52 | ❝ THE FAMILY WE CHOSEN... ❞

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CHAPTER FIFTY TWO

❝ THE FAMILY WE CHOSEN... ❞

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TRIGGER WARNING!!!

This chapter contains an 18+ scene. If you feel this content isn't for you, we recommend skipping to the next chapter section.

Enjoy!

[season 3, own storyline]

LISSIE POV

THE RETURN TO LOS ANGELES CAME FASTER THAN SHE WOULD HAVE LIKED. The two days she spent exclusively with Buck were full of... activities. If she could call it that. They did spend some time in the city and at the beach, but the cottage became their little refuge, where they focused primarily on each other. She knew she wouldn't tell anyone everything they did there — it was to be their sweet secret. One that made her blush and get wet between her legs as soon as she thought about it.

Buck parked his jeep on the Grant-Nash property, but Lissie couldn't bring herself to leave the car and go inside.

"Maybe..." She looked at him, running her fingers over his thigh. "Will you come with me? Athena and Dad will be so happy to see you."

"And I think they'll try to interrogate us," he replied with amusement. "I don't think we'll be able to hide the fact that we've been having sex for almost two days straight."

"You say that as if it were a bad thing."

Buckley laughed and leaned over her. He put his hand on her neck to pull her face closer to his.

"On the contrary," he murmured directly into her mouth. "I loved every moment we spent there."

Lissie smiled contentedly.

"We have to do this again." She moved her hand to his chest and then to the muscles on his arms. "Just us, nature, and no reason for anyone to interrupt us."

"Trust me," he said confidently, kissing her on the corner of her mouth. "Even if someone did interrupt us, it wouldn't stop me from finishing what I started with you."

The girl laughed cheerfully, closing her eyes with pleasure. She slid the fingers of her other hand into his hair, ruffling it even more.

"Kinky," she said and bit her lower lip as Buck kissed his way down her neck. "But we're definitely not putting that on our sex bucket list."

"Definitely not," he agreed. "I'd rather die than let a stranger see you the way I've seen you for the last two days."

"It's good that this view is reserved only for you."

"You have no idea how happy that makes me."

And finally, after all that teasing, he brought their lips together. The kiss was not forceful, but calmer, expressing that even in such blissful moments they could not get enough of each other, and at the same time understood each other completely. Buck gently explored her lips, and she responded to him, because even after spending two whole days together non-stop, she still didn't feel satisfied. She didn't know if this state would continue throughout their future relationship, but she sure as hell hoped so, because Buck meant more to her than she could ever have imagined.

"Instead of going home, why don't we go to my place?" he suggested when they finally pulled apart, but Lissie stole one more quick kiss from him. "We'll have the whole evening and night together before we go on shift tomorrow afternoon."

"You're tempting me, Buckley, you're tempting me."

"The answer is simple. Yes or no, Nash."

Lissie didn't notice exactly when they started calling each other by their last names whenever they teased each other. But she damn well liked it.

She opened her mouth to immediately agree to his proposal, because she couldn't think of anything else, her father would have to forgive her for not being at dinner. Then someone knocked on the window on her side of the car, and all her plans went out the window. Buck rolled down the window, and they could see Athena outside. She stood with her arms crossed over her chest, looking at them with a stern gaze. Despite this, Lissie had the impression that she was more worried than angry that they were taking up space in her driveway.

"I see you've had a good time," she said, nodding towards the interior. Lissie noticed that Buck still had his hand under her dress. Nash blushed and immediately adjusted her clothing. "I'm not prying into what you were doing, but I'm glad to see you're happy. How much longer are you planning on sitting here, though?"

"We were just leaving..." Lissie tried to defend them.

Athena raised an eyebrow, not believing a word she said.

"All right," she nodded. "Marrie, ever since she saw your car, Buck hasn't been able to sit still.

Lissie sat up straight. The last thing she expected was for young Buckley-Han to be at their house. She immediately began to wonder what could have caused this, but on the way back to LA, she turned her notifications back on and found no specific information about anything happening. Rosie had only sent her a separate message wishing them a pleasant stay.

"What's Marrie doing with you?" Buck asked.

Athena looked at them in shock, and Lissie felt a twinge of uncertainty.

"Don't you know anything?"

Lissie felt her hands begin to shake. What were they not supposed to know? Had something happened while they were having fun in Malibu that they should know about? Maybe the others didn't want to tell them on purpose, so as not to worry them? But if Marrie was at her house, it could only mean that it was either about Rosie or Chim. Or, worse, both of them. And since her goddaughter was in the care of her father and Athena, it meant that something serious must have happened.

"We had our phones turned off," she said quietly. Buck immediately clasped their hands together, sensing that her overthinking had kicked in again. She took a short breath and looked seriously at Athena. "What happened? Athena, tell us."

"Rosie is in hospital," she blurted out. Lissie's heart almost stopped at this revelation. "She wasn't feeling well, and they ended up calling an ambulance because she fainted."

"What?" Buck couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I saw her before we left... She was fine."

"It started the day later..."

"What?!" Lissie was immediately indignant. "Then why didn't anyone tell us? Rosie got sick and we didn't know anything about it!"

"She didn't want to worry you. Her words, not mine. She thought it was just food poisoning, but as you can see, it wasn't."

"You should have let us know..." Buck wasn't thrilled that one of his sisters was suffering and he didn't know anything about it. "Do Maddie and Seth know about this?"

"Not as far as I know... Listen, Buckaroo, it all happened pretty quickly. They were terrified, especially Chim... Bobby stayed with him at the hospital until Rosie woke up. By now, they've probably done all the tests and we'll know everything soon."

Lissie was worried about her friend, but she knew she couldn't blame her for not telling them anything. She knew Rosie and knew that she didn't want anyone to worry about her unnecessarily. She also understood why she did it, because she had done the same thing herself once. The situations were completely different, but each of them had their reasons.

She could only hope that whatever was wrong with her friend was nothing serious.

"Does Marrie suspect anything?" Lissie asked, knowing that the young woman needed their support now.

"All she knows is that her mum wasn't feeling well," Athena replied. "We didn't tell her anything about the hospital. No one wanted to upset her unnecessarily."

"'Let's go to her."

Buck nodded, and the three of them headed for the house.

AS EXPECTED, MARRIE WAS DELIGHTED TO SEE HER FAVOURITE AUNT AND UNCLE. She didn't seem upset, or at least not enough for it to show. Marrie was like Rosie when it came to dealing with emotions — an open book. That meant she genuinely didn't know that her mother had been hospitalised.

"Why haven't we been in touch for the last two days?" she asked immediately, sitting down between them while Athena made tea. Bobby was already in the kitchen, finishing preparations for dinner.

"I told you they left," Harry replied for them, looking at his sister with a mischievous smile. "They were probably busy with each other."

"HARRY GRANT!" Athena called from the kitchen, and the smile disappeared from his face as quickly as it had appeared. "What did you say?"

"Nothing, Mum!"

Lissie shook her head and leaned towards her stepbrother.

"One day you're going to get yourself into real trouble with her."

"I'm her only son." He puffed out his chest proudly. "She's got a soft spot for me."

"You're her exceptionally confident son."

All four of them snorted briefly. They talked for a moment about what Buck and Lissie had seen, so Nash was glad they had spent some time in town because she could tell them something. Buckley mentioned that the waves in Malibu had turned out to be really good and he had managed to surf — looking damn gorgeous, and the way the sun fell on his silhouette made him look like the Greek god Apollo, but she decided to keep that to herself.

Harry and Marrie talked about how they spent their time together. Lissie was glad that young Grant had taken her goddaughter under his wing after the whole thing with Denny — the two of them were definitely better suited to being friends.

Young Buckley-Han became sad at one point.

"Hey, Marrie?" Lissie put her arm around the girl. "What's wrong?"

"I miss my parents," Marrie replied, resting her head on her shoulder. Lissie took a short breath and exchanged a worried glance with Buck. "When can I go back to them?"

"I don't know, sweetheart." She ran her hand through her hair. "Your mum is feeling a bit unwell, but as soon as she gets better, you'll go back to them."

"Lissie's right," Buck agreed. "No illness can scare her."

This cheered Marrie up a little, and she smiled gently.

"Are you hungry?" Bobby appeared in the living room, still holding the cloth he had been using to wipe one of the glasses. "Dinner's ready, so sit down at the table."

"Can I help you?" Lissie offered immediately, getting up with Marrie.

Her father just shook his head.

For dinner, Bobby had prepared chicken in a mustard and honey marinade, potato slices and a simple salad. It was only when Lissie saw all this that she realised she was hungry and, above all, that she missed her family's home-cooked dinners. And the ones her father made were always the best.

After the meal, Harry was sent to clear the plates, and although Athena put an extra gingerbread cookie on Marrie's plate, the young girl offered to help Grant herself.

Buck seized the moment and grabbed the cookie intended for his niece, for which Athena immediately slapped his hand.

"Hands off, Buckley," the woman said. "That's not for you."

"Marrie said she didn't want it," he tried to defend himself, like a small child.

"You've had two portions and you still want more?"

Bobby raised an eyebrow, looking at him with amusement.

"I'm surprised you're still surprised by that." Lissie looked first at her boyfriend, then at her father. "Buck eats everything he sees in front of him like a vacuum cleaner."

"Very funny," he muttered sulkily, but she could see the amused twinkle in his eyes. He put his arm around the back of the chair Lissie was sitting on and kissed her quickly on the cheek. "You're lucky I love you."

Bobby grunted briefly, making his presence known. Lissie blushed as she looked at her father, while Athena placed her hand on her husband's shoulder. She wasn't quite sure what to make of his reaction, because until now he hadn't seemed to mind her relationship, but perhaps it was because Buck didn't usually fawn over her so much in front of her father.

"Let's stick to that." Bobby pointed at Buck. "Remember, she's my daughter."

"Dad..."

"What?" He looked at her amused. "I'm just worried, like any father would be. You know I'm happy for you, but it doesn't hurt to remind you."

Athena shook her head, and everyone seemed relieved when the doorbell rang. However, none of the four adults had time to react before Marrie and Harry ran to open the door.

"Mum!" Marrie cried out, and it was immediately clear who had honoured them with their presence.

Rosie and Chim appeared a second later, holding their daughter by the hands. They were both surprised to see Lissie and Buck.

"Are you back from your trip already?" Chim asked after everyone had greeted each other.

"We only got two days off," Lissie explained. She added in her mind that it may have only been two days, but they had been very productive. "Tomorrow we're back to our normal routine, so don't worry, we'll be on shift."

Rosie shifted nervously and exchanged a quick glance with her boyfriend, as if they were communicating something to each other.

"But I won't be there," she revealed unexpectedly. Lissie felt a lump in her throat that wouldn't go away. When the rest immediately started asking what was going on, Rosie smiled unexpectedly. She was still pale and didn't look her best, but Lissie had only seen her this happy a few times in her life. "Because I'm pregnant."

The euphoria knew no bounds. Lissie was the first to reach the two friends, offering them her sincerest congratulations. She knew how much they wanted this.

"You have no idea how happy I am," she said to Rosie, holding her in her arms. "I'm going to be an aunt again."

"And not just one child," Rosie whispered in response, quickly adding, "Just don't tell anyone yet. Only Chim knows, and let's keep it that way."

Lissie felt tears of happiness well up and hugged her friend even tighter.

BUCK POV

THEY DROVE ALL THREE OF THE HAN FAMILY BACK TO THEIR APARTMENT. If anyone were to complain, the truth was they'd followed their car in the jeep just to make sure Rosie didn't overdo it. There was no chance of that, though, as Lissie had offered to spend the evening with the girls whilst Buck and Chim went for a quick beer to celebrate the good news, after all.

As might be expected, Han wasn't convinced by the idea. However, Rosie encouraged him to go out, telling him that he'd already shown how worried he was and that he'd have plenty of other opportunities to look after her. It was clear she'd be in the best of hands anyway, but Buck had a feeling his sister had wanted to stay home with Lissie herself, so she could ask her about their trip. He felt he'd probably never find out exactly what they'd been talking about, because the girls had their secrets. Another bloke might have had a problem with his girlfriend and sister being on such close terms, but Buck knew that because of this relationship, both girls were exactly as he knew them. He himself couldn't have been happier that the girl he was completely mad about was friends with Rosie and got on well with Maddie too.

He found it hard to say goodbye to Lissie, and in the end it was Chim who dragged him out of the flat for a beer, which he'd invited him to himself. The girls, including Marrie, were still laughing at them as they closed the door behind them and headed for the block's exit.

They didn't go far; they took advantage of the fact that there was a bar nearby where they'd met a few times before.

Buck ordered them a beer each, then went back to Chim, who had taken a table. When he sat down opposite Han, he couldn't help but grin broadly. He kept tapping his foot, but not out of nerves, but out of excitement. He was going to be an uncle again, although this time it was definitely going to be different. He'd met Marrie after she'd already been born. He adored Colton, of course, but he knew that Rosie and Chim had wanted to expand their family for quite some time, and his sister was slowly losing hope that it might ever happen.

"I'm going to be the best uncle in the whole world," he said earnestly, as if he didn't already hold that title—at least in Marrie's eyes. "Will you need any help? No problem, Uncle Buck is always at your beck and call."

"You'll spoil them just as much as Marrie does," Chim laughed. He took a sip of his beer, and Buck looked at him with outright indignation.

"That's the aim, mate. Parents are there to bring them up, Uncle Buck is there to spoil them.

"I'll remind you of that when you have children of your own."

They laughed heartily, even though Chim's words had struck a chord with him. However, when he thought about the fact that one day he might become a father himself, he could only picture one girl who would be by his side then, who would make it possible in the first place. He smiled at the thought of Lissie, but he always did that whenever she popped into his mind.

"I still can't believe it." Buck's eyes sparkled with excitement. "It's like a mini-mini version of you and Rosie. Of course, Marrie's a mini-mini version of you two too, but you'll have to look after this one right from the start. Getting them up, dressing them, changing their nappies... Knowing the two of you, it won't be easy."

"Twice over" Chim blurted out unexpectedly. Buck stopped midway through taking a sip of his beer. He set the glass down and looked at his mate, furrowing his brow.

"What?"

"We weren't supposed to tell anyone yet, but I'm sure Rosie's already spilled the beans to Lissie..."

"That's more than likely, but what are you getting at?"

"It's twins."

Buck blinked.

"Sorry," he said, in shock, "but you'll have to say that again, because I feel like my brain's stopped working properly."

"Does it ever work?" Chim quipped, amused. "I'm seriously wondering what Lissie sees in you, because you're certainly not exactly a genius."

"Shut up," he snapped back immediately. He'd known Han long enough to realise he was only joking, though that didn't change the fact that he still felt he didn't quite understand what the other man was trying to tell him. "Let's get back to the previous topic... Twins?"

"Twins."

"But... two tiny babies?"

"Twins are two people, Buck" Chim explained with exceptional patience.

"Wow... Just wow... You're going to make me a double uncle in one go. That's not one, but two new girls to spoil."

Han shook his head.

"You'd better not say that in front of Lissie, but hang on... How can you be sure it'll be two girls? It's too early for that sort of information."

Buck just smiled happily.

"You don't know that yet?" He looked at him with unusual seriousness. "I'm a rainbow fairy who can see into the future, after all."

It was a reference to the time when he'd been looking after Marrie and she'd dressed her favourite uncle up as a fairy — quite literally. She made him put on a colourful elasticated skirt that had originally belonged to Rosie, placed a paper crown she'd made on his head, and gave him a soup ladle to hold, which was supposed to be his wand. This was shortly after he'd reconnected with his sister and found out she had a daughter, so Marrie must have been about six at the time.

That day, Chim caught him in the act when he came to pick her up. It became their shared secret, so of course the whole of 118 knew about it, including Lissie, to whom he had recounted everything in detail when they exchanged stories about looking after Marrie.

"Actually, I don't care about their gender, just that they're healthy," Chim replied after a moment. He swirled his glass, and his earlier good humour had vanished. "And above all, Rosie. That's what matters most to me."

Buck became serious. He hadn't been there for his sister's first pregnancy, but given that she and Marrie had barely survived the birth, he was beginning to wonder whether there might be complications that could arise this time too.

"How is she doing?" asked Buck, picturing Rosie—pale, yet still smiling.

"Tired and exhausted... At first we thought it was just a stomach bug, but in the end she was so dehydrated she fainted." Chim's hands trembled and for a moment he stared at the glass in front of him. "I didn't know what was happening, Buck... I've been a paramedic for years, and I had no idea how to help her."

Chim's voice broke, and you could hear it despite the buzz of conversation and the music playing in the bar. Immediately afterwards, tears welled up in his eyes.

"I was terrified," he said honestly, letting his emotions get the better of him. Buck didn't interrupt him, because he knew this was one of those moments when it was better to let Chim get it off his chest. "Later, at the hospital, they ran tests on her at first and couldn't tell what was going on... If Bobby hadn't been there with me, I would have completely lost it."

"But is everything all right now?"

"Yes." Chim gave a brief smile. "Which doesn't change the fact that I'm still terrified by the very idea that Rosie is actually pregnant."

"But after all, it's what you both wanted..."

"The thing is, I've never looked after such a small child before, at least not full-time. There'll be two of them here and... I've no idea if I can handle it. I don't want to let her down."

"Chim, come on" Buck put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "But you already have a daughter. You're a brilliant father to Marrie. One of the best I know."

"I didn't look after Marrie from the very start... I only met her a few years later, when she was already walking, talking and able to dress herself, even if not quite properly."

"And now you'll have the chance to be there for these two right from the start. It'll be something new for you, won't it? But I don't think it's about being a perfect parent; it's about giving this little one your attention, your time and your love. Besides, you can learn anything. You'll manage."

"Thanks, Buck," said Chim, looking at the younger lad. "I don't think I've told you this before, but we've known each other for a long time, and from the moment you first turned up at 118th until now, you've changed quite a bit. For the better, of course. I'm proud of you, bud."

Buck looked at him in surprise.

"For what reason?"

"For who you've become," he explained calmly, completely seriously. "You've matured. You still act impulsively..." They both snorted briefly. "But you've got such a heart. You're... I don't know how to put it exactly. Calmer, more confident...? I suppose so."

"Chim..."

"I think Lissie deserves a lot of credit for this, because she gave you something you'd been searching for all this time, and you've done something really good with it."

Buck was speechless. He'd always felt that there was something wrong with him and that he was nothing but a problem — to his parents, his sisters, and later to his employers at every job he took on. Lissie showed him that he wasn't the problem; she believed in him almost from the very moment they became friends. She had a way with words that spoke straight to him, and when all he needed was her closeness, she was right there, asking no questions, supporting him. It worked both ways, because he knew full well that Lissie still had her off days, when therapy with Jonathan hit her particularly hard and she needed his support.

He would have given literally anything to make sure Lissie knew she could always count on him and lean on him.

"You have no idea how much those words mean to me," Buckley said after a moment.

"That's why I thought you should hear them..."

Buck nodded, and the conversation then turned to the time they'd spent with Lissie in Malibu. He admitted to Chim what had happened, but gave him a censored version. He had no intention of telling anyone exactly what had happened between them. In the past, he would have boasted about his adventures with girls without a second thought, but with Lissie, the idea hadn't even crossed his mind.

The waiter brought them another round of beer.

"Can I ask you a favour?" Chim asked, and Buck turned his gaze back to him. He thought he'd spotted Ian and Josh in one of the booths by the wall, making out, but he could just as easily have been mistaken. "It's about the aparment..."

"But you've already got one... I'm not quite sure how I can help you..."

"I want to find somewhere new. Since our family's about to grow by two, our current place is completely unsuitable for that. Besides, I want to surprise Rosie, because I know she'll be going on and on about it. She's already mentioned more than once that we don't have enough space, especially since Albert moved in.

"Sure thing, I'll help you find something," he agreed, which came as no surprise. He gave a short laugh when something occurred to him. "Don't you think it's ironic that everyone says we're the biggest talkers, and now we've got our own secret?"

"Don't make us out to be such big talkers," Chim laughed, sipping his beer. "We're just exchanging information." This time it was Buck who snorted. "Hey, isn't that Chloe over by the bar?"

Han nodded towards the bar, and Buck turned to look in that direction. Indeed, it was her, but she wasn't alone; she was with some stranger, and she was clearly having a great time with him.

"Someone's having a good night," Buck commented with amusement. "Maybe that's actually Ian over there in the corner."

"What?" Chim looked in the direction Buckley was pointing. "It's definitely him and... Josh!"

"I've got to take a photo of them, otherwise Lissie won't believe me."

Buck pulled out his phone and snapped a photo first of Ian and Josh, who had just started kissing, and then did the same with Chloe, who was openly flirting with her companion. He sent both photos to Lissie.

"Here's to love," Chim proposed a toast.

"To love!"

LISSIE POV

TIME WAS PASSING AT AN INCREDIBLE SPEED. Lissie felt as though it had only been the day before that she'd found out Suzanna was expecting a baby—and that she and Jonathan were getting married. Meanwhile, that special day had arrived, and her aunt's baby bump was hard to miss. She admired her because if she were in her shoes, she probably would have skipped the celebration in favor of peace of mind and gotten married after the baby was born. Suzanna, however, insisted that it had to happen before the baby arrived, and there was nothing they could do about the fact that their ideal venue had its only available date so close to the due date.

The mansion they rented near Los Angeles was wonderful, and above all, large enough to accommodate all the invited guests. The entire ceremony was to take place in the garden, and the interior was reserved for the rest of the celebration. There was also space for overnight accommodations for guests who had to travel, and of course for the bride and groom, with a room set aside for Suzanna to get ready.

Lissie thought her aunt looked absolutely stunning in her cream-colored knee-length dress, her hair pulled back, and her subtle makeup. She never thought she'd get to see a sight like this, but a smile just came to her lips.

"I have this weird feeling..." the older Nash said, running her hand over her stomach. "Like something's about to happen."

"You're getting married," Lissie reminded her. "Come on, Suzie." Young Nash walked over to her and grabbed her shoulders to show her support. "It's your day, and I'm sure everything will go just as it should."

"No," Suzanna shook her head. "This was a bad idea. I'm too close to giving birth, and what if..."

"Take a deep breath; you're stressing yourself out more than you should." Suzanna inhaled, then slowly began to exhale. "Good, very good. We need to calm you down. One more time."

The redhead repeated the calm breathing several times, just as Lissie had instructed her.

"Better?" Lissie asked, and Suzanna nodded. "Listen to me... Everything's going to be fine. You don't have to worry about a thing today, understand? If you need anything, just let me know, and your best maid of honor will take care of everything. You're just going to sit back, relax, and enjoy the day with the guy who's crazy about you."

"I'm going to go crazy. From nerves. What if I forget my vows?" Lissie giggled briefly but got a light slap on the arm from her aunt. "I'm serious. That would be embarrassing."

"But what a story to tell the little one later."

Lissie placed her hand on her aunt's belly and could have sworn she felt a kick. Then Suzanna sighed heavily and took a deep breath.

"Someone here has sensed the presence of his favorite cousin."

"Of course he has," Lissie replied, leaning over Suzanna's belly. "That's why you're going to sit there quietly today and not cause any trouble, okay?"

The redhead wiped the tears that had already begun to form from her face.

"Don't cry!" Lissie exclaimed immediately, seeing what her aunt was doing. "You can't, or you'll smudge all your makeup!"

"I don't care, because it's your fault I started crying."

"Auntie..."

Lissie hugged Suzanna, and she returned the hug as best she could. She sniffed and sobbed quietly for a moment but then wagged her finger at her niece.

"Don't ever talk to me like that again, you little brat. Sometimes I forget that you're actually my niece."

"I'll be happy to remind you of that anytime... "

"I don't know where you get your mean streak from" Suzanna commented. She stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest. "It must be Bobby. Evelyn wouldn't say a bad word to anyone."

"I'm just learning from the best—you."

Suzanna rolled her eyes and took one last look in the mirror to adjust her dress. Lissie stood next to her, doing the same. Her aunt had given her free rein when it came to the dress; the only requirement was that it be blue—the same color as the one Charlie, the flower girl, was supposed to wear.

The dress she'd chosen had a flared skirt with tulle underneath the main fabric. The bodice fit her figure perfectly, and the thin straps extended all the way down to the middle of her bare back. The phoenix she had tattooed was fully visible, and today everyone was going to see it in all its glory.

"You know..." Suzanna looked at the younger girl. "I'm glad Rosie and Chim finally managed to have this baby." Lissie just smiled. "Although I'm sorry they probably won't be able to make it, because when I spoke to Chim yesterday, Rosie wasn't feeling very well."

That was a fact that worried Lissie as well.

"I don't think something like poor health would stop Rosie from coming to your wedding."

"I don't want anything to happen to her just because she's being stubborn... I'll understand, after all."

"And she knows it, but she won't let it go. I'm sure of it."

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and after being invited in, Ian walked in, followed by their whole crew from Chicago—Rosie, Marrie, and Chloe, who were determined to see Suzanna before the ceremony.

"Ian, you owe me a hundred bucks," Rosie said, pointing at their friend. "I was right. Suzanna's the first one to get married."

Lissie exchanged a glance with her aunt.

"Is there something we don't know?"

"No."

"Yes."

Ian and Rosie answered at the same time. Chloe burst out laughing and reached for a few grapes, which she began to eat. Apparently, she missed popcorn.

"Those two," Fontaine finally said, pointing her finger from Ian to Rosie and back. "They made a bet on which one of you would get married first. Rosie bet on Suzanna, and Ian bet on you."

"When did that happen?"

Ian blushed and looked away.

"I have no idea... It just slipped my mind."

Rosie snorted.

"Because you were dead drunk, that's why I remember it."

"And I wasn't there?" Lissie frowned. "That's strange. We spent practically every moment together..."

"Your shift ran late. Or maybe you were working a double shift."

"Anyway, what are you doing here?" Suzanna asked Rosie. "From what I remember, you weren't feeling well yesterday. You were supposed to be resting."

"I'll have plenty of time to rest later. Besides, how could I miss such an important day? I feel better, so I wasn't going to leave you behind. Besides, half our family are paramedics. We're both in the best possible care."

"Dad didn't see it that way," Marrie interjected. She looked adorable in her purple dress and two braids. Lissie also noticed the slightly elevated heels on her feet, which meant her parents had given in to her pleas. "He wanted Mom to stay home."

Rosie rolled her eyes.

"He's overprotective. Did Jonathan go crazy too when he found out you were pregnant?"

"I didn't end up in the hospital with dehydration," Suzanna snapped, and Rosie looked at her in surprise. "Bobby. I know you guys think he's your perfect captain, but he's a damn chatterbox. He blabs everything to me."

"It's actually no secret, just like the fact that I talked to Sue, and if the doctor agrees, I'll be moving to the dispatch room for the duration of my pregnancy."

"We'll be working together?" Chloe seemed delighted. "Awesome. A familiar face is always welcome."

"It's not a sure thing yet, but if it works out, I'll be with you all the time, just in a slightly different way."

"It'll definitely work out." Lissie smiled. "And working in the dispatch center is great. It's demanding, but you'll manage. It changes your perspective a bit on how the whole operation looks—it doesn't actually start when the fire department arrives, but when the victim calls."

"Our most experienced chief dispatcher has spoken," Ian commented with a chuckle. "Just don't mention that to Josh. I recently told him he's the best in his field."

"Really?" Chloe put her hands on her hips. "That's called favoritism."

"Instead of arguing," Lissie interrupted them, "why don't you tell us about your mysterious dates from a few days ago, huh?"

Chloe and Ian fell silent immediately.

"What dates?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about..."

"Me neither" Suzanna replied, looking curiously at her niece and the two friends. "And I want to know. Now. You can't say no to me because, first, it's my day, and second, I can't get stressed out because little Bobby might break the promise he made to his cousin and come into the world today."

"Bobby?" Lissie looked at Suzanna in surprise. It was the first time she'd heard they'd already chosen a name for the baby. "After his dad?"

"Just don't tell him about it, okay? It's supposed to be a surprise..." she asked, and everyone immediately agreed. Lissie, however, couldn't stop the smile on her face. She knew her father would be touched by Suzanna and Jonathan's decision. "So, what about your little romances, huh?"

Ian and Chloe sighed heavily, and it was clear that no one was going to let them off the hook.

WHEN SHE LED SUZANNA TO THE EXIT OF THE MANSION, BOBBY AND CHARLIE WERE ALREADY WAITING FOR THEM. Her father was entertaining little Baker, who couldn't help but burst into joyful laughter. She looked adorable in a blue dress with a big bow in the back and her hair down, adorned with a wreath of white flowers.

"Mommy!" Charlie cried out when she saw Suzanna.

Lissie saw tears in her eyes. She knew the girl had been calling her that for some time now, but it seemed to still move Suzanna.

"Hi, sweetie." Suzanna crouched down and kissed her stepdaughter. "You look beautiful. Did Grandma help you get dressed?"

"Yes, but just a little." She proudly stuck out her chest. "I'm a big girl now, so I don't need that much help."

"We've got a little independent Miss Baker growing up here," Bobby joked, ruffling the girl's hair. Then he looked at his sister. "She couldn't wait to see you."

"Because you look gorgeous!" the young girl exclaimed immediately. "You too, Auntie, but Mom is more important."

"Don't worry, Char." Lissie smiled at the girl. "I think Suzie looks gorgeous, too."

"Like a princess?"

"Like a princess."

Suzanna looked at her niece, and new tears glistened in her eyes.

"I told you not to make me cry anymore."

"The girls are right," Bobby said. He looked at his sister with no small amount of admiration. "You look lovely. Are you ready?"

The redhead didn't answer right away. She placed one hand on her heart and the other on her belly, then took three deep breaths. She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, she looked at all three of them with a smile.

"I'm ready," she replied cheerfully. "Yes, let's do this!"

Bobby laughed and held out his arm to her, which she immediately took. Lissie handed her the bouquet, then stood behind Charlie, who was to walk first. She looked out onto the terrace to see if everyone had arrived yet and noticed that most of the seats were already taken. Jonathan was waiting at the altar with the priest and his cousin, who was serving as his best man.

"I can give you a quick moment" Lissie asked. She sensed they might want to talk alone.

"Two minutes?" Bobby asked.

"That's possible. "She smiled at him. "Come on, Charlie, let's fix your dress and hair."

The girl followed her right away.

When they returned a few minutes later, Bobby and Suzanna were hugging, and when they nodded, it was clear they were finally ready.

Lissie followed Charlie, smiling the whole time as she watched how dedicated she was to her task. She pulled a handful of flowers from the basket and scattered them on the red carpet that was laid out between two rows of chairs. The guests looked at them happily, but she didn't know most of them. At the meet-and-greet dinner, she'd managed to meet Jonathan's parents, an older, kind couple who spoke fondly of Isabel—his first wife—but could also see that Suzanna meant a lot to him. His cousins weren't so bad either; in fact, they were quite funny, and the whole party looked like it was going to be a real success.

She was incredibly proud of her aunt for having come so far, but also of herself... She was still seeing Jonathan for therapy, and she did have her bad days, but the good ones definitely outnumbered them. She saw meaning in her life for the first time since she'd left Chicago.

As the priest presided over the ceremony, she had a moment to look around at the guests. Their families had mingled, and she saw Jonathan's cousins sitting next to Ian and Lily, whom he had chosen as his bridesmaid. Further away, she saw Eddie and Chloe next to Suzanna's coworkers, who had decided to support her on this day. The front pews were reserved for the immediate family—Jonathan's parents, her own father, and Athena with May and Harry. Right behind them sat Rosie with Chim and Marrie, Maddie with Seth and Colton, and, most importantly, Buck. He watched the bride and groom intently, trying not to miss a single key moment, because he knew that if he did, Rosie would give him a piece of her mind. She knew she shouldn't be staring at him like that, but she couldn't help herself. It wasn't even about how he looked today—he'd gone with a light blue suit, which he'd chosen specifically to match the color of her dress. She hadn't asked him to, and he'd done it on his own, claiming that then they'd look like that hot power couple everyone envies for being together. She remembered laughing at that comparison, but now she understood that he was definitely right.

Buck looked up at her, as if he'd sensed someone watching him. Their eyes met for a brief moment. He smiled at her gently and sincerely, just as he always did when he told her how much she meant to him. Lissie blushed but returned the smile and felt a new warmth wash over her from within. It wasn't anything passionate or exciting, but rather the fact that she knew he was by her side, that she was lucky enough to have fallen in love with him, that he had come into her life and stayed, showing her that love didn't have to be difficult at all.

Lissie looked away only when Suzanna began to recite her vows. Contrary to her fears, she didn't stumble over her words or forget anything—she just needed a moment's pause to compose herself and speak clearly enough, despite her emotion, for everyone to understand her. Jonathan's words followed hers, and then they were finally declared husband and wife, which they sealed with a quiet kiss.

Everyone began to applaud and cheer. Lissie wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, then hugged them both, congratulating them with all her heart. Before they headed to the reception hall to celebrate this important event, however, Suzanna tossed her bouquet, which—whether by design or not—landed in Lissie's hands.

THE PARTY WAS IN FULL SWING. Some people had already had a few drinks, while others were getting to know new people—like May and Lily, who hit it off because of their age and the fact that they were both trying to figure out what to do next with their lives. Their decision was quite unexpected, because when she was sitting with them and Chloe, they revealed that they were thinking about working in the dispatch center. Lissie told them the same thing she'd told Rosie a few hours earlier—it was a demanding job. It was clear the girls were stubborn, and she knew them both well—she knew they wouldn't give up. She just didn't think Athena and Ian would be all that happy about it. She intended to support them, because they had a long road ahead of them.

Lily later disappeared, dragged off somewhere by Marrie and Charlie, and Lissie took advantage of the fact that she could dance a little. First, she dragged her father onto the dance floor, and he went wild with her like never before. Maybe it was because they'd played a string of old songs from the '70s and '80s—the era Bobby had grown up in—and he'd later passed that love of music on to her. Chim gave in to her too, though he was quite reluctant at first because he didn't want to leave Rosie alone for even a moment, but in the end, Buckley herself told him to go have fun for both of them, since she wasn't able to do it. She didn't miss out on dancing with Ian either, who had specifically requested that they play "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" so they could, in a way, recreate the dance moves they'd learned back in high school in the choir as they prepared for competitions. She had a lot of fun doing it, because they'd already forgotten some of the steps, but what mattered was that they could spend that moment together and just have fun. She also danced through a few songs with the kids at the wedding, including Marrie and Charlie, as well as May and Lily. Eddie also dared to ask her to dance, though he spent more time with Chloe, with whom he had clearly become quite close during the wedding. So much so that Fontaine moved over to his table.

Buck, of course, also became her dance partner, and that was the case most of the time. Whether a slower or faster song was playing, she took advantage of the fact that she could be in his arms again or steal a few kisses from each other. They were fooling around; Buck would often spin her so hard that her head would start spinning, but he always caught her, not letting her fall, and she had no intention of complaining about it, because every time she landed on his chest.

The sun had already set when the whole band and their loved ones were resting and relaxing together at one of the tables. Buck had his arm draped over Lissie's chair as she laughed at something Seth and Athena were saying. Bobby was talking animatedly about something with Rosie and Chim. May and Lily were nowhere to be seen, and Ian was exchanging observations with Maddie. Chloe and Eddie were still inseparable, and Lissie was convinced they were flirting. Suzanna was resting at the table reserved for her and Jonathan, and he was sitting next to her, making sure everything was okay.

Lissie's phone, which was lying on the table, vibrated, and she saw Lily's name in the incoming message. She frowned, but read it right away because she hadn't seen her or May in a while and had started wondering where the two of them had gone. Inside, she saw a photo of Marrie sleeping, with Charlie on top of her. They were cuddling, and it was one of the sweetest images she'd seen all day.

"Look," she said to the rest of them, interrupting their conversation. "Now we know where the children went."

She showed the photo to the others, and their reaction was exactly the same as hers.

"They look adorable together," Maddie commented. Then she looked at her sister. "Marrie is going to be a great big sister."

"Ever since she found out, she's been asking us nonstop about everything that pops into her head because she's so excited," Rosie replied. "We want her to remember that she's still just as important to us and that we love her."

"It's important to always make time for her, to do something just the two of you," Bobby advised, looking at Lissie. "I speak from experience."

Lissie smiled at her father.

"Brooke and Bobby were always upset when we went out somewhere just the two of us."

"Then it would end with you buying them chocolate to cheer them up, and me getting an earful from Marcy."

They both laughed, and Lissie realized that this was probably the first time they'd spoken about them so openly, with such calm and carefree ease, as if they were still with them. Smiles appeared on the rest of their faces—Athena clasped hands with her husband, and Buck ran his fingers over his girlfriend's shoulder. In this way, they were both showing them how proud they were of them.

Lissie grabbed her phone and walked over to the newlyweds to show them how well Marrie and Charlie were getting along. Jonathan and Suzanna were delighted by the photo they saw, and they were both happy that, despite their initial friction, the girls had taken a liking to each other.

The sun had already set. Lissie stood by the dessert table, unable to decide whether she wanted to try a chocolate or a fruit muffin, which ultimately resulted in her putting both on her plate. She moved on, looking at what else she hadn't tried yet, when Buck appeared beside her.

"Come with me, I want to show you something," he said excitedly, setting her plate down on the table. "The muffins can wait."

"No... Because someone might snatch them right out from under my nose. What do you want to show me?"

"If you come with me, you'll see," he insisted, grabbing her hand.

"I won't regret it?" she asked suspiciously.

Buck just smiled his mischievous smile, which always meant he'd planned something crazy or gotten himself into trouble he had to explain, but didn't regret.

"No way. What's more," he moved closer to her and leaned in, "I think you're going to like it."

A warmth spread through her whole body, and she was grateful that her dress had thin straps.

"Then lead the way, cowboy," she replied, letting him lead her to a place only Buck knew.

Evan led her out of the hall where the wedding was taking place, then they passed through the room by the main entrance and the reception area. The woman sitting behind the counter smiled at them, but she didn't pay it much mind, because Buck was already guiding her toward the elegant staircase that led to the living quarters. Like the mansion, they were made of white marble with a thick, ornate railing that was high enough that no one could fall, but well-constructed enough that you could see the rest of the floors from it.

She knew this place. She had walked through it several times already today, though it had been better lit before. Now a gentle twilight reigned over them, as only half of the available lamps were lit. At first, Lissie didn't understand why Buck had brought her here, but later she began to guess what was going on.

"If you wanted to spend some time alone with me, all you had to do was say so..." she laughed, and he immediately stopped and turned toward her. He was standing on the step above her, so the difference in their heights was even more apparent.

"You were busy," he replied, running his finger from her hand up her arm until he finally cupped her neck. "I didn't want to distract you, even though it was hard for me to focus."

"Really?" she asked innocently, slipping her hands under his jacket. "And what are you going to do about that?"

"It depends."

He kissed the corner of her mouth, and she smiled at the gesture.

"On what?"

"Whether you'll keep distracting me."

He moved his lips further down her neck, and she sighed with bliss. She hadn't expected things to turn out this way at the wedding, but she wasn't about to complain. Maybe she should have seen this coming, because since returning from Malibu, there hadn't been a single day when she hadn't ended up in his bed or on some other piece of furniture in his apartment. She joked that they were going through some kind of honeymoon phase, but Buck would just silence her with another kiss.

Just like now, when he pressed their lips together, and she let out a long moan as he pulled her close. In an instant, she forgot about the world around her. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear music drifting in from the wedding, but none of it seemed to matter when she felt his touch on her. Buck moved her toward the railing and pressed her against it. He held her tightly in his arms, and then she felt his lips on her bare neckline. Shivers ran through her entire body, and she closed her eyes with pleasure, wrapping her knee around his waist.

"Did I tell you today that you look amazing?" he murmured right against her skin, and when he sucked harder on her sensitive spot, she almost moaned his name with excitement. "Absolutely, like a goddess."

"You said I looked beautiful," she reminded him of his own words from when he first saw her and couldn't take his eyes off her. "Do you like the dress?"

His hand slid lower to her hip, then her thigh, though he was still touching her through the fabric of the dress. She moved one hand to the back of his neck, running her nails over it, and then kissed him on the jaw.

"You have no idea how much," he replied, looking into her eyes. She could see that familiar spark appear in his irises, the one that always made her come with his name on her lips. "But I prefer the version where you're not wearing it."

Lissie blushed and clenched her fingers around his neck, pulling his face closer to hers, but she didn't press their lips together just yet.

"Do you have any suggestions for changing that?" she whispered against his lips, and he slid his hand between her thighs. He moved it higher and higher, but he didn't touch her where she needed him most, which made her moan in frustration.

"I have an idea," he replied, gently biting her earlobe. Lissie gasped loudly as he pushed her underwear aside and she felt his confident touch between her legs. "You look damn sexy, Sunshine." "His voice dropped, and the sound alone sent shivers down her spine. "I need you, right now."

It was damn exciting to think about what he was really asking of her. Someone could appear on those stairs at any moment and catch them, but she couldn't bring herself to worry about that too much right now. Buck wanted her, but she was no different—she needed to feel him again, just as much.

She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him hard, showing that she agreed to everything he was thinking.

"Take me now," she whispered. "Here. I don't think I can wait any longer."

"Thank God," he said with audible relief and pressed their lips together again in a hot, long kiss that nearly took her breath away. She moaned softly as he slid his tongue into her mouth.

Everything was happening fast—their hands roamed over each other's bodies as far as their clothes would allow. The kisses kept moving lower or higher, fingers exploring her skin...

Buck reached up and placed his hand on her throat. He didn't hurt her, but it only made her want him even more. If she'd had even the slightest doubt before, she'd completely forgotten them now, because his touch made her lose her senses for him, and that was all that mattered.

"Buck..."

They were both growing more and more impatient, their movements hasty. Lissie finally reached for his pants, unbuttoning them with ease. Buck pulled her dress up, and after a moment began to slowly enter her, giving her time to get used to the sensation.

"I always forget..." she began, but couldn't finish as Buck entered her fully. It took her breath away, because even though it wasn't their first time having sex and it wasn't a position they hadn't tried before, she felt it twice as intensely now.

"What do you forget?" he began whispering in her ear, moving slowly inside her. "How perfectly we fit together? That you always shiver at my touch, and I can never tear myself away from you?"

"Yes..." she sighed heavily. "Buck, please... Don't stop."

Lissie was in such a state that she couldn't string a coherent sentence together. All she knew was that she needed him. Buck brushed the hair from her face, and he did it so gently, as if they weren't in the middle of having hot sex and trying to reach their climax. He kissed her neck, and she clenched her fingers into his shirt.

It worked on him better than any spell. Buck quickened his movements, which Lissie met, keeping pace with him. Their hands were everywhere, their lips meeting every moment in a passionate kiss, until finally she felt the cramp in her lower abdomen ease and a wave of heat hit her with double the force, making her see stars before her eyes. Buck didn't let anyone hear her come, and he just kissed her hard, keeping his hand on her neck the whole time. He came literally a few seconds after her and rested his forehead against her neckline.

They were panting heavily and needed a long moment to recover from what had happened. When they were finally able to function somewhat normally, he pulled out of her, and she felt his semen running down her legs.

"Was this what you wanted to show me from the very beginning?" she asked, still breathing heavily.

Buck just laughed.

"It worked," he replied innocently.

"Definitely, but now we both need to go to the bathroom before we go back to the others..."

"Round two?" He raised an eyebrow, and she just hit him on the shoulder and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

WHEN THEY RETURNED TO THE GROUP, ATHENA AND SUZANNA LOOKED AT THEM SUSPICIOUSLY. The couple in love pretended perfectly well that they had no idea what was going on, but the women just smiled at them defiantly.

"It looks to me, Buck, that you have—" Suzanna spoke up, pointing to his neck, "—some kind of mark here."

Lissie looked at the boy and felt like cursing when she actually spotted a remnant of red lipstick on his skin that they hadn't completely wiped off. She blushed, and Buck, as if nothing had happened, simply reached for a tissue and wiped the spot she'd indicated. She admired him for not caring at all that Suzanna had openly pointed out that they hadn't disappeared for no reason. She was just glad her father wasn't at the table, because she wondered who he would have murdered first—her or Buck.

Young Nash looked at her aunt with what was practically pure murder written in her eyes, and the redhead just laughed. Marrie, who had apparently woken up and decided to return to the party, glanced from one to the other, having absolutely no idea what was going on. Then she shrugged and walked over to Lissie, though she did so rather hesitantly, which surprised her godmother.

"Can I tell you something?" she asked quietly, and Lissie placed her hand on her waist and smiled at her. "I don't want this to bring back bad memories..."

Lissie furrowed her brow.

"What's on your mind, Little Flower?"

Marrie looked at her mom, who apparently knew what her daughter wanted to say and nodded encouragingly.

"Your tattoo... I really like it."

"Thank you," Lissie replied cheerfully. She felt a pleasant warmth at the compliment. "Do you know what kind of creature that is?" Marrie shook her head. "It's a phoenix."

"Like in Harry Potter?"

Marrie had become a huge fan of the wizard series. Lissie couldn't have been happier about it, because they'd read nearly every book together while she was looking after her, and later they'd watched the movies together, even though Chim hadn't been convinced at first that Marrie wasn't still too young for them.

"That's right. Do you remember what happened to him there?"

Marrie bit her lower lip and lowered her head, thinking for a moment. Lissie didn't rush her, but she noticed that everyone gathered around the table had started listening in. She just hoped that, no matter how this conversation went, her loved ones wouldn't try to bring up the topic of why that tattoo had appeared on her back in the first place.

"It rose from the ashes," Marrie finally said. She looked at her aunt and smiled. "Just like you. You were sad when you came to Los Angeles, and now you're happy. You smile more often, just like I remember."

Lissie had always been impressed by how smart Marrie was. Her words moved her deeply, so she blinked and pulled her goddaughter close, hugging her as tightly as she could.

"You're the best kid, you know?" she whispered in her ear, keeping it just between the two of them.

"Because you're the best aunt," Marrie replied.

The girl pulled away from her, but didn't go back to her parents; instead, she sat on her aunt's lap, and Lissie immediately wrapped her arms around her so she wouldn't fall.

"Marrie's right," Rosie said, looking at her friend. "Your tattoo is beautiful."

"And it suits you perfectly," Athena added.

"She knew this would be the design from the very first moment she said she wanted to get a tattoo," Buck said, and she remembered the day she first mentioned it to him. A lot had changed since then, and back then she hadn't thought she'd ever find herself in a place like this.

"I can make quick decisions on some things, okay?"

She looked at him amusedly, and the rest of them laughed.

"That's why I know there won't be any problem choosing a design for our tattoo." Everyone looked at Rosie in surprise. "What? Lissie and I have our own plans, which have to wait about a year for now."

"Are you getting matching tattoos?" Buck asked, looking at his girlfriend. "What about me?"

Lissie shook her head, amused.

"You'll be next."

That was enough to make him smile immediately.

"You'd better not mention this to Bobby just yet," Suzanna said, clutching her stomach. "I think that... Ouch!"

Lissie immediately looked at her aunt with concern.

"What's going on? Suzie?"

The woman groaned in pain and clenched her fingers tightly around the table. Jonathan seemed to sense that something was wrong and was by her side literally a second later.

"I don't know..." she took a deep breath. "I felt a contraction and... Ouch! Now it's much stronger..."

Lissie was already getting up to go to the redhead, but Chim was faster than her. Before he reached her, however, a soft splash could be heard, and Suzanna looked at her husband in horror.

"My water just broke... We have to go to the hospital, because there's no way I'm giving birth to our son here!"

A dozen or so hours after a long and exhausting labor, which had to be constantly monitored by doctors due to the advanced stage of the pregnancy, Bobby Baker was born.

Everyone was delighted with him, and Bobby didn't hide his emotion when he found out the boy had been named after him.

Lissie simply hugged her father, sensing how much it meant to him.