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Buck loves giving gifts—it’s something that he prides himself in, really. He’s not saying that he’s an expert, but he’s really, really good at picking that one thing that someone needs and wants.
So, the fact that he’s standing in the middle of a department store, empty handed and a growing sense of unease is really throwing him for a loop. “I’m looking, but nothing here is speaking to me.”
Eddie laughs from the other end of the call, “That’s what shopping for a teenager will do to you.”
“It’s not funny, Eddie,” Buck whines. “You get this kid everything he needs or wants. So, really, this is your fault.”
“Alright,” he hears Eddie huff out, though he’s sure it’s still somewhat of a laugh. “We both know that I’m not the only one who buys him things. Why is this suddenly so hard for you, Buck?”
And really, that’s the hundred dollar question, right there. Why was Buck struggling so much trying to find Christopher a gift? “I don’t know. I just… I don’t think the sweater and the new keyboard is enough.”
“It’s plenty,” Eddie sighs. “He’ll love them.”
“But—”
“But nothing, Buck,” he says. “You know Chris is gonna love the keyboard, he’s been eyeing this one for months. The sweater is thoughtful. Why are you convincing yourself that it’s not enough?”
Buck frowns and bites the inside of his cheek. He knows that Eddie is right, to an extent. Christopher would love the keyboard and sweater, but that was… normal Buck gifts. Those were the type of gifts he would surprise him with just because. They weren’t enough for Christmas and they definitely weren’t enough for this Christmas.
“Buck?” Eddie asks, but he can’t bring himself to answer, to admit any part of that out loud. “Babe, come on.”
He releases a sigh, “You can’t do that.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Eddie says, though Buck can practically hear the smug grin in his tone.
“You can’t just call me babe and expect that I’ll fold,” Buck groans.
He frowns a little at Eddie’s little hum and knows that no matter what he says next, Buck will fold. “Okay, Evan. I won’t call you babe, but you know that Christopher isn’t materialistic. He’s not going to be upset with anything you gift him.”
“I know he’s not,” Buck quickly defends. “He’s like the world’s most perfect teenager, but that’s why he deserves more than this.”
“Uh huh,” Eddie agrees easily. “Which is why we agreed to buy him the new laptop.”
Buck’s brow furrows. “No, that’s a gift from you.”
“They’re from us, ba-Buck.”
A warmth settles in his stomach, a response that once scared him, but was the norm now that Eddie and Buck had confronted what was going on between them. “You can call me babe.”
Eddie chuckles, a small little thing that Buck would usually kiss away, “Oh, I can call you babe now?”
He hums an affirmative.
“Babe,” Eddie says, voice low and sultry, a trap. “Talk to me.”
“I am talking to you,” Buck says, but he knows that he’s lost and Eddie’s seconds away from knowing about his silly little insecurity.
“And I’m so proud of you,” Eddie sing-songs before he takes on a more serious tone. “But, you know that’s not what I mean.”
“Eddie,” Buck sighs.
“Amor,” Eddie counters.
“This is our first Christmas together.” It’s out there now and Buck wants to scoop it back in and pretend that he never said it.
“It’s not,” Eddie says.
“As a couple, baby,” Buck says and waits for Eddie to either laugh at him or sigh.
“Okay,” he says instead. “I get it now.”
“What?”
He hears shuffling on the other end, then the scraping of a chair, “I get it. This is like when you had to calm me down before dinner at Maddie and Chim’s house. Do you remember what you told me?”
“I mean, I remember some parts,” Buck says, though it’s a complete lie. He remembers the whole conversation. “I remember getting on my knees.”
He grins at Eddie’s cough, whatever he was about to say now caught in his throat. “Okay, that’s enough out of you. You’re in public.”
“I am,” Buck relents. “And I do remember. I told you that things didn’t change, just got a new name, but I also remember it not helping.”
“It did help,” Eddie admits. “I mean, yes I was still nervous and you’re still going to be worried. It’s just who we are, but babe, it was fine. Everything was exactly as it always had been and this is no different. Christopher has always appreciated what you’ve given him and just because we have a new name for what we are to each other won’t change that.”
“So I don’t need to get him a,” Buck looks at the shelf and frowns, “wireless heated blanket with bluetooth speaker?”
“No, he absolutely needs that. That’s an incredibly thoughtful gift that almost undermines everything I just told you,” Eddie groans. “You should get it.”
Buck reaches over and pulls the last red blanket off the shelf. “I got it.”
“Babe,” Eddie says, calling his attention back to him.
“Yeah?”
”I mean it when I say that Christopher isn’t expecting anything more from you than what you’ve already been giving him. You’ve had the role of dad longer than either of us realized and it’s so clear in how you are with each other. The perfect gift isn’t going to decide how much you care and the lack of one isn’t going to make him think less of you.
“And before you say it, I think you already got really thoughtful gifts that he’ll love and appreciate.”
Buck worries the inside of his cheek as he considers everything Eddie just said. He’s right, Buck knows that. He knows that he’s being silly and that no matter what Buck and Eddie give him, Christopher is going to love it and love them. This Christmas might be the first that Buck’s dating Chris’ dad, but it’s certainly not the first that they’re celebrating as a family.
“Okay,” Buck sighs. “You’re right.”
“I am,” Eddie agrees easily, as if he knew exactly what Buck was going to say. “But tell you what—I’ll finish up wrapping up the gifts here and head over to the mall so you can help me find something for Jee.”
“From us?” Buck grins.
Eddie, most likely realizing that he’s caught and there’s no use in hiding it, huffs out a laugh, “Yeah, babe. From us.”
Buck will let it go, because at the end of the day? He wants nothing more than to have a perfect Christmas this year—anxious gift shopping for children and all.