Eddie slowly stroked Buck's cheek, "Evan, we both love you. You are so easy to love. Making you choose between either of us would leave you heartbroken because you have given both of us a piece of your heart." His thumb found its way to Buck's mouth and was slowly stroking his lower lip. "I would rather share you than not have a part of you. Lucifer and I have to learn to get to know one another before we fall into bed with one another. Also, I want to do this right with you, I want to take you on dates. I want to share soft kisses with you and cuddle with you on my couch. I want to go to bed with you after shifts and wake up with you. I don't know what I want to do with Lucifer but I think we can figure it out in time." Eddie licked his lips, "I think we might be able to make something between us because our foundation is built on us loving you and that is a strong foundation."

Lucifer pressed a soft kiss on Buck's cheek and smiled as blue eyes focused on him. "I don't give me heat away, I don't love. Until I met you, Evan Buckley, you opened up my heart in ways I never thought possible. I have taken couples to my bed for nights of passion but that isn't what I want here. I want to see what the three of us can have. I want to experience your love for as long as it is possible."

"All my life people have left me. Starting with my parents and then Maddie, who I learned later was protecting me from Doug. Then Abby left me and every one I tried to love. You stayed. You both are choosing me, something I never thought I would ever have, that I would be enough for one person let alone two. I indeed love both of you. You both along with Christopher own a piece of my heart, though how I love Christopher is very different than how I love the two of you." Taking a deep breath Buck took one of Eddie and Lucifer's hands in his. "If you are both sure then I am willing to do this."

"Well Eddie, I think it is time that you had your first kiss with Buck," Lucifer commented.

Before Buck could tell Eddie that he didn't have to do that, that he could take his time before he could he felt gentle fingers cupping his chin as his head was turned towards Eddie's and his mouth was on his. Kissing Eddie was everything Buck dreamed it would be and more. He melted into the man and lost himself in the kiss.

Eddie lost count of how many times he dreamed of kissing Buck, every one of his dreams failed to compare to the real thing. No one he had kissed in the past would ever compare to kissing Buck, it felt right, it made him feel complete like he had found the other half of his soul.

Lucifer wished that Buck and Eddie could see what he saw as they kissed it was two souls becoming one, they shone brighter than any star he had ever seen created. It reminded him of how his wings once shone and for a moment he swears he saw their souls looked like the wings he had lost long ago but there was no way that two mortals could be his wings, that just wasn't possible, they had long been destroyed during his fall.

Chapter Text

"Evan, you need to allow Eddie to take you on a date tonight."

Buck wasn't sure who was more surprised at Lucifer's words, himself or Eddie. "What?" Buck asked once he remembered to breathe, and he was certain that Eddie had gotten his coughing under control.

Smiling Lucifer took one of Buck and Eddie's hands in his. "Eddie and I are starting this relationship fresh with no history, and we won't mourn if it doesn't work out. We can part ways with nothing to tie us together. That isn't the same for the two of you. Your lives are entwined, so if this shouldn't work out, it would destroy that world. Neither of you could go back to what you once were." Lucifer pointed out gently.

Fear gripped Buck's heart; he knew that Eddie and Lucifer had talked about this, and he couldn't choose between the two of them. But there was a risk, losing Eddie and Christopher from his life if he screwed this up made him wonder if they should call this all off before they took that step, they would need a bit of time before they were able to go back to being friends. A piece of Buck's heart died at that idea.

A finger pressed against his lips; it was Eddie's. He knew the difference between Lucifer and Eddie's like they were his own hands. Pulling out of his downward spiral, Buck met Eddie's dark chocolate eyes. There was understanding in his eyes as well as a soft smile on his face.

"Evan, you are spiralling. I know that there is a risk, I have known since I sought Lucifer out. But I think we are worth the leap. We have been dancing around this for years. One step over the line, one step behind it. I have been petty and jealous towards every person you have ever dated. I hated Abby without meeting her. Taylor Kelly, the very thought of her makes me want to seek out the nearest gym. You have hidden your jealousy better, wanting only the best for Christopher and me. You stayed silent as I tried to make it work with Shannon, and as I made a huge mistake with Ana because you thought it was what I wanted."

Shifting, Eddie pulled back his finger, smiling as Buck let out a mournful sound before cupping Buck's cheek with his hand. "I had loved Shannon once upon a time, and I had begun to build up that relationship in my head as perfect, but it was anything but. We were young and in love, then we were forced to grow up. We had a child on the way, and our parents demanded we get married before our son was born. We weren't given a choice; we were practically marched to the church. Then I was off to follow my dreams of making a career in the army. I never regretted Christopher, he is the best of Shannon and me. But I sometimes wondered if Shannon did. She was so angry when I signed up for another tour, I tried to make her see we needed the benefits for our son. When I got home, that anger had only grown. There was only arguing between the two of us, I wasn't able to do anything as I healed, and I think she hated having to look after two people, and she just broke. My parents certainly didn't help. I had been thinking about moving to LA. Abuela wanted us to come; she wanted to help as much as she could to look after me, allowing Shannon to focus on Christopher. Pepa offered, and I have cousins around who would. But I didn't want my parents to think they had won, that I was unfit to be a husband and to be a father. They had been demanding that I give them Christopher."

Closing his eyes, Eddie fought back the tears and rage he felt at his mother's words as she tried to take his son from him. Gentle fingers slowly wiped away the tears that had begun to fall down his cheeks. Opening them, he wasn't surprised to see Buck smiling gently at him as he did so. Buck had always seen him in a way that no one else ever has. He wants to be worthy of how Buck sees him.

"I never followed Shannon to LA. I came here. After all, it allowed me to get away from my parents, because it has one of the best firefighter departments in the country, and I want Christopher to get to know his Abuela. Even when she returned, I still needed your advice, and I can't imagine how much that hurt you if you were beginning to feel I was, as I told you, how I was falling into bed with my estranged wife. That was all, Shannon. I was good at sex and arguing. Christopher wanted his mother back, and I wanted to make my son happy. I thought making my marriage work was what I needed to do; it was what was expected of me. So, despite what my heart was screaming at me, I tried. Only for Shannon to tell me that she wanted a divorce and was leaving."

Buck's heart ached for Eddie. He wanted to pull him into his arms and never let him go, but he knows that Eddie needs to get this off his chest, and if he interrupts him, Eddie might clam up and bury it all over again.

Eddie let out a deep breath. "Ana, she was a mistake right from the start. She was paper perfect, everything that my parents wanted me to have in a partner. I am ashamed to say that was the first reason I asked her out. I had fun with her; she was nice, but that was about it. When Christopher broke the salad bowl and took an Uber to your place, showing how unhappy he was, I should have ended our relationship then and there, but I kept hearing my mom words echoing in my head, 'don't drag him down with you' and that is the last thing I wanted. So I stuck it out with her, and then you started hanging out with Taylor Kelly while Ana slipped more and more into your spot. I hated it." Eddie spat out Taylor's name with pure venom.

Buck knew what was coming and took a deep breath at the same time Eddie did the same. "Then I was shot, and I lied to you about what I remembered that day." Eddie wasn't surprised when Buck reared back in shock. "I remember seeing you covered in blood. I remember the fear that coursed through my body that you were hurt. I remember pleading with God or whoever was listening not to take you. I remember you pulling me to safety. I remember you. When I woke up with Ana at my bedside, I wanted her gone; I just wanted you there. When you made sure everyone knew that it was you who would be handling my main care, I wanted to celebrate." Eddie took a deep breath. "I had planned on breaking up with Ana but on one of the few days she was there looking after me she answered a phone call from my parents while I was resting, she talked to them for almost two hours and when she handed me the phone my mother went on and on about how wonderful Ana was and how proud she was that I finally found the perfect woman. She even started dropping hints about when the perfect time to have a wedding in El Paso would be. Christopher liked her, but it was my mother who loved her, and I just wanted her to be proud of me, and she was because of Ana."

Buck could understand, that was all he ever wanted from his parents: to know they were proud of him, that they loved him.

"I was looking for an excuse to break up with her. I was having panic attacks about people seeing us as an already-made family because I didn't want it. I didn't see Ana in that role. What no one knows is that Ana and my mother were talking about us getting married; they had begun planning our wedding without asking me if that was something I wanted. It was destroying me. When you cornered me and told me how you saw how unhappy I was, I knew I couldn't keep pretending; if I didn't speak up soon, I would soon be waiting for my mother's perfect wife for me at the altar."

"I never wanted you to think you are anything like Abby. You could never be anything like her. Yes, I have been in Ana's place, loving someone who didn't love me, but you are nothing like her and I am glad that you didn't end up with Helena 2.0." Buck quickly cut in.

"I never believed that you saw me as Abby," Eddie reassured him. "Marisol was a rebound because I had lost you to Natalia. I wasn't dealing with losing you, I held you in my arms, you had died, Buck."

A wounded sound escaped Buck as he reflected on how much his death hurt Eddie and those he loves. How he had embraced Natalia because she hadn't been there, she hadn't seen him die, she was someone he could talk to about it. But she never truly cared about him, not like Eddie does. Hell, the only reason she came back was after she read Taylor's book. "I hurt you, Eddie, with what I said to you about Natalia seeing me; no one sees me better than you and Lucifer."

Running his finger along Buck's lower lip, Eddie smiled at him, "I know. Marisol wasn't someone I thought she was. She is truly a hateful kind of woman. Tommy is someone I can't explain. I should never have said how I connected with him right from the start, I wanted to hurt you, to toss your words you said about Natalia back at you, and that was low of me. I should have taken the time to invite you to hang out with us, but he was asking about you, and it had me seeing red. You are mine, and emotions that I only felt when it was Abby, Taylor, and Natalia stirred within me at the idea of you with Tommy. I am a jealous and possessive man when it comes to you, Evan Buckley."

Buck could feel his cheeks heating up. "And you will be okay with sharing me with Lucifer?"

A wolfish grin appeared on Eddie's face. "I am certain there is one area of our relationship I am going to enjoy sharing with Lucifer."

Buck knew that his cheeks were the same shade of red as their fire truck as he looked to cast a glance at Lucifer, certain he would see a look matching the one Eddie wore, only to see that Lucifer was nowhere in sight. "Where did Lucifer go?"

"You are adorable." Eddie loved the fact that he could kiss Buck now when he did something cute. "Lucifer gave us some time alone, knowing that this confession was something that was only meant for the two of us."

A feeling in the pit of his stomach made itself known to Buck as he worried he might have hurt Lucifer by forgetting him as he focused all of his attention on Eddie.

"Hey, don't drag yourself down." Eddie's voice was soft as he cupped Buck's chin with his fingers. "Lucifer was the one who chose to leave, giving us this moment to talk. He did say that if you want, he would be more than happy to allow you to make it up to him." He wasn't happy with the idea of how Lucifer wanted Buck to make it up to him; his possessiveness over Buck was something he needed to work on. Buck was the first person that he truly allowed himself to be who he really is. He, Christopher, and Buck have created their own family, and if this was to work with Lucifer, he was going to have to learn to open up that world to allow one more person in.

"So Evan Buckley, will you go out on a date with me?" Eddie asked with a hopeful smile on his face.

Buck had been waiting for this moment for years. "I would love to."

"Are you really okay with this?" Maze asked as she cleaned the bar.

Letting his fingers drift across the piano keys. "I am. Evan and Eddie's souls are entwined; they are soulmates, and I am prepared to love them for as long as I am able to." Lucifer answered her.

Maze knew that souls as bright as Evan and Eddie's were destined for upstairs; she was afraid that loving them would leave a wound on Lucifer's heart, one that would never heal, but she couldn't stop him. He is the Devil after all.

"It's about time, Dad. I thought that you would never catch a clue." Christopher commented as he watched his dad toss another shirt on his bed. He rolled his eyes. It was the fifth shirt his dad had rejected.

"I don't need your sass right now, mijo. I could use your help in figuring out an outfit to wear." Eddie's voice was muffled from where he had his head buried deep in his closet.

A deep sigh, as if he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, Christopher studied the clothing his dad had rejected. "Here, wear this one and those black slacks of yours with your date cologne."

Pulling himself free from the closet, and looked at the deep blue shirt his son had chosen. Tilting his head, he studied it. "That is perfect, thank you, mijo."

"You're welcome, Dad, and you are lucky that you have such an awesome son." Christopher teased his dad.

"I truly am. I couldn't ask for a better kid than you."

To say Buck was nervous was an understatement, he hadn't even felt this nervous on his first day at the 118th despite acting like a cocky kid he had been terrified that they would hate him and not want anything to do with him. Taking a deep breath Buck straightened out the deep green sweater he was wearing and the black slacks that he was certain Eddie was checking out his ass more than once and he couldn't help but wonder what Eddie was going to be wearing on their date. "No matter what he wears, he will look sexy as always."

The knocking at his door pulled Buck out of his thoughts. "Okay, Buck, remember this is just Eddie, one of the loves of your life, and yes, he will no doubt look good in whatever he wears, but that doesn't mean that you should beg him to skip the date and take you to bed. You are going to do this right." He reminded himself. Opening the door all thoughts flew out of his head as his mouth dried up at the sight of Eddie standing there with a bouquet of sunflowers in his hands and looking damn delicious.

"Wow, you look amazing." Eddie breathed out as he drank in the sight of Buck. "Here, these are for you." Eddie handed Buck the sunflowers. "Christopher picked them out; he made it clear that if you were any kind of flower, it would be sunflowers."

Taking them, Buck smiled softly, "Christopher has great taste. I love them. Just let me put them in a vase and water, and we can head out. By the way, Eds, you look amazing as well." Taking a big sniff of the flowers, Buck entered his loft; he wasn't surprised when Eddie followed behind him.

Eddie watched as Buck quickly put the flowers in what he deemed the perfect spot to get just the right amount of sunlight. "All right, now I am all yours," Buck informed Eddie once everything was perfect.

Wrapping his arms around Buck, Eddie cupped his face, "Good. That means I can do this." Eddie felt Buck melt into the kiss. The two lost track of time as they shared kiss after kiss. “We are going to miss our dinner reservation,” Eddie whispered as he forced himself to break the kiss. 

“We could just stay in and get takeout and make out with a random movie playing in the background.” Buck offered instead.

Eddie, oh, he was so tempted to say yes, but Buck deserved a proper date, and he would give him one that he would never forget.