Buck always loved spending time with Amelia. She was the sweetest kid, with her mom’s looks and fierceness, and her dad’s easy humour, Buck always had the greatest time with her.
Buck let himself into the Han house, yelling out his nickname for the little girl and nearly getting swept off his feet as the five year old charged at him.
Her arms clung tight to his waist, and he hugged her back, looking up to catch his sister’s eye as she came around the corner to check out the commotion. She smiled, beckoning him into the living area, so Buck straightened up, making sure Amelia had a tight grip on his waist before striding after Maddie. Amelia made the decision to not let go, squeezing his legs as she squealed, rocking back and forth as Buck walked.
Buck lifted her with ease, fake throwing her into the couch, and lunging for her stomach as his fingers began tickling. She squirmed, laughing and kicking, trying to get away.
She giggled as Buck stopped tickling her, launching herself off the couch to hang around his neck.
“Now Amelia, be good for uncle Buck. You don’t want to be tired before you get to the park.”
Maddie returned, this time with Chimney’s arm around her waist.
“You sure you’re okay with this Evan, it’s your day off too.”
He waved them off, wide grin already plastered on his face.
“Pfft, I’ll have a great time. You two go have fun.”
He paused cocking his head to the side in thought.
“Although maybe not too much fun, I don’t know if Amelia wants a little sibling.”
Maddie laughed, whacking him gently across the back of the head.
Luckily, Amelia didn’t seem to hear, happy in her own world of trying to take Buck down by herself.
“Amelia, mummy and daddy are going now, behave please.”
She leapt off Buck’s back, running over to squeeze Chimney and Maddie in a hug, before running back and jumping onto Buck’s back
The door closed behind the couple, Buck and Amelia barely noticing, still play fighting their little hearts out.
“Hey Lia, maybe we should get to the park, and then we can pet some doggies!”
She nodded vigorously, clambering off the couch and running to the kitchen, where a small purple bag sat on the table. Buck peeked inside, rolling his eyes at all the usual things, for example, a full first aid kit. For obvious reasons.
“’Kay Lia, you ready to get out of here?”
He unlocked the door, locking it behind him and chasing after the excited Amelia, already halfway down the hall.
Buck braces himself as the elevator doors opened, and sure enough, he went sprinting after Amelia as she bounded through the cracked doors, making a run for the outside.
“Amelia Joy Han, if you don’t slow down right now, we are going back inside!”
The words make her freeze in her beeline for the door, turning to face Buck, a sweet smile on her face as she rocked back and forth on her toes. Buck caught up puffing slightly, grasping her hand with a wide grin. The two practically skipped the rest of the way to the park, stopping along the way to pet three dogs.
She kicked off her shoes and he picked her up, placing her gently on the rope dish that was also a swing.
She squealed happily as the rope dish soared, clinging on for dear life as it flew wildly through the air. Buck laughed, pushing the swing as hard as he could, running around the frame and bracing his feet in the sand.
Amelia jumped from the swing on the forwards whoosh, landing perfectly in Buck’s arms.
She giggled, jumping down, stumbling slightly in the sand as she landed.
“Can I go on the slide Uncle Buck, please please please?”
“Go ahead, just stay where I can see you, and you remember what to do if someone tells you to go with them?”
“I tell them no and stamp on their foot!”
She mimed being angry, crossing her arms and stomping her foot on the pavement, dropping the act to give an angelic smile to Buck.
“That is right, and then you come back to me. Go on then.”
She dashed off to the slide, Buck gathering their things and trekking after her. Settling himself on the bench closest to the equipment, he began sorting through her bag, pulling out the food items and getting them ready for when she decided she was hungry and came back to him.
For now, he was more than happy to listen to her excited squeals and happy laughter.
Little hands shook Buck awake, and he shot to his feet, looking around.
No response. Buck looked down, Amelia tugging on his jacket, crying.
“Oh Lia, baby, what’s wrong?”
Unable to speak as she sobbed, she pulled her leg up onto the bench, showing him her bloodied knees and palms.
“Oh no, we’re gonna get that all fixed up!”
Buck kept on his cheerful and lively face for Amelia, but inside, he was fuming. How could anyone ever do this to such a sweet little girl? He gently cleaned the wounds with antiseptic, placing band-aids and little stickers over each graze.
“See? That’s better isn’t it?”
She nodded, clambering into his lap and curling into a ball, hiccuping quietly.
He stroked her hair as he fumed silently, surveying the playground, eyes locking in on a pair of boys, roughly teens, who looked absolutely obnoxious.
She tilted her head up to look at Buck, red rimmed eyes locking with his.
She sat up slowly, looking around and pointing at the blond and brunette pair.
“They pushed me. Said it was their turn on the slide and that I couldn’t go down anymore.”
He nodded, anger bubbling in his veins, he picked Amelia up and set her on the bench.
“Can you stay here and look after our things?”
She bobbed her head, swinging her legs slightly. Buck handed her a juicebox, which she sipped happily as he headed towards the boys.
Buck had to make a conscious effort to not run over there and beat the living crap out of them. They were assholes, but they were also just kids.
“Hello, hello what’s going on here?”
“Nothing.” The blonde piped up, sick grin plastered on his face.
“Absolutely nothing.” The brunette drawled, smirking.
“Is that so, because I have a 5 year old that would beg to differ.”
Buck surged forwards despite his own warnings, grabbing the brunette by the collar.
“You listen here and you listen here good. I can’t do anything right now, but the world does wonders on boys like you. Some day, the world will grind you in to the dirt. So how about you pick on someone your own size, or just be nicer. You understand me?”
The brunette nodded quickly, the blond seemed frozen in terror for a moment, but nodded so quickly, Buck was sure he would have whiplash.
“Y-Yes-yes, we’re very sorry.”
“Now, you don’t have to tell me. But you had better tell her.”
He jerked his head toward Amelia, sipping from her juice box, dropping the boy’s collar and dusting himself off.
“Sorry we hurt you, it was mean and not nice of us.” The brunette muttered.
“Yea. Sorry.” The blond agreed.
Amelia grinned, gripping Buck’s hand tightly.
“That’s okay. Just be happy next time.”
Buck waved his hand and the boys scattered.
“How do you say we go home?”
Amelia nodded, yawning and reaching her hands up to Buck’s shoulders and she picked her up gently, adjusting her on his hip so he could carry everything else too. He smiled as she fell asleep, head resting limp on Buck’s shoulder.
After all, he promised to keep her safe. And he was going to keep it this time.