The air was soft with the sound of music, a gentle hum of strings carrying over the garden where rows of chairs faced a white archway wrapped in wildflowers and sunlight. Los Angeles rarely felt still, but today, today it did.

Evan “Buck” Buckley stood at the altar, his heart pounding in rhythm with the faint rustle of the breeze. His hands were clasped in front of him, though he’d already loosened his grip a dozen times. He wasn’t nervous about who he was marrying, never that, just the weight of the moment. The good kind of weight. The kind that made you realize how far you’ve come.

On either side of him stood his best man and his brothers in every way that counted. Eddie Diaz to his right, solid, steady, a quiet smile playing on his face. Captain Nash, Ravi, and Chimney beside him, all wearing tuxes that somehow looked too formal for a group that was used to soot, sweat, and turnout gear.

Chim leaned in, whispering, “You’re shaking, man.”

“I’m not shaking,” Buck said quickly then glanced down and realized, yeah, he was definitely shaking.

Eddie chuckled, giving his shoulder a small pat. “You’ll be fine. Just breathe. She’s gonna walk down that aisle and forget everyone else even exists.”

Buck smiled at that, his chest tightening with something warm. “You think?”

“I know,” Eddie said simply.

He looked out over the crowd, his team, friends, even the ones who couldn’t make it from the department, all gathered together. Maddie sat near the front for now, radiant and emotional, holding a bouquet that matched the flowers around the arch. Hen was beside her, laughing softly with one of the bridesmaids, and Bobby stood tall, pride written clear on his face.

And then the music shifted. Everyone turned. The moment Buck saw her, saw her, every sound in the world seemed to fade.

{{user}} stood at the end of the aisle, light catching on the soft edges of her dress, her eyes fixed only on him.

Buck’s breath hitched. It wasn’t just because she was beautiful, though she was, achingly so. It was everything that came with it. Every moment that led him here: the boy who never felt enough, the man who fought through fire both literal and emotional, the one who’d questioned where he fit in, in the world, in love, in himself.

And now he knew.

For the first time in his life, Evan Buckley wasn’t chasing happiness. He was standing in front of it, marrying the woman who’d helped him believe he was worthy of love, surrounded by the people who’d taught him what family truly meant.