Chapter Text
"Don't be selfish, Edmundo. Do what's best for Christopher."
His mothers words replay in his head, he looks into the overhead mirror to see his 4 year old slumped in his seat, face relaxed as he snoozes lightly. A week ago Eddie had fought with his parents again, this time it was the final straw, his mothers words giving him the motivation to get his son out of that place. He won't let them use his child as a second chance for their terrible parenting, Christopher didn't need to be constantly watched and coddled, despite his disability he was fiercely independent, it was hard to kick the kid down at all-his son was the strongest person he knew and he was only four years old.
Shannon had left, it was the whole reason he moved back in with his parents again, he'd just gotten out of the army with a shiny silver star after serving since he was 19, it was hard getting a new normal after spending so many years on edge, listening, waiting for an attack from an enemy he didn't know. But then his wife-ex wife- left, only a note indicating her departure at all. He knows he should have tried to follow her, he just didn't want to uproot Christopher, didn't want to take him away from his grandparents.
Eddie had many regrets but leaving El Paso behind is not one of them-not like he thought it would be. He stretches his legs while he fills the truck with gas, keeping his eye on Chris at all times, they only had a few more hours to go before they arrived.
Eddie was still adamant on not taking Christopher away from family and he remembers his abuela telling him a few months ago over the phone how she had been struggling to keep up with the horse ranch lately-his abuelo had past a few years earlier but Isabel had been young and coped well with the demand at the time.
He knew his tía Pepa and his cousins helped out-it was on the outskirts of where they lived in LA after all-but they weren't able to stay all the time and help out. Eddie could, Chris too, he'd already put in his application for the fire academy, he'd stay with abuela while he goes through it. Maybe he could convince her to retire, give the place up to one of the cousins, his abuelo didn't like anyone outside of the family helping with the ranch, it was his, it was a family thing and he kept it that way until his dying breath, but if it went to one of the cousins? It was a win win, abuela could settle down somewhere and her husbands legacy will carry on in the family like he wished.
He still remembers the time he and his family had visited, he'd begged to bring a friend along with him despite his mother's warning, let's just stay their stay was cut short.
Once the tank was filled he set off, towards a fresh start for him and his son. He'd missed his abuela so much, Pepa and his cousins too, but mostly abuela. They'd always been close, he remember baking with her in the kitchen as a child, how she'd sneak him chocolate from the pantry after being grounded for no reason. The forehead kisses were his favourite, it felt like all the love his parents wouldn't give him, abuela always made sure he knew he was treasured.
"Boys don't cry, Edmundo."
He was 10 when his father spoke those words, his abuelo had just died but he wasn't allowed to cry. His sisters cried freely without reprimand, that night they found him wrapped tightly under his covers, pillow soaked against his face from his tears. They had climbed into bed with him and held him as he sobbed, away from their parents, they looked after him when he didn't feel strong enough to be the man of the house like his father wanted. He was just a kid, he wasn't supposed to parent his sisters, he was supposed to be enjoying life, climbing trees, scraping his knees, playing in the mud. He wasn't supposed to be shipped off to the army to pay for a baby, he shouldn't have been married at 19 because his parents wanted him to be with the nice girl in his class. Shannon wasn't his wife anymore, they'd divorced before she left for LA, they had spent more time apart than together in the 5 years they had been married, he'd missed so much of Christopher's childhood, as well as his own. But he was here now, he wasn't leaving this time. He was going to be the one who stayed for once, he wouldn't follow in the footsteps of those who 'raised' him.
He could see the city on the horizon, he makes a turn to the left, down the dirt roads leading away from LA and towards the ranch he hasn't been to since he was young. The fences lining the property were a different shade of red the once chipped and peeling paint now looking fresh and new, giving it another chance of life. Fences that had been broken by years of climbing on them were fixed, lined perfectly, the small farmhouse was exactly the same. The stone painted a light blue, flowerbeds sitting under windows, freshly watered and maintained. He kind of expected a disaster, the fence maintenance and clean fields could definitely be the work of his cousins Rafael and Fernando but the flowers? That's where he was a little confused, abuela had always loved flowers but the Diaz's were never known for their green thumb, even without trying they killed every plant that came into their possession, Pepa still claimed they were cursed despite her mothers protest-he vividly remembers her blessing the whole family at one of their get togethers.
Christopher stretches in his seat as the truck comes to a halt, running at his eyes tiredly, pushing his glasses up on his head and leaving them askew as he looks at Eddie. Eddie chuckles as he adjusts them for him, using his sleeve to wipe away the drool from his sons face. "We made it?" Christopher yawns loudly, his little body still sluggish in it's movements.
"We made it, mijo. You ready to see everyone?"
"Yeah!" Eddie climbs out, popping his spine as he stretches after hours of non stop driving, he looks around at the makeshift gravel path they used as parking, he noticed Pepa's beat up Chevy, to it's right a truck much like his own that must belong to one of his cousins and a little jeep tucked on the furthest edge-that one confused him. As far as he knew no one in their family even liked them, they were unreliable, prone to breaking down every other day, honestly they were more trouble than they were worth. He pushes away thoughts of the mystery vehicle, swinging open the back door and unbuckling his son, scooping him into his arms. Christopher tucks his head under his chin as Eddie grabs his crutches, the boy in his arms obviously still too tired to want to walk yet.
He pushes open the wooden door of the house, shucking off his boots and lining them neatly with all the rest on the floor, Rafael looks up from his phone giving him a nod of acknowledgement as his only greeting. Talkative as always. Alysia and Liliana leap to their feet screeching, a smile tugs at his lips at the warm welcome-that was until his son was snatched out of his arms-Eddie standing there his arms still outstretched but empty. Christopher giggles at all the attention, they coo at him and Eddie folds his arms, cocking his hip out with a pout that makes Rafael snort, his eyes flicking back to his phone a moment later.
"Am I invisible?"
"Oh, hi Edmundo." Lili teases, her tongue poking out making Chris giggle snort, his little legs kicking excitedly.
"Wow. I feel so l-"
"Eddito!" Her small stature and bad hip don't stop Isabel Diaz from charging at him, her arms outstretched as she pulls him into a hug, her hands cup his cheeks as she pulls him down to her height to smother his face in kisses. His eyes crinkle with the force of his smile, he hugs his abuela back just as tightly as she rocks them from side to side. "Ay, mi amor, ¿Cómo estás? ¿Qué tal el viaje?" He holds her hands, pressing his lips to her knuckles affectionately.
"I'm good, the drive was tiring but manageable, place looks good. Guess Raf and Nando aren't as hopeless as they look." A pillow flies towards his head, he catches it in his hands and throws it right back at his younger cousin.
"Rude. But not wrong, I had nothing to do with this." Raf admits, not even bothering to look up from his phone as he hugs the pillow to his chest.
"Ay, it's true. It's a challenge just asking him to feed the cows." His abuela tells him. Cows?
"Wait, cows? Since when do you have cows?"
"Sí, vacas. We got them 2 years ago."
"Bucks idea." Aly and Lili swoon dreamily as they speak in unison, their eyes all gooey. Buck? Wow, his parents must hate him.
"Buck? What kind of name is that?" He scowls, this Buck definitely wasn't family, why were they even allowed on this property. Abuela flicks his forehead at his pouting, not standing for his attitude any longer.
"Buckito is the reason this place is still standing right now, he and Nando are out in the fields rounding the cattle up into the barn. They'll be giving birth any day now."
"So, this Buck what's his deal. Why do you talk about him like he's some sort of god?"
"He's built like one, that's for sure." His eyes narrow at Alys whispered comment, she grins like the cheshire cat at her ability to rile him up so much. His hands clench at his sides, irrational anger gripping him from the inside. Why was someone out of the family even here in the first place-his abuelo would be rolling in his grave if he found out-what was so special about this guy?
His abuela swats at his arm, knocking him out of his rage filled stupor. "You better be nice to him, he's a good boy. He's in the room beside yours."
"He's living here!?" He squawks, she was kidding right? "Why is he living here? Surely he has somewhere else to go? Is he paying to live here? Is he just using you f-"
"Edmundo. You will be nice to him. I'm not asking, he's a sensitive boy so you better behave. I will send you to Josephina's if you don't." Isabel scolds, her tone more serious than Eddie had ever heard in his life, he shrinks slightly as he nods unwillingly. He could just ignore the guy, right? He doesn't have to actually speak to him, not talking at all might be the nicest thing he could do.
Fernando walks in, shirt drenched in sweat, he brings the fabric of it to his forehead as he swipes away the precipitation along his brow, his smile turns wicked as he meets Eddies eyes. Oh no. He knew that face, he tries to step away but in one swift movement his arms are full of his smelly cousin, drenching his nice clean clothes in his sweat.
"You're such a dick!"
"Love you too, Edmundo." Nando rubs his face all along Eddies, stubble scratching at his skin, his son finds it hilarious, if his squealing laughter is any indication.
The back door swings open.
A man-no older than 20-walks in like he owns the place. He brushes soft blonde curls back from his forehead, Eddie can see his farmers tan where a tank should be sitting, instead all that's there is thick muscle, a gentle tummy and broad shoulders fit for lifting things. Freckles pepper his skin, he notices a dimple on his left cheek as he smiles, his azure eyes bright and full of wonder. Their eyes meet, Eddie feels his pulse quickening-in anger, obviously not because the man is built like a greek god, nope, not at all-the mans eyes crease as he aims a beaming smile directly at Eddie, the force of the sun behind it. Fuck.
"Hi, I'm Buck." his smile never faltering as he extends his hand for Eddie, he nods, refusing to offer his own hand and return the greeting. That earns him a dangerous look from his abuela, Bucks smile wobbles before returning back to its original form.
"Eddie."
"Nice to meet you. Isabel all cows are rounded up." He salutes, his family chuckle. So childish, Eddie rolls his eyes which makes Buck shrink a little more. Isabel cups the young mans face, pulling him down to press a kiss to the red splotch on his brow. Was that a bruise? Buck blushes lightly over the affectionate touch, his entire body flushing a pretty pink colour-no not cute. He's a guy, guys aren't cute. Sure, Eddie could admit the guy was attractive but he'd rather die than be caught thinking he was cute in any aspect. What would his father think?
Buck was alone in the kitchen when he corners him-abuela insisting she show Christopher the cattle in the barn-the young man stands over the stove, humming along to a tune Eddie had never heard of. He stirs the stew pot in front of him, even that pisses Eddie off. How could he be so at home? This wasn't his home, this wasn't his family, Eddie had already decided the moment he saw them blue eyes that he hated the man.
Was it childish of him to hate a man he'd literally just met? Sure, but he couldn't help it. It's how he was raised. He'd been told by his father, men are to be stoic, solid, manly, never show any emotions. This Buck was everything his father had told him not to be, he never stopped grinning like an idiot, he had been welcoming from the get go-he'd even offered Christopher a cookie before dinner that Eddie had all but snatched from his hands.
He notices Eddie in the doorway, he tenses a little before relaxing, turning the heating low as he gives Eddie his full attention.
"Hey, Eddie! You uh-need help unloading your truck? I can move this aside for a mo-"
"Already done." He snaps back, Buck rocks on his feet, his hands picking at the chipped countertop.
"R-right. Okay. Um, did you n-"
"Listen man, I'm not going to pretend I like you. I don't. You're-frankly you creep me out, I'm just letting you know not to expect anything. I don't want to be friends, I don't want to get to know you I don't care. I just want you to stay far away from me and Christopher. Got it?"
Eddie can see the figurative tail tucking between Bucks legs, he stands straighter despite the rapid fluttering of his lashes. "Yeah, okay. Sorry if I-"
"You should go somewhere else. We haven't seen abuela in a long time and this dinner would just be better kept to family. You understand, right?" In his mind he knows he's being harsh but he can't stop himself, how can this man come in here and act like he belongs? He wasn't supposed to be here, Eddie hated that he was here in the space only his family had entered in the past. What made him so special?
"O-okay, I'll-" Buck points towards the stove, hands moving rapidly as he grabs at spices and herbs, throwing them in the pot and mixing, he moves the stew to the side after a good stir before speaking again. "It's done, just uh.. tell Isabel it's ready to serve." He watches Buck grab his jacket from the kitchen table, he rushes past Eddie and down the hall (he assumes towards his room).
Small victories. Eddie peeks at the stew, he refuses to admit aloud that it smells and looks phenomenal, he little feet padding down the hall followed by a slightly bigger set. Abuela makes her way into the kitchen, she looks around like she's lost something, her eyes narrow on Eddie.
"Where's Evancito?"
"I don't know where he is, maybe he thought it best just let family sit at the table tonight."
She approaches, finger outstretched as she prods it into his chest repeatedly. "You, Edmundo Diaz, were not brought up to be a bully. I wasn't kidding, if you carry on with this moody teenager schtick I will throw you out."
"Me?! What about him? Why is he even here, you know if abuelo was here he'd-"
"He's not here. I am, this is my home, I choose who stays and who goes. If you carry on you will be the one leaving, not that sweet child." Eddie pouts, his face heats up from being scolded like a child. Even as a kid his abuela had never been this mad at him for something, he didn't like it. He didn't like how new this all was to him.
"He's a grown man he's not a ch-"
Her gaze burns into his skin, the fierce protectiveness she holds only for those dear to her bubbling over as she scowls at him. She grabs a tray to put a serving of stew on, some buttered bread on the side, she then grabs a bottle of water before heading down the hall and away from Eddie. His eyes burn, he sucks in a steadying breath and braces his hands on the countertop. He didn't even know why he was angry at this stranger, his abuela had a point; it is her house after all. Still, trust was something to be earned and Buck had definitely not earned that from him yet.
It's only a few months, once he gets on his feet he can think about getting a house in LA, he can get away from this whole situation. Away from Buck.