Chapter Text
Setting: El Paso, Texas – 5 Years Before LA
It started the day Shannon Diaz disappeared.
The note was short.
A few lines scribbled in blue ink. No apology. No explanations. Just: “I can’t do this. I’m sorry.”
And beside it, divorce papers.
Eddie stood in the kitchen, the morning sun pouring over the counter, his hands trembling around the note. Christopher, only 5, sat in the living room in his pajamas, watching cartoons and asking when Mommy would come back.
She didn’t.
That day changed everything.
Two Weeks Later – Tucker’s Bar, El Paso
Evan Buckley wiped down the counter of the dive bar, trying to ignore the sharp pain in his shoulder from breaking up a fight the night before. The usual drunks were passed out, music played low, and the Texas summer heat clung to everything like sweat-soaked regret.
Then he walked in.
The guy had that “former military, current mess” look — short-cropped hair, rigid posture, deep exhaustion behind his eyes. He carried something else too: grief he wasn’t letting anyone see.
Evan had seen it before. In the mirror. In his brother Kelly. In his mother’s voicemail when she said goodbye like it didn’t mean anything.
The man sat at the bar. Evan approached.
“What’ll it be?”
“Just water.”
“Rough night?”
The man huffed. “Rough life.”
They didn’t talk much that night. But he came back the next night. And the one after.
“Name’s Eddie,” he said one day, reaching over the bar.
“Evan. But I answer to Buck.”
Three Months Later
They were a team now.
Evan helped with Chris—bedtime, bath time, story time. Carla, wary at first, watched the way Evan handled the kid with tenderness and no fear. Eventually, she trusted him. So did Chris.
One night, after Chris was asleep and they were sitting on the porch, Eddie turned to Evan and said, “You didn’t run.”
Evan smiled softly. “You didn’t scare me.”
“I think I’m falling in love with you.”
“Good,” Evan said. “Because I already fell.”
Two Months Later – A Quiet Courthouse
The judge didn’t ask too many questions. Carla served as witness. Chris wore a bow tie and carried the rings. Evan Buckley became Evan Buckley-Diaz, though few would ever know.
They kept the marriage quiet.
When Eddie got the call from the LAFD and was offered a spot on the 118, they packed up and moved to LA.
They didn’t tell the team.
Only a small group knew:
Eddie’s parents.
Carla.
Kelly Severide, Evan’s half-brother. He nearly dropped his phone when Evan told him. “You married a guy with a kid?” “Yeah.” “You’re... happy?” “For the first time in my life.”
Matt Casey, Kelly’s husband.
And a few close friends across Chicago PD, Fire, and Med.
Present Day – Los Angeles
“Still no call?” Eddie asked, entering the kitchen.
Evan stood at the counter, phone in hand. “Still nothing.”
It had been months since the lawsuit. Months since the department put him on leave. Evan had done the work—therapy, evaluations, media silence.
But Bobby hadn’t let him come back.
Evan turned, eyes dark. “You said you’d ask him.”
Eddie hesitated.
“I did.”
“And?”
Eddie swallowed. “It’s him. He’s the one holding you out.”
Silence.
Evan nodded slowly. “Okay.”
“Ev—”
“No,” Evan said, calm but cold. “I get it. I just needed to hear it out loud.”
Down the hall, Chris’s voice rang out: “Papa? Dad? Can we start looking at baby stuff soon?”
Evan closed his eyes.
Eddie stepped forward and touched his back gently. “We will,” he promised. “But first, we fix this.”
Evan exhaled.
Family meant something different now. Not the one you were born into. But the one who stayed.
Smoke and Silence
Setting: Los Angeles — a few days after Evan finds out Bobby’s holding him out of work.
LAX — Arrivals Terminal
Kelly Severide hated LA. The heat. The noise. The way everything seemed so damn fake.
He adjusted his sunglasses and followed Matt Casey through the crowded terminal. Matt rolled his carry-on, calm as ever, but Kelly could see it in his jaw — the tension, the anger barely held in check.
“He sounded…” Kelly started, then stopped. “Broken.”
Matt glanced at him in the rearview mirror once they were in the car. “Evan?”
Kelly nodded. “He’s not the kind to say he’s angry unless he means it.”
Matt sighed. “Bobby Nash better watch his back.”
Buckley-Diaz Home — Midday
Chris swung open the door, a grin lighting up his face.
“Uncle Kelly! Uncle Matt!”
Kelly braced himself, caught in a sudden bear hug from the kid.
“You’re growing up fast, kid.”
Chris grinned wider. “We’re gonna have a baby sibling soon! Papa said after we fix the firehouse stuff.”
Kelly’s face softened. “That’s good.”
Eddie appeared in the doorway, arms folded, jaw tight.
“So,” Kelly said, voice low, “let’s get to fixing it.”
Living Room — Moments Later
Evan sat stiffly on the couch as Kelly and Matt took seats nearby.
“You told him?” Evan asked Eddie quietly.
Eddie shook his head. “He found out from you.”
Kelly folded his arms. “Ev, I want the truth. All of it.”
Evan exhaled. “After the lawsuit, I did everything they asked. Therapy, evaluations — passed every test. But Bobby… he never filed the clearance. Said it’s not time.”
Matt’s voice was sharp. “Did he say why?”
“No,” Evan said. “But Hen let it slip — Bobby’s the one keeping me off.”
Kelly’s fists clenched. “Bobby watched you nearly die twice. He’s supposed to have your back.”
Evan looked down. “I thought so too. Turns out, he’s scared. And maybe jealous.”
Kelly’s eyes narrowed. “That man’s scared of losing control. Of losing family.”
Evan’s voice cracked. “I just want to work. I want to be a firefighter. For Chris. For Eddie. For me.”
Kelly leaned forward. “You’re family, Ev. And family fights.”
Kitchen — Carla’s Perspective
From the kitchen, Carla listened quietly as the men talked. She’d seen Evan struggle — after the coma, the sleepless nights, the silence when he felt invisible.
But this? This was something different.
A man who built his family quietly, out of loyalty and love — only to be pushed aside by the people who should protect him.
She poured lemonade and carried it to Evan.
“Family isn’t just who pulls you from the flames,” she said softly. “It’s who sits with you when the smoke clears.”
Evan looked up, gratitude in his eyes. “Thanks, Carla.”
Backyard — Evening
Chris was asleep inside. Eddie stood at the fence, arms crossed. Kelly and Matt joined him, quiet and watchful.
“Does he still get nightmares?” Kelly asked quietly.
Eddie nodded. “Lightning strike. Crane accident. Dying alone. Bobby was there… but he didn’t stop it.”
Matt’s jaw tightened.
“Bobby saw Evan like a son,” Kelly said. “That’s what makes this betrayal worse.”
Eddie’s voice was low, fierce. “He needs a family that fights for him. Not a captain who sidelines him.”
Kelly stepped forward. “Then it’s time someone reminded Bobby what family really means.”
Flashpoint (Exposed)
Setting: Firehouse 118 — Mid-morning
Firehouse 118 — 10:42 AM
The shift had just started when two unfamiliar men walked through the station doors. They weren’t reporters, not brass, not IA.
But they walked like they owned the place.
Chimney glanced up from the rig. “Uh… Can I help you?”
The taller one — blond, blue-eyed, all calm authority — nodded politely. “We’re here to speak to Captain Nash.”
“Do I know you?” Bobby asked, stepping forward cautiously.
“You don’t,” the second man said — dark hair, intense stare. “But you know our family.”
Bobby blinked. “Excuse me?”
“I’m Matt Casey. This is Kelly Severide. Chicago Fire.”
Hen’s head tilted. “Chicago Fire? Like… you’re with CFD?”
Kelly nodded, crossing his arms. “And we’re here about Evan Buckley.”
The firehouse froze.
“You mean Buck?” Chim said, brows raised. “What about him?”
Kelly’s eyes narrowed. “You call him Buck. We call him family.”
Bay Floor — Moments Later
Hen pulled Bobby aside. “You think this is about the leave of absence?”
“It has to be,” Bobby muttered. “But how the hell does Chicago fit into this?”
As if on cue, the front doors opened again.
Evan stepped inside.
But he wasn’t alone.
Eddie was at his side. And holding Eddie’s other hand, dressed in a Dodgers cap and a proud grin, was Christopher.
Hen’s mouth fell open. “Wait… Chris is with Buck?”
Evan gave her a small smile. “He’s with me. With us.”
Bobby stepped forward, guarded. “You’ve been keeping secrets, Evan.”
Evan looked straight at him. “I kept my life private. Doesn’t mean I lied.”
The Reveal
Kelly stepped forward. “Let’s cut the crap. Evan’s been benched for months. After risking his life how many times? After being cleared by psych, medical, and legal? And your excuse is what? ‘Not the right time’?”
Bobby’s expression darkened. “This is internal LAFD business. Not CFD.”
Matt crossed his arms. “Then maybe you should’ve handled your business. Because this man—” he gestured to Evan, “—is a firefighter. A father. A husband. And your inaction is killing him.”
Chim stepped forward slowly, looking between Eddie and Evan.
“Husband?” he repeated.
Eddie nodded, finally stepping in front of Evan, protective and calm. “We’ve been married for years. Since El Paso. We didn’t tell anyone because it was ours. Because it was safe.”
Hen looked stunned. “You two are… married?”
Evan nodded. “Only a few people ever knew. My brother. Our families. Carla.”
Carla, standing off to the side, gave a soft sigh. “You all ever think maybe people hide things because they’re afraid of how you’ll react?”
Chris tugged Evan’s hand. “Can we go home now?”
Bobby Speaks
Bobby stepped forward. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Evan’s voice was low. “Because the firehouse stopped feeling like a home.”
That hit harder than anything else had.
“I trusted you,” Evan continued, his voice cracking. “And I sat in silence while you ignored me, sidelined me, let rumors float without even asking.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“No,” Evan said. “You were protecting yourself.”
The Fallout
Kelly’s voice cut through the tension. “We came because we weren’t going to watch you destroy him. We buried our father for being less of a man than he pretended to be. I’m not doing it again.”
Hen, quiet until now, stepped beside Evan. “You deserved better from us. From all of us.”
Chim just looked down.
Matt looked at Bobby. “So what happens now?”
Bobby swallowed hard. “He’s cleared. He can return. But I understand if he doesn’t want to.”
Eddie stepped forward, hand in Evan’s. “We’ll think about it.”
Evan’s grip on Chris tightened. “Because this?” He looked around. “This is our family. The three of us. And no uniform changes that.”
The Things We Hold On To
Present Day – Buckley-Diaz Home – Saturday Morning
The sunlight filtered through the kitchen window, catching dust motes in a golden shimmer. Evan poured coffee while Eddie scrambled eggs. The scent of fresh tortillas warmed the air.
From the dining table, Christopher worked quietly on his laptop, brow furrowed in concentration.
“Hey, mijo,” Eddie asked, flipping a tortilla onto a plate. “What’re you working on?”
Chris grinned. “English assignment. ‘What makes a family?’ But I kind of… added a twist.”
Evan leaned over his shoulder. “What kind of twist?”
Chris turned the screen.
"Why I Want a Sibling (or Two!)"
By Christopher Diaz
Families don’t have to look the same to be real. Mine has two dads. One is my hero. The other saved my dad’s heart.
I’ve always wanted a brother or sister. Someone to show my old Legos to. Someone to protect, like Dad and Papa protect me.
We’ve been through a lot. Papa almost died. Dad cried when Papa came home. But we always come back together.
I think it’s time our family grew. We have room in our hearts. And in our house.
I’d be a great big brother. I already have practice.
Love,
Chris
Eddie sat down hard.
Evan covered his mouth with a hand.
Neither said anything for a long second — until Evan reached out and ruffled Chris’s hair gently.
“You’re already the best brother any kid could ask for,” he whispered.
FLASHBACK – El Paso, Years Ago
The bar was quiet on a Monday afternoon — just heatwaves outside and a few old men inside nursing beers.
Evan Buckley stood behind the bar, towel slung over his shoulder, pretending to polish a glass he’d already cleaned twice.
That’s when he saw him — a man who looked like he was carrying the weight of three lifetimes. Tight haircut. Callused hands. Baby carrier on the barstool next to him.
“Whiskey,” the man said. “Straight.”
Evan poured, cautious. “Rough day?”
The man chuckled darkly. “Try rough year.”
He gestured to the baby — a sleepy, wide-eyed toddler with curly hair and a crooked smile. “His mom walked out. Left divorce papers on the table and never came back.”
Evan looked at the kid. “He yours?”
“Christopher,” the man said. “I’m Eddie.”
And just like that, something clicked. In the quiet, in the ache — Evan saw a reflection of himself. A kid left behind. A man trying to rebuild from nothing.
He poured himself a glass of water and leaned on the bar.
“Well,” Evan said, “I’m Evan. I got abandoned by my mom at 13 and dropped on a stranger’s doorstep. So… we’re kind of experts in people leaving, huh?”
Eddie smiled — a real one, small and unexpected.
“Maybe,” he said. “But maybe we’re about to get real good at people staying.”
Present – Later That Afternoon
Kelly Severide leaned against the balcony railing, watching LA’s hazy skyline. Matt sat on a deck chair beside him, sipping iced tea.
Behind them, inside the living room, Evan and Eddie were setting up Chris’s science project while Carla laughed at their arguing over the poster board.
“They’ve built something real here,” Matt said.
Kelly nodded slowly. “Evan’s more of a dad than ours ever was. And Eddie? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man love that hard and that quietly.”
Matt looked over. “You think they’re ready?”
Kelly smirked. “They’ve been ready. They just needed permission to believe it.”
Later That Night – Kitchen Table
Chris was already asleep, sprawled across Matt’s chest on the couch. Eddie cleaned up plates while Evan stared at the adoption paperwork that Carla had quietly left on the counter earlier.
Kelly walked in, beer in hand.
“You hesitating?” he asked gently.
Evan shook his head. “Just… thinking.”
Eddie walked over and slipped a hand over Evan’s back.
“We almost lost everything this year,” Evan said softly. “The lawsuit. The firehouse. I thought I’d never feel whole again.”
Kelly gave him a look only a big brother could. “You are not the broken one in this story, Evan. You’re the one who never gave up.”
Evan looked at Eddie. “You sure?”
Eddie didn’t even blink. “I married you twice — once in El Paso, once in LA. I’ll marry you again tomorrow if it means building the rest of our lives.”
Matt cleared his throat from the couch. “I’ll officiate.”
Everyone laughed — but it was soft. Real.
Evan picked up the pen. Signed his name. Then handed it to Eddie.
Together, they signed the first page of their adoption application.
Chapter Text
Roots & Wings
Setting: Buckley-Diaz Home (LA) → LAFD Call Scene → Reunion
Early Morning — Buckley-Diaz Kitchen
The sunlight crept across the counter. Evan poured orange juice. Eddie leaned against the fridge, already dressed for the day. Chris sat at the table, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
“You’re both being weird,” Chris said mid-yawn.
Evan exchanged a look with Eddie.
“We have something to tell you, bud,” Eddie said gently, sliding a manila envelope across the table.
Chris peeked inside and gasped — adoption forms, baby supply lists, even a printed photo of a nursery setup board.
Evan crouched to Chris’s level. “We started the process.”
Chris blinked. “You mean… really?”
Eddie nodded. “Really really.”
Chris’s eyes filled. “I’m gonna be a big brother?”
“Yeah,” Evan said softly. “You’re gonna be amazing.”
Chris launched himself into Evan’s arms. “Best. Family. Ever.”
Late Morning — Unexpected Doorbell
The doorbell rang once.
Then again, rapidly.
Chris ran to answer it — and squealed loud enough to wake the whole street.
Standing there, loud and chaotic, were:
Shay (grinning, arms wide)
Brett (already pulling out her phone to record)
April & Ethan, hand in hand
Will & Connor, arguing over who got the first hug
Antonio & Jay, already scanning the neighborhood like they were on-duty
Behind them stood Kelly and Matt, smirking.
Chris all but tackled Shay. “You’re here!”
“Wouldn’t miss it, little man,” Shay laughed, ruffling his hair.
“Family emergency,” Brett added with a wink. “You’re growing!”
Backyard BBQ – Early Afternoon
Eddie was grilling carne asada. Shay was in the pool with Chris, April lounging poolside with Carla. Will and Connor argued about protein intake, and Antonio and Jay were low-key casing the backyard security system because “cop brains never turn off.”
Kelly leaned back in a deck chair, sipping lemonade.
“This is what he deserved,” he said to Matt. “Not lawsuits. Not silence. This.”
Matt smiled. “And it’s just beginning.”
But just as the warmth of laughter filled the yard — Eddie’s radio buzzed from inside the kitchen.
A call.
Structure fire. Downtown LA.
LAFD requesting backup from nearby off-duty responders. Chim and Hen already en route.
And a name attached to the location: Nurse Trini Herrera — April’s old med school friend and ER colleague.
April froze when Evan quietly told her.
“That’s Trini’s building,” she whispered.
Evan looked at Eddie. Eddie gave a tight nod.
“Let’s go.”
Scene of the Fire – Downtown
Eddie and Evan rolled up in their gear — unmarked, quiet, focused. Hen and Chim were already inside working search and rescue.
Bobby was there too — and for the first time since the confrontation, his voice was steady when he called, “Buckley. Diaz. You're cleared. Go.”
Inside the smoke, they found Trini. Conscious, coughing, trapped behind a collapsed beam. Evan’s instincts kicked in.
He cut, lifted, braced — all while talking her through every second. Eddie kept her breathing steady while the flames raged behind them.
As they carried her out, Trini blinked and whispered to Evan, “April said you were a firefighter. Didn’t say you were a hero too.”
Evan just smiled. “She knows I hate bragging.”
That Night – Home Again
Trini was safe. April was crying on Ethan’s shoulder. Hen toasted with Carla on the back patio. Chris had fallen asleep on Shay’s chest.
And inside the softly lit nursery room they’d just finished painting, Evan stood next to Eddie, holding the final framed photo: one of the three of them, laughing in the kitchen.
Underneath, Chris had scrawled in pen:
“First we were three. Now we grow.”
Eddie rested his chin on Evan’s shoulder. “You ready for what’s next?”
Evan turned toward him, eyes soft, full of everything they'd fought for.
“I’ve never been more ready in my life.”
New Skies, Old Roots
Setting: Buckley-Diaz home → Chicago (future scenes teased)
Early Morning – Buckley-Diaz Home
Evan stood in the backyard with a mug of coffee, watching the sun rise over a city he once called home — a city that, now, just felt like weight.
Eddie stepped out behind him, wrapping a hoodie over his shirt, Chris’s little pajamaed figure half-asleep on his shoulder.
“Couldn’t sleep?” Eddie asked.
Evan shook his head. “I’ve been thinking…”
Chris mumbled, eyes still shut. “Is it about the baby?”
“Kind of,” Evan said softly, brushing Chris’s curls from his forehead. “It’s about where the baby should grow up.”
Eddie tilted his head. “Say it.”
Evan turned to him. “I don’t think it’s here.”
Later That Day — Group Chat: “🧯Chicago Chaos Crew🔥”
📹 [Incoming Video Call: Kelly Severide, Shay, Brett, Antonio, April, Ethan, Matt, Will, Connor]
Evan (smiling nervously): “So… we have something to tell you.”
Shay (mouth full of popcorn): “Don’t say twins. If you say twins I’m not babysitting alone.”
Chris (grinning): “We’re moving to Chicago!”
Everyone: gasps, cheers, loud chaos ensues
Kelly (chuckling): “About damn time.”
Matt: “You serious?”
Eddie: “We talked about it. A lot. And… after what happened with the 118, after the lawsuit, the silence... we just need a clean start. Not for us. For the baby.”
April: “Chicago will love you. And you’ll have us. Every step.”
Antonio (smirking): “I already looked into a building with a great school nearby. And a park.”
Shay: “Also it’s next to a bar.”
Will (deadpan): “Of course it is.”
Flashback Snippet — Evan's Breaking Point (Earlier That Week)
Bobby had passed Evan in the hallway at the station. No eye contact. No apology. Just a nod.
And Evan realized: even if he came back full-time, even if they let him wear the badge again — he didn’t want to anymore.
Because the badge meant nothing if the people behind it didn’t see the man wearing it.
Packing Begins
Boxes labeled “Chris’ Books,” “Nursery,” and “Fire Gear” were stacked around the living room. Carla had tears in her eyes but a smile on her face.
“I always knew LA wasn’t big enough for the life you were building,” she said.
Chris ran up, holding a little plush dragon.
“This goes in the nursery,” he said. “For the baby. It was mine when I was a baby. So now it’s theirs.”
Evan’s eyes shimmered.
Eddie whispered, “I didn’t know you still had that.”
Chris shrugged. “Some things matter more when you grow up.”
Group Text: “118 Group” (Muted)
Status: Muted by Evan. Read receipts off.
Hen: "I heard you’re leaving. I just wanted to say… I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve what happened."
Chim: "Wishing you guys the best. We’ll miss you."
Bobby: (No message)
Evan read them. Didn’t reply.
He didn’t have to.
Plane Over LA
Evan sat by the window. Eddie beside him. Chris curled between them.
As the plane lifted into the clouds, Chris looked up.
“Do you think the baby will like Chicago?”
Evan smiled. “I think the baby’s going to love it.”
Eddie looked out at the city disappearing beneath them. “I think we all will.”
Chris yawned. “Do you think the snow will be scary?”
Evan chuckled. “No scarier than anything else we’ve already survived.”
He turned to Eddie. “We’re not just leaving LA, are we?”
Eddie shook his head. “We’re moving home.”
And as the sun broke through the clouds, the city of Chicago waited below — full of second chances, waiting to welcome the Buckley-Diaz family home.
Where We Belong
Setting: Chicago — Buckley-Diaz Apartment
Chicago Morning – New Apartment
The new apartment was smaller than the house in LA — but it was warmer. Somehow. More lived-in already. Family photos lined the hallway. Chris’s art was magnet-pinned to the fridge. And the nursery? Half-finished, but glowing with promise.
Evan peeked through the doorframe and whispered to Eddie, “Think it’s too much blue?”
Eddie grinned. “We said gender-neutral.”
Chris (from the hallway): “Babies don’t care, they like anything that smells like milk.”
Knock Knock — Enter: Chaos
Chris answered the door before either of his dads could stop him.
In rushed:
Shay, wearing a "World’s Coolest Aunt" shirt and holding two boxes of donuts
Antonio, in full Chicago PD mode, sunglasses still on indoors
April, with Ethan right behind her, carrying houseplants they swore were low-maintenance
Brett, already texting the rest of Firehouse 51 to “get here before the donuts disappear”
Chris blinked. “We’re supposed to be normal today. The lady’s coming to check on us!”
Shay tossed him a donut. “Kid, if she can’t handle this, she shouldn’t be approving anyone to adopt.”
Adoption Caseworker Arrival — And the Show Begins
Evan opened the door calmly this time. The social worker, Ms. Reyes, was sweet, mid-40s, clipboard in hand, and very clearly overwhelmed by the 10+ people suddenly pretending not to exist in the background.
“So… you’re Evan and Edmundo,” she began, blinking at the entire Chicago med/fire/PD crew piled on the couch, floor, kitchen island…
“Yes,” Evan said. “And these are… some of our very close friends.”
Brett offered coffee. Shay offered whiskey. Antonio offered background checks.
Ms. Reyes blinked again. “I see.”
Chris marched up confidently, holding a hand-drawn picture: a house with a rainbow roof, two dads, a kid, and a baby in a sling.
“This is our family,” he said proudly. “And the baby’s gonna have like 20 aunts and uncles.”
April whispered, “More like 35.”
The Heartfelt Moments
After the chaos settled, Ms. Reyes sat down with Evan and Eddie alone in the nursery.
“Why now?” she asked. “After everything?”
Evan took a breath. “Because now, we’re safe. We didn’t feel that before. And we want this child to come into a home full of love, not fear.”
Eddie added, “We didn’t move to escape something. We moved to protect something. This family.”
Ms. Reyes smiled. “I see it. All of it.”
Later — Firehouse 51 Visit
As if the day hadn’t been full enough, Chief Boden stopped by Firehouse 51 and asked to see Evan and Eddie.
“You ready to wear the uniform again?” he asked Evan directly.
Evan hesitated. Not out of fear — but out of clarity.
“I think I am. But I want it to be different this time.”
Boden nodded. “It will be. You’re not just joining a firehouse. You’re joining a legacy.”
He turned to Eddie. “And you, soldier?”
Eddie smiled. “I don’t need the badge to protect people. But if Chicago will have me… I’m in.”
Evening – Home Again
Chris was asleep on the couch with a Build-A-Bear strapped to his chest like a baby carrier. Shay had taken over bedtime stories (and gone wildly off-script), while Antonio and Ethan debated cribs.
Evan stood in the kitchen, arms around Eddie’s waist.
“We did good today,” Evan whispered.
“You did great,” Eddie corrected him.
Evan leaned into him. “You think they’ll approve us soon?”
“They’d be crazy not to.”
Text from Ms. Reyes – 9:43 p.m.
✅ Home visit complete.
📁 All green flags.
🍼 You’re officially being moved into the placement phase.
👶 We’ll call you soon. Get ready to be four.
The Day Everything Changed
Setting: Chicago – Severide & Casey’s backyard → Buckley-Diaz home
Backyard BBQ: Chicago Style
The grill was fired up. Kids ran through sprinklers. Someone turned on a playlist that couldn’t decide between Latin pop and ‘90s rock, and nobody complained. It was chaos — but the good kind.
Evan stood off to the side of the yard, soda in hand, quietly watching the scene unfold.
Not just friends anymore. Family.
Chris tore across the lawn laughing, locked in a water balloon war with Eva and Diego — Antonio’s kids, though everyone knew they were Antonio and Jay’s in every way that mattered. Eva called Antonio “Dad” and Jay “Da,” and no one ever questioned it — because love wrote the rules in this family.
Eddie came up beside Evan, brushing charcoal dust off his shirt.
“You okay?”
Evan smiled, eyes on the kids. “Yeah. Just… taking this in. We haven’t had this in a long time.”
“You mean peace?” Eddie asked.
Evan turned toward him. “I mean people who love us. Unconditionally.”
Eddie kissed the side of his head. “It’s about time, huh?”
The Crew Assembles
The rest of the crew was everywhere:
Shay and Brett were locked in a fierce debate about which one was officially the baby’s godmother (“We’re going to Rochambeau for it,” Shay declared).
April and Ethan were dancing barefoot on the patio to an old love song Connor rolled his eyes at — while secretly smiling.
Will, Connor, and Violet tried (and failed) to build a hammock without reading the instructions.
Antonio and Jay, arms crossed like overly proud parents, kept one eye on the kids and the other on the tequila Brett had smuggled in.
Carla and Boden were deep in a conversation about stubborn men and second chances. (Spoiler: they were talking about Evan and Eddie.)
Kelly, beer in hand, stood beside Matt near the grill, smirking at the chaos.
“You ever think we’d see Evan this settled?” Matt asked.
Kelly shook his head slowly. “I think I always hoped we would.”
The Call
Evan’s phone rang. A soft buzz in his pocket.
He froze.
Eddie noticed instantly, stepping closer. Chris skidded to a halt, dripping wet and barefoot, Eva and Diego close behind.
Evan answered with a dry throat.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Buckley-Severide, Mr. Diaz — this is Ms. Reyes.
You’ve officially been approved.
Your baby is ready to come home. Placement is happening today.”
There was a pause — just a breath — before Evan’s eyes filled.
Eddie stepped in and wrapped his arms around him tightly.
Chris whispered, “Is it happening? Are we really four?”
Evan looked at him and nodded.
“It’s time.”
A New Beginning
The apartment was clean. Quiet. The bassinet was ready. The soft mobile spun slowly above it — clouds, moons, and a tiny fire truck.
Eddie paced. Chris sat on the couch holding the plush dragon he’d saved from his own baby days. Carla stood by the window, unable to stop smiling.
And then — a knock.
Evan opened the door.
There stood Ms. Reyes, smiling warmly, holding the carefully wrapped bundle of their new beginning.
“Meet your child.”
Chris was the first to speak — a soft “hi” like a prayer.
Evan stepped forward. Hands trembling — but heart steady. Eddie stood right beside him.
The baby’s eyes blinked open as Evan took them into his arms — soft brown skin, thick dark lashes, and that same peace Evan remembered seeing on Chris’s face all those years ago.
Chris peeked up and whispered, “Hi. I’m your big brother. You’re really cute.”
Evan laughed, choked up. “Welcome home.”
Eddie leaned in close. “We’re four now.”
Nightfall, Family Together
They didn’t throw a party this time. No noise, no music, no fireworks.
Just love.
Everyone who mattered was there — Shay cradling the baby like she’d done it in another life, April quietly wiping tears, Antonio and Jay gently shushing Eva and Diego who were whispering baby name ideas to Chris.
Kelly held the door open as Boden stepped out, nodding once with quiet respect.
“They’re home,” Boden said.
Matt smiled. “They finally are.”
Inside, Evan rocked the baby in his arms as Eddie wrapped an arm around both him and Chris.
“You think they’ll be okay?” Chris whispered.
Evan kissed the baby’s forehead. “I think they’ll be everything.”
Chapter Text
Sleepless but Happy
Setting: Chicago – Buckley-Diaz home, Firehouse 51, park
Night, 2 Weeks After Baby Comes Home
Evan stood barefoot in the living room at 3:12 a.m., bouncing gently with a tiny baby curled against his chest. The house was dim, but not silent — soft lullabies played on a loop, and somewhere down the hallway, Eddie was mumbling in his sleep about warm bottles and burp cloths.
The baby fussed lightly, then stilled as Evan whispered:
“You’re okay, Sol.”
A soft smile tugged at Evan’s face.
“Yeah. That’s your name, baby girl.
Sol.
For the sun we needed when everything felt dark.”
He kissed her forehead and kept walking, slow and steady.
In the doorway, Eddie leaned, hair a mess, T-shirt inside out. “You gave away the name without me?”
Evan chuckled. “You were there when we picked it.”
“Yeah, but I wanted to say it first.”
Evan grinned. “Too slow, Edmundo.”
Flash Forward: 2 Years Later
Chicago. A little warmer than usual.
Sol is now 2 years old, all curls, dimpled cheeks, and loud giggles — the kind that take over a room. She runs across the park in her tiny red sneakers, chasing a bubble wand Chris holds way too high on purpose.
Chris, now 13, towers over her, still gentle but so much more confident. His protectiveness is soft but firm — a mix of both his dads.
“Careful, Sol. You’re not flying — not yet.”
Sol shouted back: “But I’m fast!”
Carla watched from the bench nearby, laughing. “She’s got Eddie’s stubborn streak and Evan’s need for speed.”
Evan handed her a juice pouch. “And your sass.”
Severide & Casey’s Place
The backyard looked familiar — but now, a tiny girl sat at the table with Shay, frosting cupcakes like it was her job.
Her name was Maya — 4 years old. Quiet. Observant. Fierce.
Kelly still looked a little stunned every time she called him “Daddy.”
Matt, on the other hand, was already brushing glitter out of his hair like a pro.
“She’s a firecracker,” Shay said with a smirk.
Matt nodded. “We pulled her out of that fire, remember? She just… clung to Kelly. Wouldn’t let go. It took us maybe five seconds to fall in love.”
Kelly added, “And about five months to get the paperwork through.”
Maya looked up from her frosting project. “Are we having cupcakes every day now?”
Matt grinned. “If I have any say in it.”
Jay & Antonio's Apartment
Eva and Diego were older now — more independent, but still wrapped around their parents’ fingers. A drawing hung on the fridge: four stick figures, all holding hands. Two were labeled “Dad” and “Da.”
Jay handed Antonio a folder from across the kitchen island. “Just some info. Adoption centers that handle siblings.”
Antonio looked over it, eyes soft.
“Ready?”
Jay shrugged. “Maybe not this year. Maybe not next. But I see them. Two more little ones. Running through this apartment. You?”
Antonio smiled. “I’ve seen it for years.”
Then, quietly:
“Also… you still want that wedding in Puerto Rico?”
Jay grinned. “Try and stop me.”
Evan & Eddie’s Living Room – Late Night
Evan sat on the couch, Sol asleep against his chest. Eddie scrolled through a group chat muted on his phone.
The 118 Chat. Still active. Still distant.
Maddie had messaged earlier:
“I’d love to visit again soon. I miss you. I miss Chris.”
Hen sent photos of her daughter.
Chim dropped the occasional dad joke.
Athena wrote a birthday message for Chris.
But Bobby? Silent. Still.
Eddie looked over at Evan.
“You believe them again yet?” he asked.
Evan thought for a long moment, eyes on Sol.
“I believe they care.
But I don’t know if I trust them. Not like before.”
Eddie nodded. “Me neither.”
“But I don’t think we need to,” Evan added. “We built this. And they weren’t part of it.”
Sol stirred. Evan soothed her.
Chris wandered in, rubbing his eyes. “Is it okay if I sleep on the couch?”
“Always,” Eddie said, pulling a blanket over him.
Family of Four
Evan, Eddie, Chris, and Sol — curled up together in the living room. The lights low. Peaceful.
Evan looked over at Eddie.
“You think we’re done?”
Eddie laughed softly. “With kids or sleep?”
Evan shrugged. “Both.”
Chris murmured, half-asleep: “I want a dog.”
Sol kicked a tiny foot in agreement.
Evan rolled his eyes. “God help us.”
Eddie just smiled and said:
“We’ll figure it out. We always do.”
And in the heart of Chicago, under soft blankets and old wounds long healed, their family rested — stronger than ever.
Thunder & Fire
Setting: Chicago — Diaz-Buckley home, Firehouse 51, CFD scene
Buckley-Diaz Home – Saturday Morning
“Thunder, no! Not the couch!”
Chris chased the golden shepherd mix through the living room as the dog gleefully bounded away, tail wagging at warp speed, paws leaving wet prints behind him.
Sol shrieked with laughter. “Go, Thunder, go!”
Eddie appeared from the kitchen with a dish towel. “Chris, you left the back door open again!”
Chris huffed. “He wanted to chase a squirrel! He’s got dreams!”
Evan strolled in behind Eddie with coffee and muttered, “So did my sofa.”
Jack, a.k.a. “Thunder”, had been with them for three months now. Rescue dog. One floppy ear. Obsessed with Chris. Protective of Sol. Absolutely part of the family.
Chris finally grabbed him by the collar, kneeling down with a proud grin.
“You’re chaos, but you’re mine.”
Firehouse 51 Call Dispatch
Matt zipped up his jacket, voice sharp as the alarm blared through the station.
“House fire. Two-story. Partial collapse risk.”
Evan was right behind him, helmet in hand, nodding at Kelly across the truck. “Let’s go.”
It was a multi-unit structure on the edge of the city. Smoke thick. Heat brutal. Civilians still inside.
Evan and Matt were the first to breach the second floor, where screams echoed down the hallway.
Matt found the trapped child first — but the floor groaned beneath him.
Evan lunged forward, grabbing Matt just as the boards gave way.
And then — everything collapsed.
Mayday
“Mayday!” Kelly’s voice cracked over the radio. “Casey and Buckley down — second floor collapse. We need backup inside. Now.”
Eddie heard the call from the station where he’d been doing joint rotation. His stomach dropped.
“I’m going,” he told the lieutenant without hesitation.
“You’re off shift.”
Eddie grabbed his gear anyway. “That’s my husband in there.”
Med, Hours Later
The waiting room was quiet, sterile, and far too familiar.
Chris sat next to Carla, hands clenched in his lap. Sol slept curled up against Shay.
Eddie stood in the hallway, still in gear, covered in soot and barely breathing right.
Will Halstead came out first. “They’re both alive.”
Everyone exhaled at once.
“Matt has a concussion and two cracked ribs. Evan... he got hit in the back when they landed. Fractured scapula. Torn muscle. He’s lucky he didn’t break his spine.”
Eddie closed his eyes. “Can I see him?”
“Yeah. He’s asking for you.”
Hospital Room
Evan blinked up at him as Eddie stepped inside.
“You look like hell,” Evan whispered.
“You almost died. Again.” Eddie’s voice broke.
Evan tried to smirk. “We gotta stop doing this.”
Eddie pulled the chair up, took his hand, and held it. Long. Quiet.
“You scared the hell out of me,” he whispered.
Evan looked over. “Chris?”
“Okay. Thunder’s keeping guard. Literally lying by the door like a security system.”
Evan laughed softly. “Good boy.”
Recovery & Resilience
A week later, Evan was home — arm in a sling, bruises covering half his side.
Sol climbed into his lap anyway and carefully kissed his cheek. “Better now?”
“Getting there,” he whispered.
Chris walked in with Thunder on a leash, grinning. “He whined for you all night, you know.”
Evan leaned his head back, exhausted but smiling. “Me too, buddy.”
Firehouse 51 Check-In
Kelly and Matt sat outside the firehouse a few days later, both still sore, both still alive.
“We almost didn’t make it,” Matt said quietly.
Kelly looked toward the sun. “We did. And we’ve got a daughter waiting at home. A reason to slow down.”
Matt nodded. “We’re not just firefighters anymore.”
L A Quiet Night at Home
The family sat curled on the couch — Evan resting, Eddie beside him, Sol asleep on his chest, and Chris with his arm around Thunder.
The TV played quietly in the background, but no one was really watching.
Just being together was enough.
Chris finally whispered, “Dad?”
“Yeah, buddy?”
“Thanks for coming back.”
Evan kissed the top of his head. “Always.”
Bridges and Babies
Setting: Chicago – Buckley-Diaz home, Severide & Casey’s place, 51
Arrival
The knock on the door wasn’t unexpected — but Evan still froze for a second when it came.
Eddie glanced up from the kitchen. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” Evan said, voice soft. “Just… nerves.”
Chris beat them both to the door.
“Hi!” he said brightly as he opened it.
There stood Maddie, holding Jee-Yun's hand, eyes already glossy with emotion.
“Hey, Chris,” she said, voice thick. “You’ve gotten so tall.”
Chris stepped aside. “Thunder’s not gonna bark if you give him a treat.”
Jee-Yun beamed. “I love dogs.”
Thunder woofed once and wagged his tail like she passed the test.
Evan came into view, holding Sol — a bit more reserved.
“Hi, Maddie.”
Maddie took a deep breath. “Hi, Ev.”
The Awkward Beginning
The house was filled with the sound of two toddlers babbling, Chris trying to teach Jee-Yun how to play Switch, and Thunder trying to get into the snack cabinet again.
Still, the adults sat in quiet tension at the dining table, sipping coffee.
“You don’t have to explain everything,” Evan finally said.
Maddie looked surprised. “I want to. But… I also know I let a lot happen without asking what you needed.”
Eddie gave a small nod. “We needed support. Not silence.”
Maddie’s eyes fell. “I get that now.”
There was a long pause before Evan said:
“You can be in our lives. But you’ll have to grow with us. Not hold us to who we were.”
She nodded. “That’s fair.”
Meeting the Family
Later that evening, they all gathered at Matt and Kelly’s house for a small dinner.
Maya and Jee-Yun immediately bonded over their love for glitter, dolls, and marshmallows.
Matt welcomed Maddie warmly. “Glad you made it out.”
Kelly was more direct. “Just don’t hurt him again. That’s all I’ll say.”
Maddie nodded. “I won’t.”
Antonio and Jay arrived shortly after with Eva and Diego, who started chasing Thunder around the yard with Chris.
Shay introduced herself with a wink. “I’m the fun one.”
Maddie took a moment to really see Evan — holding Sol, laughing with Matt, letting Shay steal his daughter to braid her curls. He wasn’t just surviving. He was thriving.
A Quiet Moment
Later that night, as the kids watched a movie and Eddie cleaned up plates with Antonio, Maddie stepped out onto the porch where Evan sat quietly.
Jee-Yun had curled up next to Sol, both nearly asleep.
“You look happy,” Maddie said gently.
“I am,” Evan replied. “Took time. Took pain. But I have everything I never thought I’d get.”
Maddie looked down. “I should’ve protected that. Protected you.”
Evan didn’t say anything right away. Then:
“I think you thought Bobby was doing that.
But he wasn’t.
And I couldn’t wait for anyone else to save me.”
A heavy silence. Then Maddie whispered:
“I’m proud of you. Not just for surviving… but for building something better.”
Evan turned slightly, his voice softer now. “I want you here, Maddie. But I need you to see me now. Not just your little brother from before.”
“I do,” she said. “I swear, I do.”
Goodbye... For Now
When Maddie and Jee-Yun packed up to leave the next morning, Sol wrapped her arms around Jee and whispered, “You can come back.”
Jee-Yun grinned. “I’m gonna FaceTime you every day.”
Chris gave Maddie a hug. “I’m glad you came.”
Maddie looked over at Evan and Eddie, standing together in the doorway.
“Can I… come again soon?”
Evan nodded.
“Yeah. Just… keep showing up. That’s what matters now.”
Smoke Without Fire
Setting: Chicago — Severide & Casey’s home → Chicago Med
Morning Routine Chaos
It was a normal morning.
Pancakes. Maya insisting she wanted to wear her purple tutu over her jeans. Kelly letting her because “we’re not fighting battles before 9 a.m.” Matt sipping coffee, half-listening to the news.
But then Maya coughed. Once. Then again. Then again. Sharp. Dry. Her cheeks flushed.
Kelly knelt down. “Hey, sweetie, you okay?”
She blinked at him — confused. Wobbly.
Then she leaned into him. And vomited.
Panic Creeps In
“Babe, she’s burning up,” Kelly said, his voice rising.
Matt already had the thermometer. “104.6 — it was 99.3 last night.”
Kelly paced. “Do we go straight to Med? Or call April? Maybe it’s strep? Meningitis? I —”
“Hey,” Matt cut in, firm but shaking. “We’re not guessing. We’re going now.”
Kelly gathered Maya in his arms, her head resting against his chest, whimpering softly.
The man who ran into burning buildings for a living?
Now terrified of a fever.
At Chicago Med
April met them at the entrance. “We’ve got a room ready.”
Will Halstead was already reviewing vitals. “She’s dehydrated. Her fever’s spiked fast — but her oxygen’s steady.”
Kelly refused to let go of her hand. Matt hovered just behind him, arms crossed, bouncing on the balls of his feet like it’d help.
“What if it’s more?” Kelly asked. “What if we missed something? What if—”
Will cut in gently. “Kelly. Matt. We’ve got her. I promise.”
The Family Shows Up
Evan and Eddie arrived twenty minutes later with Sol and Chris in tow. Shay came right after with snacks that no one touched.
Evan sat beside Kelly and handed him a water bottle.
“You remember when I had that lung infection?” Evan said softly. “You were calm. Focused. Sharp.”
Kelly gave a humorless laugh. “I wasn’t her dad back then.”
Evan nodded. “Exactly. So it’s okay to fall apart a little. That’s what we’re here for.”
Waiting Room Conversations
Matt sat beside Eddie, head in his hands.
“She was just… fine. And then she wasn’t. And I couldn’t fix it.”
Eddie didn’t try to fix him. Just said, “You’re not supposed to fix it. You’re supposed to stay — and you did.”
Chris sat between them with Sol asleep on his shoulder. “Maya’s strong,” he said confidently. “She’s got Kelly’s stubborn and your ‘dad-worry.’ She’ll be okay.”
Matt looked up. “Thanks, buddy.”
Chris shrugged. “It’s what family says.”
The News
Will came out a little after 1 p.m. Still in his scrubs, a little sweaty, but smiling.
“It’s a severe viral infection — fast-moving, but manageable. We’re keeping her overnight for fluids and fever monitoring, but… she’s going to be okay.”
Kelly exhaled so hard he had to sit down.
Matt kissed his temple. “You can cry now.”
Kelly wiped his face with the back of his hand. “Already did. Twice.”
At Maya’s Bedside
Later that night, Maya slept, IV gently taped to her hand. Kelly held one side. Matt held the other.
“She kept saying her stomach hurt but I thought it was just bedtime avoidance,” Kelly whispered.
Matt shook his head. “We’re not perfect. We just have to keep showing up.”
Kelly kissed her hand. “I’ve never been so scared.”
Matt leaned into him. “Me neither. But she’s okay. We’re okay.”
Next Morning: Pancakes & Purple Tutus
Evan and Eddie dropped off breakfast — real breakfast, made by Shay and supervised by Chris.
Maya blinked up from her bed. Still pale, but smiling.
“I want pancakes,” she croaked.
“You got ‘em, baby girl,” Kelly said, bringing the tray over.
She tugged on Evan’s sleeve. “Did Sol come?”
“She’s in the hallway,” Evan said. “With your crown.”
Maya grinned. “Tell her to bring my tutu too.”
Matt chuckled. “We’re back.”
Chapter 4: Bonus
Chapter Text
Little Moments
Setting: All over Chicago — Buckley-Diaz home, Firehouse 51, Med, the park, the kitchen table
Saturday Morning – Pancakes & Paw Prints
“Thunder, not on the table!”
Evan was too late. The dog had already snatched a slice of bacon from Sol’s plate, tail wagging furiously.
“Traitor!” Sol shrieked, pointing.
Eddie swooped in, grabbed Thunder’s collar, and offered a peace-offering pancake to their curly-haired daughter. “Don’t worry. You’ve got more bacon coming.”
Chris walked in with his hair still wet from the shower, holding his phone. “Jay just texted — Eva wants a playdate after lunch. You cool if I take Sol?”
Evan blinked. “You volunteering to babysit?”
Chris grinned. “I’m training for when you guys adopt again.”
Evan looked over at Eddie. “He’s 13. Wasn’t he, like, 5 last week?”
Eddie handed him coffee. “Don’t remind me.”
Firehouse 51 – Surprise Visit
Maya burst through the common room doors in a blur of glittery sneakers. “Uncle Buckley! Uncle Eddie!”
Matt followed her in, holding balloons and a box of cupcakes.
Kelly raised an eyebrow at Boden. “Bribing the squad?”
“Bribing the squad’s kids,” Matt clarified. “Much easier.”
Evan was already crouching to catch Maya in a hug. “You’re not here to outshine Sol again, are you?”
“I brought her a tiara this time,” Maya said proudly.
Eddie gave Matt a side grin. “She’s got manners. You’ve done good.”
“Kelly taught her to fight, I taught her to apologize. Balanced parenting,” Matt replied.
Shay leaned in. “Please tell me someone brought coffee.”
April, walking in with Will, handed her a tray. “Already saved your life once this week. Figured I’d keep the streak going.”
Chicago Med – A Quick Check-In
Will had just finished Sol’s checkup. “Strong lungs. Fast reflexes. Pretty sure she’s ready for Olympic toddlerhood.”
Evan, holding Sol on his hip, nodded. “She’s been doing parkour off the couch, so… makes sense.”
Sol looked at Will seriously. “Do I get a sticker?”
“You get three,” Will said, handing over a sparkly sheet. “One for each dog Thunder tried to chase in the waiting room.”
Eddie walked in, nodding at Will. “You survive?”
“Barely.”
Sunday Afternoon – Family Park Day
The grass was green. The sun was soft. And the playground? Chaos.
Chris was tossing a ball for Thunder, who barked happily and then flopped over dramatically halfway through the run.
Eva and Diego were playing tag with Sol and Maya. Jay and Antonio sat on a bench watching, arms slung around each other.
Jay murmured, “This is good. You see this? This is everything.”
Antonio grinned. “And we thought we were going to screw it up.”
Nearby, Kelly and Matt shared a blanket, sipping iced coffee while Maya ran in circles, tiara firmly in place.
Evan sat down beside Eddie, stretching his legs out.
“She called me ‘Dada’ twice today,” Evan whispered.
Eddie smiled. “She knows who’s always there.”
Dinner at Home – Everyone Pitches In
“Who let Shay near the pasta again?” Evan called from the kitchen.
Shay shouted back, “You’ll eat it and say thank you!”
Matt stirred a pot with exaggerated caution. “This doesn’t smell like fire, so we’re already ahead.”
April brought salad, and Antonio opened a bottle of wine while Chris set the table like he was hosting a royal dinner.
Sol sat in the middle, sticky hands, Thunder under her chair, waiting for scraps.
Eddie passed Evan a plate. “You good?”
Evan nodded, watching everyone laugh, eat, tease, and exist.
“Yeah. I really, really am.”
Quiet Night – Kids Asleep, Lights Low
Chris was passed out on the couch, Thunder curled at his feet. Sol was in her bed, hugging a stuffed firetruck that Kelly had gifted her.
Eddie stood at the window, sipping tea.
Evan wrapped his arms around him from behind.
“Think we’ll ever feel this at ease forever?” Eddie asked.
Evan shrugged. “Don’t know. But we’ve got this moment. And the next one. And if that’s all we get, it’s still everything.”
A Look Inside Jay & Antonio’s Family
Setting: Antonio & Jay’s apartment – warm lighting, framed photos, lived-in love.
Diego was at the coffee table, deep into his latest sketch — a comic panel featuring Thunder as a fire-breathing hero saving civilians from a pretend alien attack.
Eva sat cross-legged on the couch, earbuds in, writing in a notebook. Not homework — lyrics, probably. She didn’t say much about them, but Antonio had found a crumpled page once that read like poetry laced with grief and fire.
Jay leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching them with quiet fondness. “They’re so different.”
Antonio handed him a mug of tea. “They’re exactly the same where it counts.”
Jay nodded slowly, eyes still on them. “You ever think about how far they’ve come?”
Antonio exhaled. “Every day.”
There was a time — not that long ago — when Eva flinched at sudden arguments and Diego didn’t talk much at all. When trust had to be built, slowly, in between pizza nights, bedtime stories, and showing up — over and over again.
Eva caught his gaze and smirked. “You two whispering again? Plotting to make us eat kale?”
Diego looked up. “If kale happens, I’m running away to Uncle Kelly’s.”
Antonio crossed his arms. “If you run, you’re taking Thunder with you.”
Jay stepped in, ruffling Diego’s hair. “He’s too dramatic. Like his sister.”
Eva raised a brow. “Says the man who once argued with a vending machine in the ER.”
Jay opened his mouth, then paused. “That was one time, and it ate my money.”
Laughter filled the room — the kind that made walls feel like home.
Later that night, after dishes were done and the kids were tucked in, Jay found Antonio on the couch with an old photo album. One of Eva as a toddler in pigtails, Diego still chubby-cheeked and clinging to Antonio’s neck.
“She doesn’t talk about Laura anymore,” Jay said softly, sitting beside him.
“She doesn’t need to,” Antonio replied. “But I know it still hurts.”
Jay laced their fingers together. “They have you. And now… they have us.”
Antonio swallowed hard. “We didn’t plan for this. But I’d do it all again.”
From down the hall, Eva called, “Can you guys not have a heart-to-heart while I’m trying to sleep?”
Diego added, “Seriously. Gross.”
Jay grinned. “Totally your kids.”
Antonio smiled, pulling him close. “Yeah. They are.”
Shay & Brett — Family, Maybe
Setting: Firehouse 51 – Quiet Shift, Dorm Room, Late Night
The station was calm — rare. The hum of the fridge down the hall and the creak of someone shifting on the couch were the only sounds. Shay lay on her back staring at the ceiling, one arm draped over her eyes. Brett sat beside her on the bunk, flipping slowly through a catalog from a local adoption agency, barely reading the words.
“I was thinking,” Shay said suddenly, voice low. “Maybe we should get a dog first.”
Brett smirked without looking up. “Is that code for ‘I’m panicking about babies’?”
“No,” Shay mumbled. “Yes. Maybe.”
Brett closed the catalog and set it aside. “You want a dog. Then maybe a kid. That’s fine. We don’t have to rush.”
Shay sat up slowly, legs swinging off the side of the bed. “It’s not that I don’t want it. I do. I think about it all the time. I just… I didn’t think I’d live long enough to consider the ‘white picket fence’ life. Let alone choose it.”
Brett nodded. “I get it. I never imagined this either — especially not with another woman who steals all the covers and keeps her motorcycle boots by the kitchen table.”
“Romantic,” Shay said, dryly.
“I try.”
They were quiet for a beat.
“I met a girl today on that school field trip tour,” Brett said. “Nine years old. Knew every part of the rig, asked all the right questions. But she told me her favorite thing about firefighters was that they show up.”
Shay glanced over. “That sounds like the start of a pitch.”
Brett smiled softly. “Maybe it is. I don’t care how we grow our family — foster, adopt, donor, dog, turtle, chaos child — as long as we show up. For each other. For them.”
Shay leaned in and rested her forehead against Brett’s. “Okay. Let’s start showing up. Together.”
Just then, their phones buzzed.
Group Chat — Squad Family 💥🔥
Matt: Reminder: BBQ this Sunday at Evan & Eddie’s. No fire jokes near the grill.
Evan: We talked about this, Casey.
Jay: I’m bringing extra chairs. The kids keep multiplying.
Chris: Sol wants to know if Aunt Shay will let her ride the motorcycle again.
Shay: Only if she brings cookies.
Brett: We might have news by then ❤️
Shay looked at the screen and grinned.
“News?” she asked.
Brett winked. “Well… I was thinking we go meet that girl from the school tour again. Just for coffee.”
Shay blinked. “Brett, she’s nine.”
“With her foster family,” Brett clarified, laughing. “They’re open to visits.”
Shay’s expression shifted — cautious, hopeful.
“Okay,” she said quietly. “Let’s see where this goes.”
Will & Connor — One Year In, One Step Further
Setting: Their apartment – organized chaos, baby books on the coffee table, Mac sprawled across the hallway like a furry roadblock.
Connor came out of the nursery-in-progress holding a miniature onesie printed with cartoon stethoscopes.
“This is too on-the-nose, right?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Will looked up from the adoption paperwork, glasses slipping down his nose. “Only if you pair it with the surgical booties.”
Connor smirked. “Noted.”
Mac, their large rescue mutt with zero sense of personal space, padded into the room carrying a pacifier in his mouth like it was a prized bone.
Will groaned. “That’s the third one this week.”
Connor leaned down and took it gently from Mac’s mouth. “He’s just practicing.”
“For what, raising the baby himself?”
Connor laughed but didn’t reply. He stepped closer, placing the pacifier on the table, and sat beside Will. Quiet for a moment.
“You still sure?” he asked. “I know this is fast. A year isn’t long, not for something like this.”
Will set the paperwork aside and reached for Connor’s hand. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
Connor looked over at him. “I didn’t think I’d ever have this.”
“This?” Will teased. “Paperwork? Pacifiers? A dog who thinks he’s co-parenting?”
Connor rolled his eyes, but his smile softened. “No. This life. With you.”
They both looked toward the nursery — still half-empty, walls freshly painted a pale green, a crib waiting in the corner. On the wall, someone (probably Eva, with her chaotic creative streak) had tacked up a sign that read “Future World-Changer Sleeps Here” in glittery letters.
The doorbell rang.
Connor stood. “That’s them.”
Will’s stomach flipped — in a good way. “Let’s meet our maybe.”
Later That Night – Group Chat, Baby Edition
Group Chat — Squad Family 💥🔥
Will: Met her. One-month-old. Tiny fists. Big lungs.
Connor: She fell asleep holding Mac’s paw. He hasn’t moved since.
Evan: 💀 Dead. I love her already.
Shay: Please tell me she has hair.
Chris: Can I babysit this one too? I’m building a resume.
April: I call godmother rights.
Brett: After me.
Antonio: After me.
Jay: Please. Like you even change diapers.
Matt: This baby already has more aunts and uncles than I do.
Kelly: She’s firehouse-certified. Get her a Dalmatian onesie.
Will: Already ordered.