Reading Time:
20 Minutes

I Only Need You

Chapter One:

Whisper on the Wind Meaning in poetry/spirituality:

It poetically describes fleeting memories, intuition, or a sense that something big is about to happen that can be “felt” rather than explicitly heard.

Buck had been having a horrible few months. First, he was blown up on the way to a bogus call. Then, after recovering, he got a pulmonary embolism and coughed up blood at his return party. After that, despite being cleared and having gone through his recertification, he couldn’t get LAFD to clear him to return to work. In an attempt to get back on the job.

So, that evening, he’d accepted a dinner invite to his Captain and his wife’s house. Hoping that Bobby would help convince the brass to let him return, he instead found out that the Captain that he saw as a father figure was the one holding him back. Buck wasn’t just upset. He was devastated and enraged.

Trying to hold onto his temper until he could get somewhere safe, he tried to decide where to go. Unfortunately, his boyfriend OA was on a case and wouldn’t be home. Pulling his phone out, Buck decided to send a text to his boyfriend, who went by his first and middle initials OA.

Buck: I know you’re working on a big case, but I’ve had a crappy evening, so I just… needed to hear from you some way. It isn’t the brass that is holding me back. It’s Bobby.

OA: What? OMG, I’m so sorry, babe. I wish I could be there for you tonight. I can only imagine how you are feeling. Why don’t you go see Eddie?

Buck: That sounds like a good idea. I’m not… I’m not sure I should be alone tonight. Not because I’d hurt myself ‘cause I’d never do that, but there are other stupid-assed things that I could do.

OA: Maybe this will help. I have been thinking about your question about kids and wish babies, and I’m in. If Lady Magic deems us ready for a child, who am I to disagree? I love you so much, and I want us to build a life together. I am so sorry I can’t be with you right now. This is the part of my job that I hate.

Buck: I love you back. If the world still had soulmate magic, I know that you would be mine. I’ll let you get back to your case. I’m going to take your suggestion and text Eddie to let him know I need to come over.

OA: Night Babe!

Putting his phone down in the console, Buck started the jeep and backed out of the driveway just in time. Because he saw Athena peek out the front window curtains, and the last thing that he wanted was to have to deal with that guilt trip.

“Hey Google, text Eddie Diaz.”

“Texting Eddie Diaz. What would you like to say?”

“Hey, Eds period. Had a really crappy evening and could use a friend period. Can I come over and maybe spend the night, question mark? Not sure I wanna be alone, and OA is on a case period. Don’t wanna bother the family this late at night, period. Send.”

“Sending message to Eddie Diaz.” When his Spotify started playing love songs, Buck growled but fortunately saw a light turning red. Once he was stopped, he quickly changed it to his workout mix, which had songs much more suited to his mood. When I Refuse by Five Finger Death Punch came on, Buck bobbed his head and started tapping on the steering wheel with his thumbs in time to the drum track.

“You have a message from Eddie Diaz. Would you like me to play it?”

“Yes, play it,” Buck replied to Google, tightening his hands for a second, gripping the steering wheel hard.

“Of course you can come over and stay the night. Another week and we will be living together. Did the dinner not go well? We had fajitas if you’re still hungry. Would you like to reply?”

“Yes, reply,” Buck ordered, feeling stupid. He hated sending messages this way, but it was better than texting and driving.

“Thank you, period. I will be happy when I can just go home, and you and Christopher will be there, period. Fajitas sound amazing, period. I am starving and didn’t get to eat much before things went to shit, period. I will tell you about it when I get there. Send.”

The music changed to 45 by Shinedown, and Buck took some deep breaths as he was stopped again. Closing his eyes, he did some square breathing until the car behind him honked. Resisting the urge to flip the driver off, Buck opened his eyes and carefully drove through the intersection.

“Text from Eddie Diaz. Do you want  me to play it?”

“Yes, play,” Buck replied for what he hoped was the last time that evening.

“Shit. I will be here when you get here with some beef and shrimp fajitas, abuela’s guac and pico de gallo, and a couple of beers. I even have some of Tia Pepa’s arroz con leche that I am willing to share with you. See you when you get here. Don’t speed!”

Chuckling, Buck changed lanes to take the next left to head to Eddie and Christopher’s instead of going straight to head home. The night traffic was light for once, and in what seemed like no time, Buck was pulling up into Eddie’s driveway. Clenching his hands around the steering wheel once more, Buck tried to calm down, but all he could feel was rage at Bobby’s betrayal.

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been sitting there, but when he looked up, he saw Eddie standing out in front of the house. Climbing out of the Jeep, just remembering to lock it up and grab his duffle bag at the last second, Buck hurried toward his friend in long, quick steps and wrapped him in a fierce hug, still shaking with anger. “Hey, hey, it’s gonna be ok,” Eddie murmured, returning the hug. “We’ll figure this out. Even if it means that we have to go to another station. You should talk to the union. There’s no way they won’t support you.”

“You’d do that? Go to another station with me, I mean,” Buck asked, wanting to cling when Eddie pulled away, but reluctantly let him go. Following his friend into his house, Buck dumped his duffle bag in Eddie’s room and then headed to the kitchen where Eddie was putting warmed-up food on the table.

“Of course I would go to another station with you. I’m certainly not staying there without you. Be real. Do you have any idea where you would want to go if you left the 118?”

Buck nodded as he put a fajita together and took a big bite, chewing before he answered. “Man, I needed that. I do. I get a lot of interest from the SaR Bureaus, specifically the 56under Captain Gaines. I’m so mad, Eddie. I wanted to tell Bobby to just fuck right off. I don’t think…” Buck stopped and shook his head before shoveling some guac onto a chip and then chomping down on it angrily. Shaking his head, Buck let his thoughts stew as Eddie watched him patiently.

“I don’t think I can trust him again as a Captain. How close are you to finishing up your SaR certifications?”

“I’ve got one more to catch up to you, but I can’t get into it for about 3 months. I have my SarTech II certificate, and once I get that class done, I can test for my SarTech III certificate. I know I would qualify for a SaR bureau because I have gotten inquiries from Captain Gaine too.”

Buck nodded as he chewed and swallowed the last of the fajita he’d made. Reaching out, he made a second one as he studied Eddie. “Maybe I should call Ray tomorrow and see if he has space for both of us. If he doesn’t, he’ll still help us and let us know who does. Ray has a ton of contacts in both LAFD and LACoFD.”

“You friends with him? How did you get his number?” Eddie asked as he made his own fajita, taking a bite as he waited for Buck to get done chewing to answer.

“I pulled his daughter Mallory out of the water during the tsunami and gave her first aid. She was caught in a debris pile and would have, at best, lost her arm and, at worst, drowned. Ray called me to thank me for saving her and told me to keep his number in case I ever needed it. I’ve asked around, and from everything I’ve heard, he’s a really good dude. Runs a tight ship, but he’s fair, and he cares about his people.

“Sounds perfect,” Eddie responded, picking at the chips that looked homemade, too. “How are you doing? I think I would have gone off.”

“Well, your temper is like Mt. Saint Helens, so that matches,” Buck joked and dodged a chip that Eddie threw at him, grinning. “Seriously though, I’m angry and disappointed. I thought I could trust Bobby. Turns out he really was a father figure because he’s just like Phillip. I just want to get back to doing my job, Eds. Being a firefighter isn’t what I do; it’s who I am. And Bobby is keeping me from it because, well, I don’t know why he’s doing it.”

“I know that you’re mad at him and I don’t blame you at all. Maybe he isn’t a crappy father figure; maybe he’s just scared. I mean, he’s already buried two children, and he almost had to bury a third because someone was after him. I’m not saying that to excuse his actions, but maybe it is a reason. I dunno, maybe switching to another station will be good for you and Bobby, ya know?”

“Soooo,” Buck said, drawing the o out as he ran his hands through his hair. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying do what we’ve talked about. Talk to the union because no matter the reason, this is bullshit and you’ll need their help if you want to transfer. He’s threatened to block your transfer in the past. Call Gaines and see if he’ll take us or if he knows who will. Just remember that Bobby might not be a total write-off. Maybe while you can’t work together anymore, you may still be able to have a personal relationship. I know that you have your brother and you have Aunt Aggie and Auntie Lizzie, but none of those relationships is the same thing as having a dad, and I truly believe that Bobby sees you as a son.”

“OK. Umm, I do have some good news.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, uhh, I was able to text with OA for a little while. He’s working a big case with Maggie, and they can’t leave, but he was able to take a few seconds to talk. One of the things he said to me was that he was in on a wish baby. He said that if Lady Magic wants to give us one, then who is he to say she’s wrong?”

“Buck! That’s amazing! I am so happy for you guys!” Eddie cheered as he stood and hauled Buck up into another hug. Soon after that, the two separated and headed to their beds. Eddie went to his own room, and Buck went to the living room where his friend had set up an air mattress for him to sleep on. Once he was comfortably lying in his T-shirt and a pair of boxers, Evan turned his thoughts to his nightly prayer.

The news that OA had given him that day meant everything to Evan. Being a dragon shifter, there was a chance that he could be a carrier, and he would have been if not for his parents damaging that part of him before he had even been old enough to make a choice for himself.

Ever since Buck had been old enough to understand what had been taken away from him, he’d longed for children. There had been a longing for something growing inside of him since he was a teenager. But it was Jasper Conroy, the first  Elder that Buck had met, who helped him understand what it meant to be a dragon shifter while also teaching him about being a man on his cold Montana ranch.

Jasper had made such an impact on Buck that the two still kept in touch. In fact, it was Jasper who told Buck he could still have his own child and educated him on Lady Magic and the babies delivered by small creatures called fairy angels. Once he found that out, Buck had prayed regularly to be granted a baby by Lady Magic. That longing for a baby had been the only hiccup between himself and OA since they found each other again.

Not that OA was opposed to babies, because since Eddie had contacted him while Buck was in the hospital after the bombing, OA had been nothing but attentive to Buck’s needs. He just hadn’t been sure that he was ready for a child just yet. Omar Adom Zidan, who went by OA and worked as part of the team for the FBI in LA’s Joint Operation Center or JOC. OA, along with his partner Maggie Bell and their boss Jubal Valentine, had transferred from the New York JOC all of them for different reasons.

Closing his eyes, Buck cleared his mind and began to murmur his nightly prayer. “Oh Mother Magic, oh Sister Magic, oh Grandmother Magic, oh Lady Magic, please hear my prayer. I thank you for your daily presence in my life and the guidance you gift me so that I might be the best man and dragon shifter that I can be.

“I thank you for the air I breathe. I thank you for the food you provide that nourishes me. I thank you for the mate that you have returned to me and the best friend whose home I dwell in right now. There is just one thing that I long for. One ache that lives deep within my soul that I pray for you to soothe, and that is the longing for a child. I pray to you and all your parts that you gift me with a child of my own to raise and love. I pray in your name, Lady Magic. Thank you for hearing my plea.”

Then, without another word, Evan Buckley rolled over and went to sleep, hoping that this would be the night that his prayer was answered.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

When Buck woke up the next morning, he hugged an enthusiastic Christopher, put his bedding and mattress away, and then, after helping out with breakfast, headed off to see his family. Reaching The House, Buck waved to Andrew, the architect, who was just heading out to the office. After chatting for a few moments, Buck headed inside and immediately headed into the family side of the manor.

The House was owned by his Auntie Lizzie and had been part of her family since the early days of California. Auntie Lizzie, whose full name was Elizabeth Marie Fairchild, was married to Buck’s maternal aunt Agatha Clementine Addams, or Aunt Aggie as she was known by. The manor had been used as a winter home for the two women when the New York winters became too much for Lizzie, that is, until Buck decided to move to LA, and then the two women followed him there full time.

The House, as it was called, had been split into two parts. The western wing was the one that the family lived in. It currently held not only the two women but also Maximilian Blackthorne, who served as Lizzie’s private nurse and part-time companion, as well as Buck’s older brother Daniel. Danny had decided to move into the manor with his Aunt and Auntie instead of getting his own place.

He had recently moved to LA from his private architectural office in New York, having spent nearly a year working on the classes he needed for the license to practice architecture in California. Instead of starting his own practice in LA, however, he had decided to partner up with Andrew, who did more conservation and restoration jobs than new structures. What new builds he designed were more throwbacks to times long past when, in Andrew’s opinion, buildings held more character and were less cookie-cutter and boring.

Following the sounds coming from the kitchens, Buck headed that direction, surprising his family, who had no idea he was coming. Fortunately, he knew that they wouldn’t mind, and he was right.

“Evan!” Lizzie cried out, getting up so that she could give her nephew a hug. “I’m so happy to see you this morning. Have you eaten yet?”

“Not yet,” Buck said, returning her hug, smiling at Aggie before getting another hug from Daniel.

“Good to see you, brother. What did we do to earn a visit so early in the morning?”

“It’s less what you all did and more like what Bobby Nash has been doing.” Buck griped as he filled a plate of food from the pans on the stove.  “I had dinner with him and ‘Thena last night and found out that he’s been lying to all of us. It isn’t the brass holding me back from returning; it’s him. He told them that I wasn’t ready when they tried to clear me. I’m so mad. I went to sleep mad, and I woke up feeling the same way.”

“You should have come here last night, Evan,” Aggie chided gently as she nibbled on a bagel.  “There was no need for you to be alone and upset. I will be happy when you and that Diaz boy and his son move into your house.”

“I wasn’t alone, Aunt Aggie; I went to Eddie’s house. I needed someone to vent to, and Eddie understands. It was a late dinner, and by the time I got out, I knew that you and Auntie would be asleep, and I wasn’t sure what time Danny was going into the office these days, so I didn’t want to bother him either.”

Danny frowned, sitting next to Buck, and bumped his shoulder with his own. “For the record, you can always wake me up, but I know you and Eddie have a special friendship. AS to what time I’m going into work these days, right now I am still getting settled. I have a few interviews for prospective jobs, and so I am basically just doing those. Aunt and Auntie are going to let us use the old pool house as a second office so that we can work from here when we need to. So, I am trying to get that set up. Regardless, I want to reiterate that it is never too late for you to call me or come over and find me if you need me.”

“OK, Danny, thanks,” Buck said, giving his brother a side hug before settling into his food. They were all about halfway done before the subject of the previous night’s dinner got brought up again. Quickly, he described what happened at dinner and then what Eddie’s advice had been.

“I am very disappointed in Robert,” Aggie spat unhappily as she finished her bowl of fruit and stacked her and Lizzie’s plates together. “If Lizzie and I can get over the fear of you getting hurt again, then so can he. Trying to ruin your career here is not the answer to his fear, and a fear that he is responsible for, given that it was a circumstance that he never should have been involved in. Neither he nor his wife is a fire investigator.”

“You should sue his ass,” Maxwell, who always ate breakfast with them, said, but I guess losing you and Eddie will be the punishment he gets.

Buck rolled his head from side to side and then shrugged his shoulders. “Not necessarily. He’s already been suspended once for lying to LAFD about his addiction problem when he was with SPFD. Who knows what will happen to him if he gets into trouble again so soon? Oh! I forgot to tell you the good news!” Buck said, grinning big.

“OA said he is on board with the baby if we receive one of the Wish Babies!”

“Oh, Buck! That’s…” Lizzie started but was cut off by the tinkling of bells that everyone in the world was familiar with. “Oh, oh, oh!” Lizzie squealed as Aggie and Daniel began to rapidly move plates out of the way on the small kitchen table they ate at in the mornings. Suddenly, two fairy angels appeared, each carrying a bundle in a Moses basket, placing them gently on the table. The small beings looked like the house elves in the Harry Potter movies, but with hair and wings.

“I am Hades, and this is my brother Poseidon. We are here to deliver twin wish babies to Evan Christopher Buckley and Omar Adom Zidan on behalf of Lady Magic. We will be with your babies throughout their lives and are certified caretakers. We can act as nannies until they reach an age where they can go to school. We will not be around 24/7  unless you ask us to be. I

Will tell you Poseidon will be grumpy if he can’t surf in the mornings and do his beach yoga.”

“Like you’re any better,” Poseidon grumped, straightening his tie. “We can be around as much or as little as your charges need us to be. Officially, I am assigned to the baby with the dark hair, and Hades is assigned to the baby with the light hair. Do you have any questions?”

“I… a million but no, not right now.”

Poseidon nodded happily. “All of the paperwork you need is in each basket. The Los Angeles Health Department is notified automatically and is simply awaiting the paperwork we have provided. If you need one of us, just call one or both of our names, and we will come to you. Congratulations, Evan Buckley.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much!” Buck said, standing and hugged both of the little creatures who were hovering in the air in front of him.

“We have a hugger,” Hades grumbled, and Poseidon patted Buck’s shoulder, giggling. “You will survive the experience. It isn’t your first hug, and it won’t be your last.”

As soon as Buck let them go, chuckling wetly, the two popped off, leaving Buck behind with two babies. Pulling his phone out of his jeans pocket, he thrust it at Danny. “Video call OA, please. I think this deserves more than a text.” Buck asked before shifting over to the babies who were just opening their eyes. The baby with blonde hair had blue eyes, and the dark-haired baby seemed to have green eyes.

“Buck? Are you ok? We just finished up our case, and I was going to come to you.” OA asked, and Buck turned, grinning at him, taking the phone from Danny.

“I don’t suppose you wished last night, did you?” Buck asked, and OA blushed slightly before nodding.

“First time ever, but why…”

“I am going great,” Buck said before turning the phone camera around to show the two bundles on the table.

“We have… There are… two?” OA stuttered, and Buck grinned, nodding. “Do me a favor and have Jubal or Maggie bring you, ok? Do you know how many new fathers I pull out of accidents? Let’s not have that experience, ok? I’m at The House. Come see me. I love you. I love you so fucking much, and I know you love me too, not just because you tell me but because we created not just one but two babies with our love. Do you know how rare that is? In LA, there are only about 100 sets of wish baby twins a year! A year, OA! Hurry and get here, please. I need to kiss the shit out of you.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll bring him,” Jubal said with a laugh. Maggie has to finish up here, but I’m free at the moment.”

“You’re the best Uncle Jubal!”

‘Uncle… really?” Jubal said with a grin, and Buck nodded. “I know how much you mean to OA. You and Maggie both. So, Uncle Jubal and Aunt Maggie, it is.”

“I love you. I love you. I love you so much, Habibi [my love]. I’m on my way.” OA said, and the last thing that Buck saw was OA pulling Jubal through the office.

Stepping up to the babies, “Hello, my little loves,” Buck murmured, touching both of their little hands as they stared back at them. “I am your papa, Buck. Your baba OA is on his way with your Uncle Jubal. I’m going to love you so much.”

Reaching out, Buck ran a finger over the cheek of each baby before he felt a touch on his shoulder. Startling slightly because he’d momentarily forgotten about his family, Buck turned a wide grin onto his brother.

“Danny! Babies! Aunt Aggie, Auntie Lizzie, babies!”

“We see, darling,” Aggie said, leaning over the other side of the table to look at the babies upside down. “Do you have any idea about names?”

Buck nodded at the babies and, leaning over, pressed a kiss to the forehead of the baby with blond curls and blue eyes. “Matthew Caleb for this little cutie,” Buck said before looking at the other baby with dark curls and green eyes, giving him a kiss, as well. “I’m going to let OA name this one. I have an idea about what he will choose, but I don’t want to name both. It’s only fair that OA gets to name one.”

“They’re beautiful, love,” Lizzie said, beaming at him from where she was leaning on Aggie.

Both babies had OA’s were closer to OA’s coloring than Buck’s pale skin. Picking up his phone again, Buck took a picture of the two babies together and sent it off to Eds.

Buck: Guess who arrived today.

Eddie: Buck! Are you serious? Babies!!

Buck laughed out loud before he typed out a reply.

Buck: That seems to be the general consensus. Come over when you get off shift? I’m at The House.

Eddie: You bet! I’m so happy for you. Can I tell the others? This won’t change your mind about what we decided last night, will it?

Buck: No, I’m just waiting till tomorrow to make those calls. OA should have tomorrow off since he closed his case today. So, I will make the time to make some calls. You can tell the others if you want.

Putting his phone in his pocket, Buck picked up one basket with Danny carrying the other and headed into the living room. Sitting on the sofa and setting the baskets on the table, Buck picked up each baby with help from Danny. “I am going to love you each forever,” Buck promised and smiled down at the two little boys who had already stolen his heart.