"God I love you," Tommy said walking in the door after a long shift to the sight of his boyfriend sprawled out on the couch shirtless & in grey sweats. 

Buck sat up quickly and stared at him with those patented Evan Buckley heart eyes. It took Tommy a minute to make the connection between his words and Buck's reaction. 

"Hey, wow, that just slipped out. Obviously I mean it, but wow, I didn't, it's probably--I don't want to," it wasn't often he couldn't find his words but right now he really couldn't.

Tommy knew Buck felt the same way about him but he hadn't planned on saying those words so casually. It's just Buck kept showing up for him, he kept bringing him sunshine on his cloudy days, he kept giving him hope after so much hopelessness. His body just couldn't keep it in anymore. 

He kept his eyes glued to Buck who still hadn't spoken but soon closed the distance between them and intertwined his hands with Tommy's. 

"Did you know that sea otters hold each other’s paws as they fall asleep so they don’t drift apart?" Tommy searched his boyfriend's face for the point he was trying to make, "well, I never want to drift away from you." 

"Oh, I almost forgot, I love you too, it's almost stupid how much I love you." 

"You really never realized you were into guys before me?"

"I found guys attractive, sure. Did I check out guys asses? Yes. But no, it never clicked before you. You very literally checked all the boxes, babe."

Tommy hummed in approval, he had to admit it made him feel special.

"Plus, come on, dat ass."

"I officially have a boyfriend," Buck smiled proudly.

"Mmhmm, you do, that would be me."

Tommy adored how special all their 'firsts' were to Buck, he wanted to make sure he kept them that way.

"I just texted everyone at the 118 that I have a boyfriend."

"Oh Evan..."

Buck had never needed to touch a partner more than he needed to touch Tommy. He wanted his hands on him at every possible moment.

"Are you okay I touch you so much?"

Well that's a silly question, Tommy thought to himself.

"Honestly, I never want you to stop touching me," his voice softened, "no one has ever needed me as much as you do, Evan." Tommy felt his face flush from the vulnerability of the moment.

Buck took this as an opportunity to wrap his arms around his boyfriend and lay gentle kisses on his neck and jawline.

"And I've never needed anyone as much as I need you."

Buck and his "oh wow he showed up & he's so handsome and I want to keep him forever" smile. And Tommy with his "you are the cutest man on earth ray of sunshine human & I'll always show up for you" smile.

Tommy could always count on his boyfriend to put a smile on his face after a long shift:

-saw a helicopter, dat you?

-eddie said it wasn't because not every helicopter is you

-did you know the longest a helicopter has gone without landing is 2213 miles?

-another one, is that you?

-i miss you

-captain told me stop looking at the sky so much

-but i won't

He typed out a message of his own -

-safe on the ground, you probably did see me, I waved 😏 miss you, babe.

Oh just Tommy staring with absolute fondness at the rest of his life in the form of a 6'2" golden retriever of a man who isn't going to ever stop yapping until he kisses the words out of him, respectfully.

"Hey," Buck nudged Tommy's nose with his, "remember when you kissed me to stop me from yapping?" Tommy chuckled, "I do that all the time," he knew he was talking about their first kiss, "but remind me of that one time." "Well, it all started when a guy flew us into a hurricane."

Soon Buck's arms found their way into Tommy's turnouts, arms snaked around his waist, hands grabbing at the taut muscles of his back. He licked his way back into Tommy's mouth over & over, intoxicated by the taste of smoke & sweat, desperately wishing they were alone.

Walking out of the station Buck was delighted to see his boyfriend's 6'2" muscular frame walking swiftly toward him. "What're you doing here?" Buck grinned as Tommy pulled him into his arms, "long day, missed you, couldn't wait" Tommy whispered kissing Evan's birthmark softly.

He wanted to sit next to Tommy. The guy seemed so cool. He was a firefighter. He flew a helicopter. He had risked everything for the 118. Buck settled into the front seat "hey what's this one?" he asked pointing to a button. Tommy grinned, "well, Evan, let me show you."