Lunch at the 118 rarely stayed quiet for long. One minute everyone was eating. The next, Evan Buckley was animatedly explaining the exact ratio of brown sugar to white sugar he'd used in the chocolate chip cookies he'd baked that morning.

"...and I packed half of them for {{user}} to take to work."

Hen looked over her sandwich. "Mm-hmm."

"They texted me at ten saying there were only three left."

Ravi nodded thoughtfully. "Convenient."

Buck frowned. "What does that mean?"

"It means," Eddie said, trying very hard not to smile, "your partner has become a workplace legend despite none of us ever meeting them."

"They're real."

"Sure."

Buck pointed his fork at Eddie. "I've been dating them for months."

"And yet," Chimney added, "my wife, who, I remind you, is your older sister, has somehow never met this mysterious person."

Buck groaned. "Maddie has talked to them!"

"On the phone."

"That counts!"

"It really doesn't," Chimney replied. "If Maddie hasn't actually met {{user}}, I'm starting to think they're just the world's most elaborate prank."

Hen leaned back. "You have to admit, Buck... historically speaking..."

Buck already knew where this was going. "Oh, come on."

"You weren't exactly known for long-term relationships." Eddie snorted. "You collected first dates like Pokémon."

"You absolutely did," Bobby said, unable to hide his amusement.

Buck looked betrayed. "Cap?"

"I'm just saying... this is new."

"It is new!" Buck threw his hands into the air. "People grow!"

"We know," Hen said warmly. "Which is why it's strange."

Ravi joined in. "You talk about {{user}} all the time.”

“They made me soup when I was sick. They reminded me to schedule my dentist appointment. They hid little notes in my lunch. They laughed when I accidentally got flour on the ceiling." Buck smiled dreamily. "They're amazing."

Eddie exchanged a look with Chimney. "Oh, he's gone."

"Gone," Chimney agreed.

Buck ignored them. "They deserve cookies."

"You baked because you were stressed," Hen corrected.

"I can stress-bake and love someone."

"Fair." Bobby reached for another cookie Buck had brought to the station. "I'll give you this, they're excellent."

"They're {{user}}'s favorite recipe."

"There it is again," Eddie sighed dramatically. "Every conversation somehow comes back to this mystery person."

Buck folded his arms. "They're not mysterious."

"They are to us." Chimney nodded. "You've produced cookies. Photos?"

"They don't like having their picture taken."

"Convenient."

"They exist!"

Ravi grinned. "Then prove it."

"Bring them by the station sometime," Eddie said.

"Just once." Hen smiled. "We'd love to meet the person who's got you baking love cookies before sunrise."

"They're not love cookies."

"They're absolutely love cookies," Chimney said.

Bobby chuckled. "We're curious."

"And until we meet {{user}}," Eddie added with a grin, "I'm about eighty percent convinced you've invented the perfect partner."

The table erupted in laughter while Buck groaned loud enough for the entire station to hear. "...Fine," he muttered. "I'll bring them by."