“You’re quite the hero,” Buck says. His voice borders on flirtatious, and if they were anywhere else, Tommy would be stepping up to his level, maybe even kicking up the flirting a notch. But the sirens of the engine blare, reminding him of where they are. He reels himself in, not letting himself get carried away in thoughts of what might happen if they were anywhere else. “Aren’t we all?” he asks, trying to sound nonchalant. Buck doesn’t buy it, his eyes lingering on Tommy, reading him and breaking down those walls. Thankfully, Chim starts asking Buck basic questions about where he’s from and what brought him out to LA, distracting him until they reach their location. But even with the moment of reprieve, Tommy knows that Evan Buckley is going to be trouble. - Or: Tommy never left the 118, and nothing could have prepared him for Evan Buckley.

Eddie Diaz lives a quiet life as a firefighter and single father to his son, Christopher. After the tragic death of his wife, Eddie accepted that he'll never find love again. When Eddie and Chris discover mermaids are real after a violent storm washes one ashore, their world is turned upside down. Buck is charming and kind, with bright blue eyes and an even bluer tail, and a determination to prove to his father that true love exists in order to avoid an arranged marriage. He enlists the help of Eddie and Chris in his quest for love, a job which Eddie takes seriously. While trying to balance setting Buck up on dates and protecting his secret from everyone around them, Eddie finds that Buck fits perfectly into his life. He wants Buck to find love, wants him to prove his father wrong, so why is it so hard to see him happy with someone else?

“Evan,” Tommy starts, leveling him with a look. “I can’t ask that of you. I live in the opposite direction of you, it will take you forever to get home.” “Then spend the night at my place.” The words slip past his lips before he even has a chance to think. Tommy stills, his mouth dropping open in surprise. “Are - are you sure?” He asks gently, with big, sincere eyes. Buck thought he would panic at the prospect of spending their first night together - his first night with a man - but he takes it in stride like everything else in this journey; with excitement and joy. He smiles, and doesn’t have any regrets when he says, “Yes. Please come home with me, Tommy.” Buck swears Tommy’s smile could be enough to remind anyone of how much beauty this world contains. “Okay,” he whispers. “Take me home, Evan.” - or: Tommy shows up, and he stays.

They walk side-by-side, hand-in-hand, to the middle of the dance floor and turn towards each other. “You sure about this, Evan?” Tommy asks quietly, brushing his thumb across the back of Buck’s hand and searching Buck’s face for an answer. He squeezes Tommy’s hand and steps into his space, and smiles. “I am.” Tommy smiles in return, and the joy on his face is enough to solidify Buck’s resolve. “Okay then, show me your moves.” Buck laughs and steps closer so that he can feel Tommy’s warm breath fan across his face. “I’m afraid I’ve got two left feet, so I’m gonna let you lead.” Tommy guides Buck’s hand to his shoulder before settling his own on Buck’s waist, and lifts their joined hands. “Guess this is just one more thing I get to teach you, huh?” - or: Buck and Tommy dance at Maddie and Chim's wedding, and the pieces that Buck has been searching for finally fall into place.

“You don’t understand, I have to get home to my son.” She gives him a sympathetic smile, and Eddie has to restrain himself from slamming his fists on the desk. He clenches his fists at his side instead, his chest still heaving from sprinting across the airport. “Surely you can make an exception for this man who is serving our country,” a voice says from beside him, friendly and polite. Eddie watches a bright smile spread across the other man’s face, and he notices that he seems to be completely collected despite that fact that he was sprinting as fast as Eddie was just moments ago. “I’m sorry, sir, there’s nothing I can do.” She looks at Eddie, a flash of pity crossing over her face. “And thank you for your service.” - or: Eddie misses his flight home to his son on Christmas Eve, and just so happens to get stuck with the handsome man who sprinted across the airport with him.

Buck and Eddie had been luckier than most enlisted soldiers - after meeting at basic training, they were stationed at the same base, and had been in the same unit ever since. Buck had been there through everything; from their first deployment to Eddie's divorce, supporting him in war zones or at home with Christopher. Most friends in the military didn't get so much time together before getting shipped off somewhere new, so it was bound to happen sooner or later. When Eddie learns that he's getting stationed on the other side of the country, he's faced with a reality where Buck isn't a part of his daily life. Neither of them are prepared for a life without the other. Their solution? To get married.

Everything happens too quickly.

Another crack sounds just above them, and as soon as Eddie steps in closer to Buck, reaching out to grab him by the turnouts, Buck is pushing the kid into Eddie’s arms and yelling at him to get out. Eddie wants to argue, to fight back, but Buck’s hands are on his shoulders, and before Eddie can do anything other than secure the kid in his arms, there’s one last deafening crash and Buck is pushing him away just as the beam falls from the ceiling.

He feels a scream rip from his throat, echoing over the raging inferno surrounding them as the beam crashes down on top of Buck, who crumples to the floor.

or;

Buck gets hurt on a call, and Eddie isn't prepared to see him in a hospital bed again so soon after the lightning strike.

Evan Buckley is living out his childhood dream as the star hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies. He’s climbing the ranks, improving his stats with every single game – he’s unstoppable.

That is, until the Los Angeles Angels get a new pitcher seemingly out of nowhere. Known for his strong arm and tricky curve balls, Eddie Diaz is one of the few pitchers in the nation who consistently makes Buck strike out, and its infuriating. Even from the sixty feet that separate them between the batter’s box and the pitcher’s mound, the weight of Diaz’s gaze is enough to make Buck’s blood boil.

Because Buck doesn’t get nervous on game day, he never feels calmer than when he steps up to the plate with the bat in his hand – it’s where he belongs. But when he sees Eddie Diaz standing on that mound, his stomach flips and nerves spark across his skin.

Because if there is one thing Buck knows for sure, it is that he hates Eddie Diaz.

… Until he doesn’t.

The living room light casts a warm glow over Buck, who fell fast asleep on the couch moments after walking through the door. Eddie sits at the other end of the couch, a cold beer in hand, watching the rise and fall of Buck’s chest – a reminder that Buck is alive, that he can breathe on his own. Buck’s arm is stretched across the back of the sofa, as if he’s creating space for Eddie, inviting him into arms.

He longs to lean into Buck and hold him close, to rest his head on Buck’s chest and hear his heartbeat, to feel the proof of life. But Buck needs to rest; Eddie opens up the second beer, and lets Buck sleep.

or;

Eddie has lots of feelings about Buck dying, Eddie's couch is Buck's sanctuary, and Eddie is Buck's home.

“You want to take me on a weekend getaway… to a winery… for Valentine’s weekend?” Eddie clarifies, his mind spinning as he thinks of a weekend away with Buck, just the two of them.

“I got the weekend deal for free, Eddie! We have to go.”

“But” Eddie protests. “It’s meant for couples,” he says cautiously.

“C’mon Eddie, that just means we’ll get spoiled to extra wine and deserts and maybe be upgraded to a nicer room with a complimentary bottle of champagne,” Buck argues.

Buck is looking at him with so much hope as he waits for Eddie’s response, and Eddie is powerless against those blue eyes. What’s the harm in pretending for a weekend?

or

Buck and Eddie take a platonic trip to a winery and everyone assumes they're a couple. Eddie pines.

Slowly, they both raise their eyes upwards. Buck stops breathing, his stomach doing a summersault as he sees the mistletoe hanging from the branch above them.

“C’mon guys –” Eddie starts, rolling his eyes.

“Nope!” Chimney shouts, “You’re not coming back inside for cookies until you’ve kissed, mistletoe rule!” he says, before him and Hen slip back inside, sliding the door closed behind them. Buck gulps, hearing the lock click and seeing them laughing on the other side of the glass door.

It’s fine. It’s just a kiss under the mistletoe. It’s a Christmas tradition, and in this case, just a joke. Not a big deal. He can play along – his only other choice is being weird about it, which sounds too much like revealing his feelings. So, he swallows it down and looks at Eddie who is still standing frozen, staring up at the mistletoe hanging above them.

Buck forces an easy smile. “C’mon, I’m not that bad,” he jokes. The tension in Eddie’s shoulders lessens a little and he laughs softly. “No. No you’re not,” he admits. “So, what do we do?”

Buck shrugs, trying to remain casual. “I guess we just suck it up and French a little.”

“Farm boy.” Buck says quickly, realizing he’s never actually called Eddie by his real name before and feeling overwhelmed at the thought of it. Time stands still as Eddie turns back to face him.

“Fetch me that pitcher.” He says softly, nodding towards the pitcher hanging above his head along with other kitchen appliances. Eddie doesn’t look away, taking slow steps towards Buck until he is so close that Buck can feel Eddie’s breath on his face. Buck’s heart threatens to beat out of his chest as Eddie reaches for the pitcher, leaning closer into Buck’s space to do so. This close, Buck can see flecks of gold, like honey, in Eddie’s warm brown eyes. Eddie lowers the pitcher, placing it gently in Buck’s hands causing their fingers to brush.

“As you wish.” It comes out as a whisper, and Buck feels lightheaded at the softness of Eddie’s voice.

-

Or, the princess bride au that nobody asked for

“I never learned to dance.” Buck says quietly, looking almost expectantly at Eddie. Again, Eddie’s breath is taken away by Buck standing here in his kitchen, his shirt bringing out his blue eyes.

Eddie takes a deep breath, trying to build courage and find his voice. He takes a step closer to Buck without breaking eye contact and puts his hand out. “Then let’s dance.”

or:

Eddie discovers he is in love with Evan Buckley, and everything falls into place.

Every moment Buck feels as if he loves Eddie as much as possible, and every moment he’s proven wrong by falling even more in love. He’s proven wrong again as Eddie shifts so he’s facing Buck, lifting his leg onto the couch so that his shin is flush against Buck’s thigh, bringing them closer.

“Buck.” Eddie speaks his name quietly, like its something precious. And Buck falls even more as Eddie captures his gaze in those warm, brown eyes.

or:

A series of miscommunication leads to confusion and mistakes, until everything finally becomes clear.