Breaking Point.

CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE , FIRST COUPLE FIGHTS

a/n : i've kind of missed angsty EmiBuck, sooo here we go ✨ (it's not all that bad)

━━━━━━━━━━

"Hey, Em..."

Emery hums with her eyes still on her phone. She finishes sending her text and looks at her roommate. For the first time in a week, Wren and Emery were at the apartment at the same time. They were able to just sit around and catch up on each other's lives. Emery just had to leave a couple things out for her catch up.

"You came home last night, right?"

Emery frowns and nods her head. "Yeah, like 11:30."

"And I came in early this morning." Wren shudders, barely getting that out. She wasn't a morning person whatsoever.

Emery presses her lips into a small smile. "Right. I'm sorry about that."

Wren groans, "Yeah. So why did we get a noise complaint involving last night?"

Emery freezes. "Uh--what?"

"Noise complaint." Wren says. "We got one at around 11:45 last night." She holds the paper up with a smirk. "I sure as hell am not having sex."

"Did you have someone over?"

Emery swallows. She was fucked. So, fucked. "Uh, no." Emery coughs out. "I was masturbating."

"Masturbating? And you were loud?"

Emery shrugs, "I'm only loud when I'm home alone." she admits. "But obviously I will keep it down next time."

Wren frowns with disappointment. "I was kind of hoping you were having sec with someone." she tosses the paper onto the table. "Add some mystery to your boring life."

Emery tilts her head to the ceiling with a groan. "For the last time, just because you don't like Jeopardy Friday's doesn't mean I'm boring!"

...

"We got a noise complaint already?"

"Yes!" Emery seethes. "God, it was so embarrassing..." she cuts the carrots. "I had to tell her that I was masturbating."

Buck smirks, "Damn, why are you so loud, Emi?"

Emery rolls her eyes, "Well, maybe if you hadn't done that thing—"

"Oh, please, you begged me to do it." Buck's tone was low.

A chill rushes down Emery's spine and she shivers. Buck shifts his eyes to Emery and his lips part. "Okay, hey, babe?"

Emery smiles and turns to Buck. "Yes...?"

"You're cutting too slow."

Her smile drops. "Never call me babe again if you're going to correct me." Emery squints her eyes. She looks down at the carrots.

"We're on a time crunch." Buck says. "The potatoes are almost done boiling and the carrots have to be done by then."

"Well, I've never cut fast before." Emery exhales and a small hum comes from her lips.

She wanted to help make dinner. Buck always told her that he would teach her. But Emery has never been more stressed in her life. And Buck could see that from the way she tapped each finger against her thumb. Buck sets the wooden spoon aside and walks over to her. "Okay, hey..." he lightly touches her arms.

Emery turns to him with a small pout across her lips. "I'm good at a lot of things." She admits.

Buck nods his head, "I know that, Emi." He lightly runs his fingers up and down her arms, comforting her.

Emery softly hums and a crease forms between her brows. "But I never got cooking." She looks to the side. "I mean, those pancakes were a one time thing."

"They were amazing pancakes." Buck says. "The best fucking pancakes I've ever had."

"And that's all I know how to make." Emery nods her head.

Buck shrugs a shoulder. "Not counting cereal."

Emery snorts then she softly laughs. She scratches the corner of her eye. A small smile forms on Buck's lips, "Okay?"

Emery nods her head, "Okay."

Buck moves one of Emery's curls from her face and tucks it behind her ear. "You do so many amazing things. And you do most of those amazing things for me." He says. "So, cooking. Let me do that. Just kick back and relax, okay?"

Emery bites the inside of her cheek. She cups Buck's face and kisses him softly. "Thank you." She softly speaks.

Buck runs his thumb across her lower lip. "Anytime, Emi." He takes a step back. "Now, sit down and enjoy the view."

Emery smiles, "Oh, I will..." she walks around the island and sits on the stool, her eyes trailing Buck. The blonde grabs a glass and pours red wine into it. He sets it in front of his girlfriend and she softly laughs.

"Wine?"

Buck gives her a teasing wink and her cheeks warm. "Evan Buckley, you are quite the catch." She lifts her glass to her lips, her eyes glued to Buck. He grabs the spoon and goes back to mixing his food.

And Emery never pulled her eyes off of him.

☆

"We should have a double date?"

Buck stops and turns to his girlfriend. "Are you..." he squints his eyes at her. Emery slows her chewing and looks around. "What?"

"Are you high?"

Emery's eyes slightly widen with an incredulous look. "Are you?" She retorts.

"You want to go on a double date with someone I went on a date with?" Buck asks.

"Do you want to change your tone?" Emery moves her head to the side.

Buck hums, pretending to think hard. "Not really."

"Buck."

The blonde smirks and he holds his hands up. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry." He lets out a breath. "But seriously...why would I want to go on a double date with them?"

Emery frowns, "Because Albert's your roommate and he seems to like this Veronica girl." She shrugs a shoulder. "You should try and stay cordial."

Buck lets out a heavy breath. "He totally broke the 'bro code'."

Emery nods her head. "Right, with a girl you went on one date with and it was ass. And you are currently dating someone right now. Someone who is, in your words, "everything to you"."

Buck's face grows hot. "And she still is." His eyes stay unwavering on Emery's.

Emery's eyes soften, she knew he still thought that. She was just trying to remind him. "Then what's the problem?" Her voice wraps around him, pulling him towards his answer.

"It's weird having her around." Buck admits. "Especially knowing that we went on a horrible date. Now, she's with Albert and it feels like..."

Emery blinks, "Like you weren't good enough?"

Buck's face grows hot and Emery could see that in the light pink across his face. "That makes me sound needy."

Emery frowns, "You're not needy." a small smile spreads across her lips. "You're a people pleaser and you want everyone to like you."

Emery couldn't stop the smile from forming on her lips when Buck's face became a deep red. "I think...you just need to learn that it's okay for people not to like you."

"Well, that's easy for you to say." Buck pouts. "Everyone likes you."

Emery laughs, "My mother hates me."

"Maybe if you called her back—"

"Don't change the subject." Emery points her finger at him. Buck lets out a heavy sigh, and folds his arms over his chest. Of course, Emery would see right through that. Her gaze softens again, "With how you grew up," she approaches in a gentle manner. Buck normally found himself tensing at the mention of his parents. But with Emerson it felt different. It was calming talking with her, she really did help him. She was like this wave that washed over him every time he felt overwhelmed with any negative emotion. She would pull him back from whatever ledge he was on.

"it's no surprise that's why she's bothering you so much." Emery bites the inside of her cheek. "Your parents fucked you up."

Buck stops chewing and so does Emery. They both hold their gaze. Buck then snorts and Emery follows with a loud laugh. Buck sets his fork down and wipes the corner of his mouth. "God, you suck."

Emery hums and sips her water. "I thought you liked when I sucked." She politely sets her glass down. Buck freezes again and his pants grow tight. Emery arches a brow, "Something wrong?"

"Yeah, something's wrong."

Emery's back straightens when she notices the heated look that quickly washed over her boyfriend's face. She presses her thighs together and swallows.

"We're still sitting here talking like you didn't say one of the hottest things ever."

Emery shifts in her seat, acting as if she didn't want to have sex as much as Buck. "But, you made pie."

A devilish smile tugs at his lips. "I'm kind of hungry for something else."

Emery's core begins to ache. "Oh, well in that case..." she looks at her watch. "I guess I can spare some time to satisfy your hunger." She stands from her chair and walks closer to Buck. He instinctively parts his legs, allowing her to stand between them.

"But after I'm eating a slice of pie." Emery grips both his shoulders. "Maybe two." Buck's hands touch the back of her thighs then trail up to her ass, then he grabs hold of her waist. "Emi, you can have all the pie you want." He exhales with a desperate breath.

Emery nods her head and scrunches her nose with a small smile. "That's what I like to hear." She leans down and passionately kisses Buck.

...

Emery really did try to be quieter this time around. But, she failed miserably. The good news was that she wasn't at her place, she was at Buck's. And he hasn't gotten any noise complaints yet.

Buck's hands were bruising Emery's thighs from how hard he was gripping them. Emery's mind was on a completely different planet, not caring whatsoever about the bruises she would find later. Her hands were gripping the headboard of Buck's bed while he laid underneath her, drowning between her thighs. Emery's desperate moans bounced off the walls as she tried her best to keep a strong hold on her volume.

"F-Fuck..." Emery's hips thrust against Buck's mouth as his tongue runs across her clit. She reaches a hand down and tangles it in Buck's hair. Buck softly groans, the vibrations of his voice hitting her clit. Emery lets out a soft gasp and her head tilts to the ceiling. Her brain begins to grow fuzzy and her heart pounds harder against her ribcage.

Buck keeps a firm grip on her thighs, letting her ride his face however she pleases. He didn't care. Buck would ask her to use him however she wanted. He has before.

Emery's stomach begins to tighten and her breathing quickens. "Close—I'm so close." Her voice begins to shake.

Buck couldn't stop his moans just from giving Emery what she wanted. He then raises a hand and sinks his fingers into her cunt. Emery's body tenses and she lets out a cry of desperation. "Fuck!" Her hand tightens in his hair. "Just like that—don't stop."

Buck continues to attack her clit, his fingers also not letting up inside of her. Emery's spine goes rigid and there tightness in her stomach snaps, forcing a loud moan and leave her lips. Her eyes flutter and she tugs at his hair. Buck laps up her arousal, soothing her through her orgasm.

Emery's body slumps and she leans her head against the headboard with ragged breathing. She then lifts her leg and tosses it off of Buck and lays beside him. Buck licks his lips while listening to Emery's heavy breathing. He turns and looks at the side of her dazed face. "Have I told you how much I love that?"

Emery softly laughs, she turns and meets his gaze. Buck begins to laugh along with her. "Yeah, just about every time we do it."

A comforting silence settles between the two. Emery found herself scooting closer to Buck, like always. He holds his arm out, allowing Emery to snuggle closer to him--her head laying against his arm. Emery wraps her arms around his middle and she lets out a content breath. "I'm happy we're here together."

A smile twitches onto Buck's lips and he runs his fingers up and down Emery's back. "I wouldn't want to be with anyone else."

Emery snorts, "I would hope not." she then lifts her head to look at him. "I would hate to have to kill you."

Buck frowns and looks down at her, connecting his eyes with hers. Emery presses her lips into a smile. "You know I could do it."

Buck lets out a chortled laugh and tilts his head back. Emery giggles and laughs into Buck's chest. She presses her lips against his pec before sliding out of his arms. Buck watches as Emery slips her panties and pants back on. Emery lets out a huff and turns to Buck with her hands on her hips. "Did you want some pie?"

Buck thinks for a moment. "Yeah, I'll have some of yours."

Emery slightly opens her mouth. She then looks to the side and hums. "That isn't what I asked."

"Well, I don't want a whole slice. Why can't we just share?"

Emery blinks, "Because I want a whole slice."

Buck and Emery stare at each other. Emery sighs, "How about...I bring up three slices. You can have some of at least one of the slice and when you don't want it, I can eat the rest?"

Buck chuckles, "How about I just go down and get the hole pie for you?"

Emery stands there and folds her arms. She taps her fingers against her arm, thinking. "I shouldn't eat a whole pie."

Buck stands up and slips his shirt back on. He walks around the bed and stands in front of the woman. Emery slightly tilts her head up, staring at him with curiosity. Buck gently grips her arms, "You can have as much pie as you want. Give me a number and I'll cut those slices for you."

Emery deadpans, "You're always doing stuff for me." she inhales a breath and crosses her arms. "It's...weird. Not being in control."

Buck blinks and looks across Emery's. "You know I like doing stuff for you, right?" he softly laughs.

Emery lifts her hands and lightly grips his shirt. "I know that." her eyes light up. "It's just, I always want to be the one in control, because if I'm in control then I won't be disappointed."

Buck couldn't stop the smile from forming on his lips. The two of them being able to be comfortable to talk about everything they were always hesitant to express was nice. Buck slides his hands around her wrist, then interlocks his fingers with hers. He guides Emery back to the bed, both of them sitting on the edge of it. Emery's stomach nervously flutters from the close and intimate proximity.

"You've been through so much. And I just want you to know that I am aware that you can take care of yourself." Buck runs his thumbs over her knuckles. "But I also want to know that you don't have to take care of yourself all the time anymore." he cups her neck and Emery's breath hitches. "I can take any weight you carry on your shoulders for however long you need me to."

Emery was mesmerized by the passionate look across Buck's face. Buck traces her lower lip, lightly pulling it down. "I'm not going anywhere, all right?"

A burn forms in her chest and tears form in her eyes. "I just wanted pie." she laughs with a soft whimper mixed in. "Now you're just making me cry."

Buck laughs and leans forward, his forehead pressing against hers. Emery's eyes flutter shut and Buck's hands move to her waist. "Sorry about that."

Emery softly laughs and pulls him into a hug, his face finding the crook of her neck. "Don't ever apologize." she softly whispers.

"Not to me."

☆

"You're late."

Eddie closes the door behind him. Buck walks over to the front door.

"There was construction on Sunset." Eddie explains. "Had to take a detour."

Emery giggles from the couch, "Yeah, I bet there was..." she stuffs a handful of popcorn in her mouth. "I bet there was construction all over the place."

Eddie rolls his eyes and Buck laughs. "Is Christopher already in bed?"

Buck nods, "Oh, yeah."

Eddie lets out a breath, "You guys are miracle workers."

"A couple that takes care of their surrogate child together..."

Eddie raises his brows and turns to Buck, waiting for him to finish the sentence. These two have obviously talked about this before. Buck opens and closes his mouth, "Uh, well--"

"Evan."

Buck turns to the woman and she arches a brow. He swallows and looks back at Eddie with a sheepish smile. "...stay together."

Emery's smile grows. Eddie lets out a stifled laugh. Buck didn't care about being made fun of, as long as Emery was happy--he was. Eddie scratches his brow, "I would definitely agree with that statement."

Emery and Buck look at Eddie.

"He's your guys' kid too." Eddie smiles.

Emery's face warms, "Awww, Eddie loves us--"

"Shaddup." Eddie sets his jacket to the side.

Emery stands up from the couch with the bowl of popcorn tight in her arms. "I wouldn't say we're miracle workers--more like excellent negotiators."

Buck nods his head, "He was willing to get ready for bed and get in the bed." he adds. "I was not allowed to turn the lights off or tell him a story."

Emery clicks her tongue, "You know, if you let me tuck him in--he would've went to sleep." she looks at him with a smug smile.

"You always tuck him in. I wanted to do it this time." Buck meets her gaze.

"Maybe he didn't want you telling him a story, because last time you told him about the the kid in the rotisserie." Eddie speaks.

Emery laughs, "Oh, shit! I forgot about that." she then 'tsks'. "Even I know not to tell a story like that to a child."

"That was not a story." Buck holds his pointer up. "It was a cautionary tale."

Simultaneously, Emery and Eddie look at each other. Both of them thinking about how cautious this man was. Maybe even more cautious than Emerson herself.

"Well, thanks for watching him." Eddie sends them a grateful look. Emery's face drops, "Wait, a second--" she grabs his arm. Eddie turns to her, he notices the couple both had a look of curiosity.

"How was the date?" Emery cranes her neck forward.

A giddy smile finds Eddie's face. "It was nice. She taught me math."

Emery and Buck have different reactions. "Math?" Buck wrinkles his nose. "Gross."

Emery smiles, "A math date...that sounds so nice."

Buck and Emery look at each other. The blonde cups Emery's neck, "I'm gonna have to take you on more dates."

Emery wrinkles her nose, "If it's not a math date, I don't want it." she brushes past him and walks out of the house. Buck softly whines, "But I hate math."

...

"Oh goodie..."

Emery keeps her hands on her hips and stares at the news reporter.

"When's the last time you talked to her?" Hen asks.

Emery groans, "When I was dosed from those brownies." she winces her eyes. "I'm pretty sure."

"Wait, so you haven't even talked to her after she put that story out about you and Buck?" Hen asks. Emery frowns, "Nope."

"Has Buck talked to her?" Chimney adds.

Emery purses her lips and tilts her head. "Huh. I don't know." she looks at him from afar. "Should I ask him?"

"I don't see why not." Eddie shrugs. "It should be a normal question."

Hen holds a hand up, "Maybe to you it's a normal question. But to a man receiving that question, he's going to think she's jealous."

Emery's jaw goes slack, "W-Well, I'm not. I'm not jealous." she inhales and her jaw clenches. "I'm curious."

"Sounds like jealousy." Chimney says.

Hen looks at Emery, her point being made. Emery exhales through her nose with a growl. "Well, you have nothing to worry about." Eddie throws an arm over her shoulders. Emery softly grunts.

"Oh, boy..."

Emery turns to Bobby, his eyes on something afar. She follows his gaze and her eyes squint. Buck was holding two coffees in his hands and he held one out to Taylor--and she accepts.

"So, who should we kill first?" Hen asks. "Your boyfriend or the girl who almost ruined your career?"

Emery shifts her eyes between the two, her breathing steady. "He's not my boyfriend." She turns to her friends. "He's allowed to...date whoever."

"Uh...are you sure?" Chimney exchanges a look between the rest of the team.

Emery smiles and bunches her shoulders. "Yeah, it's all good." she holds her hands up. "Buck and I are friends--we work well that way."

Suddenly a crash is heard behind her, Emery whips her body around and looks at the man that was previously on the roof now laying splayed out on the car--injured. "Oh, shit." Emery slips her mask on. "I didn't see--did he jump?"

"Worse. He was pushed." Eddie answers.

Emery groans, "Damn. I didn't put my money on that."

☆

"Is your date still coming?"

Before Buck could answer, a knock is heard at the door--forcing a flood of relief to run through him. "That should be her. I'll grab it." he stands up with urgency and makes his way over to the door.

Buck pulls open the door and his jaw drops. "Uh, hey...you look amazing."

Emery smiles, "As always? I know." she walks into the apartment. "Sorry, I'm late. The parking near this complex is always terrible." she turns back to Buck and kisses his cheek.

"No worries. Dinner's not ready yet." Buck closes the door behind her. "Here, let me introduce you to everyone."

Emery hums and looks at everyone in the kitchen. She looks from Albert to the woman and she raises her brows. She then squints her eyes, "Hi...?" she looks at Buck with a perplexed expression. Buck gives her the eyes. The 'I'm sorry' eyes. Emery's jaw clenches and looks back at Albert.

"Emerson, you know Albert and this is Veronica." Buck points.

Emery nods her head, "I figured." she looks back at Buck, her confused expression now exchanged with an angry one. Buck's stomach twists and he's left feeling terrified. He hasn't told Emery what was going on and one thing Emery hates is being kept in the dark.

Veronica keeps her eyes on Emery, "Wait, I know you."

Emery tightens her grip around her purse. "Yeah? I know you too." she nods her head. "I've heard a lot about you."

"You're the firefighter who survives the Firesnatcher." Veronica says.

Emery nods her head, "Yeah, that's me." she presses her lips into a small smile. "The lone survivor..."

Veronica's gaze softens, "I'm really sorry you went through that."

The end of Emery's mouth twitches, "Thank you."

"Would you like a glass of wine?"

Emery forces out a soft laugh, "Wine? Where's the vodka, am I right?"

Veronica laughs, "I like you."

Emery softly hums and points at her. Buck touches the small of Emery's back, "We can sit over here until dinner's ready."

Emery lets out a lower hum as if she was uninterested. She walks with Buck to the couch, "Buck..." her tone was low. A cold thread of fear rushes down his spine.

"You told me this was a date." Emery softly laughs. "You didn't tell me that this was a double date."

She sits on the couch and Buck sits beside her. "Well, it was kind of your idea so you can't really be mad--"

"I am mad." Emery retorts. Buck slams his jaw shut. "I'm mad because you didn't tell me that this was a double date with a girl you are so oddly obsessed with."

"I'm not obsessed with Veronica." Buck sighs.

Emery arches a brow, "You dated her for a second, Evan. And you haven't stopped talking about Albert and her together."

"The other night when we were talking about it. You were a lot more understanding--"

"Yeah, that was when you didn't trick me into some weird double date with your roommate and a woman you couldn't stomach through desert." Emery looks at him with an incredulous expression. Buck lets out a small breath.

"Dinner's gonna be a few more minutes." Veronica walks over to Emery and Buck, setting a glass of wine on the table and a shot of vodka as well.

Emery lets out a breath, "Thank God." she forces out a chuckle. "Thank you so much and I'm sorry for this." she grabs the shot and tilts her head back, downing it.

Albert and Veronica look at each other before looking at Buck, who nervously laughs.

"How long have you two been dating?" Veronica inquires.

Buck opens his mouth to answer, but Emery was quicker. "Oh, we're not really dating." she answers. Buck looks at her, "Uh--"

"We hang out on more of an...as-needed basis, right Buck?" Emery looks at Buck, her eyes squinted--challenging him.

"Emi, come on." Buck nervously laughs. "Emery and I work together. And we are in fact dating." He puts an arm over her shoulders.

Emery tenses and for the first time ever with Buck, her skin begins to crawl. "We lack communication, apparently." she shrugs. "We already know how you met Albert. Buck can't stop talking about it."

Buck opens and closes his mouth, "Uh, I wouldn't--I wouldn't say that."

Emery softly scoffs, she grabs his glass of wine and sips on it.

"I'm actually surprised you two didn't get alone." Albert points between Veronica and Buck.

Emery nods her head, "Buck can sometimes be intimidated by strong women."

Albert's eyes widen and he winces.

"He needs a good ego stroke every now and then." Emery adds, her emotions building more than before.

Veronica chuckles, "Yeah, I don't do that. It's not my thing."

Emery keeps her eyes on Veronica. She runs her tongue over her teeth. "And you know what? It's not mine either." Emery sets the glass down and stands up causing Buck's lips part.

"Emi--"

"I just remembered I have paperwork to do." Emery smooths her skirt down. "It was nice to finally meet you." she looks at Veronica. "Albert, I'll see you soon I'm sure." Without sparing her boyfriend a glance, Emery walks out to the front door and quickly leaves. Panic settles into Buck as the couple across from him look between the recently slammed door and him. Buck opens and closes his mouth, "I, uh...I got to--yeah." he runs out of apartment.

Emery's breathing was quick and her throat was tight as she speed walks down the hallway. This was so fucking stupid.

"Emery--Emery!" Buck calls out to her. "Please, wait."

Emery stops and turns to Buck with a clenched jaw. Buck exhales, "It's not what you think. Just let me explain."

"Explain what? That you used me to get some kind of satisfaction for showing up someone you barely dated?" Emery's voice was trembling. "You just needed her to see you with me?"

Buck shakes his head. Emery swipes her tongue across her lower lip. "You told her that we were dating. And it wasn't in a "I'm proud to announce our relationship" kind of thing. Not like with Albert." she lets out a desperate breath. "We said we would tell people when we were ready."

Emery was embarrassed at this point. Why did she think she could trust anyone? Buck could see the tears forming in her eyes and it tore his heart in two.

"You do realize if you would've told me the truth about this being a double date, I would've gladly come." Emery holds her arms out. "Why didn't you just tell me the truth? Why didn't you trust me?"

"I do trust you." Buck steps closer to her. He takes her hands, but she quickly steps back. "Really?" she looks to the side. "What about Taylor?"

Buck pulls his brows together, "What?"

"Earlier. You got her coffee."

Buck opens his mouth, "Not in the way you think. She's my friend."

Emery keeps her eyes on his. A silence settles between them and Buck's heart beat pound harder against her ribcage. He was nervous and Emery could see that across his face. Her lips part, "A friend...you've slept with."

Buck freezes and Emery raises her brows.

"Em--"

"I don't need to hear anything else except I'm right." Emery says.

Buck swipes his tongue over his lower lip and he wipes his forehead. "Yes. You're right." His soft, guilty eyes were now on her.

Emery inhales a breath through her nose. "When?"

"Does it matter--"

"Fuck you." Emery spits. She brushes past him and waves a dismissive hand. Her chest tightens with regret from the hurtful words.

Those words have never left her lips sounding so venomous. It physically pained Buck hearing it. And it hurt her even saying it.

"Emerson, hold on." Buck follows her out of the building.

"Oh, so it's Emerson now? What happened to Emi?" Emery says in a deep mocking tone, but the sound of her being on the verge of tears was clear. "Does it matter--of course it matters, you still see her!"

"I'm not seeing her." Buck says. "I'm seeing you." he grabs her arm and pulls her closer to him.

Emery turns back to him. Buck's eyes soften, "Look, I knew the dinner was going to be super awkward and I didn't want to sit through that alone. So, I decided to phone a friend." he says. "I should've told you--I don't know why I didn't tell you.

"A...a friend?" Emery repeats. "A friend?"

"Evan, I am not your friend." Emery whispers harshly. "I'm your girlfriend, remember?"

Buck swallows the painful lump in his throat. His eyes shift to her arm. Emery pulls her arm from his grip. "Please come find me when you remember that." she walks away from him with her breathing quick.

☆

"Jeez, that seriously happened?"

Emery was sitting at the table eating a bowl of grapes. "Yup."

"And you haven't talked since?" Eddie asks.

Emery swallows, "Right...and the crazy thing is, I told him "Come find me when you remember that I'm your girlfriend"." she bunches her shoulders. "And he hasn't..." her words trail off. She clears her throat. "Whatever, I get it. I knew I shouldn't have--"

"Don't say it ." Eddie sits next to her. Emery keeps her eyes on the tv screen where Taylor was reporting. "He slept with Taylor Kelly."

Eddie's eyes blow wide, "What?"

Emery waves a hand, "I'm guessing it was years ago, but he's still...friends with her." she looks at him. "Did you know that?"

Eddie shifts, "I mean, he told me that it was after the trials."

Emery nods, "Figured." she looks at the tv again. Her eyes shift to the staircase, Buck walks up.

"Oh, god..." Emery's cheeks were filled with grapes. She turns to Eddie, "How do I look?"

Eddie snorts, "Like a cute chipmunk."

Emery squints her eyes, she chews her grapes. Once she swallows them, she turns to Buck, ready for him to approach her. But he was instead on his phone. Emery raises her brows, "Oh..."

Eddie winces, "Kind of embarrassing."

Emery nudges him, "Shut up."

Buck hangs up the phone, "Have you guys seen Bobby?"

"He's in his office." Hen says. "Who was that on the phone?"

"Uh, Taylor." Buck shifts his eyes to Emery. She looks at the bowl of grapes.

"The freezers at the hospital went out. They have vials of vaccines that are about to go bad." Buck says. "I have to tell Bobby."

Emery's eyes widen, "Shit." she stands up. Buck rushes to Bobby's office. Emery rubs her forehead, "I feel like an idiot."

"Why?" Eddie asks.

"Because I thought he was on the phone with her just to be on the phone with her." Emery says.

"He told you--"

"I will shove these grapes down your throat." Emery seethes. "He slept with her. I'm never going to be comfortable with her just being around."

"Believe me, I get it." Eddie holds his hands up. "She has made your life a living hell. Shit, I'm not the biggest fan of her either."

"But, for right now, put your differences aside for this." Eddie's voice was gentle. "Okay?"

Emery frowns, "You know I will."

...

With the help of not only the firefighters and paramedics, but also the LAPD, the vaccines were all successfully distributed. Emery was assigned to one of the med tents, finishing giving someone a vaccine. "And you're all set!" she pulls her gloves off. "You did great!"

"Thank you so much!" The woman stands up. Emery gives her a soft expression. "Of course, it's no problem."

"You guys are doing amazing work for the city." The woman exhales.

Emery softly waves at the woman as she leaves her tent. She puts hand sanitizer on and turns to leave her tent. But she stops in her tracks, seeing Buck and Taylor standing in front of each other. Emery keeps her eyes on the two, her breathing heavying.

Taylor walks away from Buck and Emery's chest tightens. She could feel more tears forming, but she didn't know why. Emery shakes her head, "Get it together." she shakes her head. Emery then begins to shake her hand, as if that was going to help her emotions.

"Emi."

Emery turns to Buck and his face drops from the tears in her eyes. "Hey, what's going on?"

"Nothing, seriously." Emery softly exhales. Buck's eyes soften, "You can talk to me--"

"Can I?" Emery's voice had a force behind it. "How can I?" she repeats. "You didn't call me."

"You told me--"

"Come find you when you remember that." Emery repeats the words and nods her head. "Did you forget that I was your girlfriend?"

"No, I didn't." Buck says. "I just figured you needed more time to yourself."

Emery's shoulders sag, "What? N-No." she rubs her eyes. "What I need--who I need is you, okay?"

"I don't care about your relationship with Taylor." Emery says. "You both did a good thing today. I'm never going to be okay with her because of her past choices. But, I can acknowledge that she's good at her job."

Buck's gaze was soft the entire time. "I'll stop being friends with her." he says. "Tell me what you want and I'll give it to you."

Emery bites the inside of her cheek. "What I want is to not be angry anymore." She admits. Buck watches as she crosses her arms with shame. "I don't want to be angry." she softly laughs. "It was stupid--"

"No." Buck takes a step closer to her. He takes her hands into his. "It wasn't stupid, okay? How I handled this whole thing. With Veronica and Taylor. I was immature and with you, I want to be different. I freaked out and went back into my old ways. The excuses, the lack of communication—But I know I can't do that."

"I don't want to do that." Buck adds. "That's not me anymore."

Emery keeps her brown eyes on his and she gives him a small smile. "I shouldn't have said "fuck you". And I shouldn't have embarrassed you in front of Veronica and Albert."

"Honestly, I was more heartbroken over the "fuck you" than the embarrassment." Buck bashfully chuckles. Emery laughs and looks down at her boots. "I'm really sorry about that."

Buck cups her face, "You don't ever have to apologize." he softly reiterates her words from a few days ago. "Not to me."

Emery's face warms. She pulls Buck's mask off and Buck does the same with hers. Emery cups his face and kisses him. Buck's heart flutters and he kisses her back.

"Well, it's about damn time."

The couple pulls away from each other and look at their team. Emery opens her mouth, "Oh, hey guys." she casually says. "What's up?"

"Seems like you two are cool now?" Eddie folds his arms.

Emery nods her head and hums. "Yeah, we're so cool--best of friends." she gives Buck a pat on the shoulder.

Buck grunts, "Yeah--yep. That's how best friends greet one another with...kisses."

The group looks at the two. Buck looks at Emery and his mind thinks back to what Emery said outside of Veronica's apartment. How he told Veronica they were dating was in a way that came off as proof. Buck was proud to be dating Emery, but he never wanted her to feel like he was just using her. He wanted to tell everyone with pride not just as a way to show off.

"Emi..."

Emery turns to Buck, just from his soft tone Emery knew what he wanted to say. And from the look in his eyes, she could now see it too. Emery's heart beat quickens and she nods her head. Buck gently grabs her hand and looks back at team.

"I think it's about time we told you guys the truth." Buck says.

Emery's body was tense and she didn't even know if she would be able to speak. What if everyone looked at her different? What if they treated her as just Buck's girlfriend?

"Emery and I are dating." Buck's face dusts with a pink blush. "We have been for a month now."

The team stands there in silence. Eddie smiles and gives them a thumbs up.

"Well, shit. It's about time you said something."

Emery's body unclenches but she had confusion written all over her face. "Excuse me?"

Hen looks between the couple. "We know you've been seeing each other."

Emery and Buck tense. "What?" the woman's back straightens. She looks at each of her teammates. "How did you know?"

"Okay, this is obvious." Hen waves a hand. "You two have been buddy buddy. Moreso than usual."

"You guys aren't discreet about it." Chimney adds. "One time I saw you showing him a funny video on the couch and his head was against your shoulder." he laughs. "It was cute, but very obvious."

Buck's face reddens. Emery rolls her eyes, "Okay--"

"And I remember you were looking through the refrigerator and Buck was kissing on your neck!" Hen points.

Emery's cheek warm, "No!" she looks at Bobby. "She's lying."

"I doubt it." Bobby says. "You two have been pretty obvious."

"So, that means for as long as Eddie's known--"

"We've known, yeah." Hen nods. "We actually put money on when you would tell us." she holds her hands out. "And I won. A month!"

"Damn, I had three months." Chimney says.

"And I had 2 weeks." Bobby clicks his tongue. "I lost a while ago."

"But everyone's cool with us?" Emery asks.

Hen deadpans, "Are you serious? We've been wanting this for so long!"

"It's like Hen said earlier, It's about damn time." Chimney emphasizes.

Emery turns to Buck and he had the same happy expression across his face.

"Hey, was that your guys' first fight as a couple?" Eddie points between the two.

Emery raises her brows, "Yeah!" She looks back at Buck. "That's so sweet!"

Buck could see the excitement across her face, so he decides to increase her excitement in the only way he knew how. "Should we take a picture?"

Emery giggles, "I was thinking that!"

Chimney winces, "Oh, they're kind of making me sick."

The rest of the team agrees, but Eddie couldn't stop his smile from forming when watching the two.

━━━━━━━━━━

author's note.

Guys I want to write Emery and Buck's relationship as healthy as possible. If you have any ideas on how I can do that, maybe show a certain side of their relationship more--don't be afraid to comment ideas!

words : 6673