I'm gonna go through the "confirmed storylines" from the lone start wiki because I have thoughts;
1. Owen's brother - literally don't care, they added the character that they could have fleshed out way more before they killed him off, the only slightly intreasting thing that could come out of this is if Tyler (Owen's dead brother) becomes something of a plot point - does TK know about Tyler? Does he know where his name comes from? Is TK nicknamed TK because Owne found it hard to call him Tyler?
2. It's giving the main 911 show, which I love. Btw, I'm telling you, the 126 member who "might get injured" is either going to be Tommy, or TK. I'm willing to bet my life. I'm leaning more towards Tommy but this show has a habit of putting TK in damger soooo
3. That's an interesting one. I know that it's gonna be between Paul and Marjan, but honestly, Paul should get it. He's more experienced, and Marjan is known for making reckless decisions. Though, I think it'd be funny if Mateo is somehow pulled into the chaos because of his stint as lieutenant.
4. Yeah, is this is just referring to Wyatt becoming a dispatcher? Unless they introduce a whole new character? See below.
5. I take this as a clue that Tommy is going to be out of commission for a bit, which makes me think she'll be the one hurt with the train stuff. It will be cool, especially because TK is her partner and has historically challenged Nancy in the past. I want them to be the bestest of friends, give me more of their friendship. Also, if Tommy is not there for a bit, and Nancy takes over as captain, that means they'll probably need a new paramedic, which could be the new member of the 126 that we'll apparently love? I mean, I feel like it needs to be someone we already know because introducing a brand new character seems risky, especially if Tommy is going to come back as captain and they'll have to get rid of said character. The only character I can think of is Pearce, though. Which, considering his character in S3 could be a possibility.
6. I'm hoping to God this has something to do with Nancy. I know that Tim wasn't killed by an asteroid, but if we could touch back on the impact it had on Nancy, especially if she's a captain in charge now. Maybe TK or the new paramedic (?) gets injured or close to being injuried in this and she freaks out. I want a bonding moment between Tommy and Nancy. I want the med team to be a little family.
7. I have a lot of feelings on this, but for the most part, I love it. It was sort of obvious that was the direction they wanted to go after Wyatt got hurt, and I love it. I love the dispatchers in the 911 universe, and having the first main dispatcher be a guy for the first time is fun. I do wonder how they'll deal with Grace no longer being in the show, especially because her character won't be in it at all. Also, it'll be a fun dynamic when Judd returns to the 126 (which he will, unless Judd's character is also leaving this season, which I doubt (please don't take him away from me))
Also, gotta talk about tarlos because I have THOUGHTS.
The person from TK's past will be interesting, I know a lot of people think it'll be Alex, but at the same time, what would the point be? Why would he? I don't think it'll be Alex. I also saw a lot of people saying it'll be Enzo and Jonah, which I can see but "from his past" kind of inplies it's someone he hasn't talked to or thought about for a while, and we know he keeps in contact with his brother and Enzo. Though, It would be really REALLY fun to actually meet Enzo (come on, it's time to meet him, he's been mentioned so many times). I'm really hoping it's either an old friend from his addict days or someone he used to work with in New York.
Also, Carlos solving his father's murder will be fun. I'm hoping we get to see more of the Reyes family. I want the Reyes sisters, and I want them now. TK will also totally be freaking out, and I'm hoping for a bonding moment between him and a member of the 126 that ISN'T Owen. I want either Tommy or Judd, saying they've both been married and also can you imagine TK going to them for relationship advice? Adorable.
Christmas One Gingerbread Cookie at a Time - Read on AO3
Love, loss, new beginnings, and bittersweet endings: a journey through Carlos and TK's holidays across the years.
December 2020
The car is quiet as they drive to a restaurant for date night. The silence only interrupted by Carlos' soft voice when he asks, "So, how are you celebrating Christmas?" His fingers tap anxiously against the steering wheel in a nervous gesture he had surely picked up from TK.
"Christmas?" TK raises an eyebrow and looks at Carlos questionably, but his boyfriend is doing everything in his power to focus on the road ahead of them and not on him.
Carlos sighs when they have to stop at a traffic light, reluctantly turns to look at TK, and smiles tentatively at him. "Yes, Christmas. You know, the holiday happening in one week. That ring any bells?"
"I'm Jewish, Carlos," TK says matter-of-factly, "I haven't celebrated a real Christmas since my dad tried when I was seven. He forgot to defrost the turkey, then burned the ham and had to call his own firehouse to turn off the fire alarm."
Carlos grimaces. "I know." He stops and swallows a few times. "That you're Jewish, I mean, not that Captain Strand can't be trusted with Christmas dinner."
TK smiles and reaches a hand to stop Carlos' fidgeting one. He squeezes once and lets go so it can go back to tapping a finger on the stick shift. "Why? Are you asking me to Christmas with the Reyes?"
He means for his question to be lighthearted, teasing even, for it to be a way to break away some of the tension in the car and put his boyfriend at ease. He doesn't have to always walk on eggshells around him. But the way Carlos instantly freezes and seems to have stopped breathing triggers warning bells inside his head.
Ever since Alex, he has been looking for red flags everywhere and he has been determined to stop after that fateful night at the police station, but, seeing Carlos stare wide-eyed ahead, his fingers no longer tapping but holding onto the stick shift for dear life, all TK can see is red.
Still, he tries to calm down his racing heart. Tries to breathe deeply a few times, which is decisively hard since he doesn't want Carlos to notice. A beat passes, then another and another, and only when TK is sure he can talk without bursting into tears or throwing himself out of the moving car does he speak again.
"I'm kidding," TK whispers, and his breath hitches on the last three letters. "I haven't even met your parents yet."
He wants to say more, thinks he should say more, but he isn't in control enough to trust what would come tumbling out of his mouth if he did.
Carlos doesn't say anything. He is grasping the steering wheel like his life depends on it, like it's the only thing tethering him to this world, to this reality, and he's scared of letting go and simply drifting away forever.
TK kicks himself mentally for making that comment, even if he doesn't know why it's affecting Carlos so much. And maybe he doesn't want to know. But he can't doom their relationship for the third time in less than a year, so he pushes past his own apprehensions and sets his hand over Carlos's that is resting in between them. He runs his thumb over the back of his boyfriend's hand and smiles to himself when he sees some of the tension that had been there a second ago leave Carlos's shoulders.
"I was joking, I promise," he tries again, wishing Carlos were less good at hiding his feelings so he could see some of it on his face. "I'm perfectly content with listening to Harry Styles on repeat and eating Sufganiyot my mom brought."
That finally makes Carlos look at him out of the corner of his eye, and TK chuckles at the incredulous look on his face. "Sufganiyot," he repeats, more slowly this time, "they're like a cross between a beignet and a jelly donut, and we eat them for Hanukkah."
Carlos seems to slowly mull over the new information before his face breaks into the most adorable and equally blinding smile TK has ever seen. "Do you want to come over on Christmas' Eve and help me bake some cookies?"
TK's first instinct is to decline the invitation. He doesn't like to be an inconvenience, or to be invited somewhere out of pity. But Carlos's smile is truly blinding, and TK doesn't think he's that good of an actor, so he must really want him there.
"Sure," he finally says. Because a night not so long ago, under a multicolored sky, TK promised himself he would be the reason Carlos' smile was there in the first place, and not the man that wiped it away. So now, as Carlos parks in front of the restaurant, he nods and smiles back.
Carlos jumps a little, clapping his hands together, and lets out an honest to God squeal. It's cute, but TK's not about to admit that out loud.
"You won't regret it. My Christmas cookies are legendary," he promises excitedly, before looking at his watch and ushering TK out of the car and towards the restaurant because they're already late.
-x-x-x-
TK does in fact regret it.
And in retrospect, he should have seen it coming. This is the same man that turned a casual dinner into a five course dinner that could rival the best three Michelin stars restaurant and made him want to run for the hills. But his smile had been so earnest when he asked that TK didn't have the heart to turn him down. Even if that smile, and everything that hid behind, sometimes still made him want to lock away his heart and throw away the key.
It's that smile that TK chooses to focus on now as he dips his hand in the bag of red and green M&Ms and dutifully sprinkles them over the dough still sitting in the mixer.
There are gingerbread molasses, Classic Sugar, and Chocolate Chip cookies cooling in various racks on the kitchen counter, Gingerbread Man on the dining table waiting to be cooked, Snickerdoodle Bars and White Chocolate Barks hardening on Carlos's bed because they ran out of space in the kitchen and Carlos is adding the jelly to one half of the Linzer Star Sandwiches while the tops finish baking in the oven.
The house looks like a poor man's bakery and TK belatedly wishes he had asked for more information when Carlos extended the invitation. Because apparently, to Carlos, baking cookies means baking hundreds of assorted cookies because it's a Carlos Reyes tradition to give a box to all his family members and friends, which also includes mailing one to those no longer living in Austin.
"Why did you wait until the night before Christmas if you wanted to bake enough cookies to rival an Oreo factory?" TK asks distractedly, his tongue sticking out as he concentrates on scooping the dough in the exact amount Carlos had shown him and setting them on the tray at the adequate distance so they don't, quote unquote, "run against each other, making one mess of a giant cookie like that one time his sister tried to help and ruined Christmas".
Carlos snorts and stops what he's doing to look apologetically up at him. "I usually start baking the week before Christmas, but work and other things have been keeping me pretty busy this year."
"So, you only invited me because you were behind schedule and needed an assistant?" TK shakes his head, feigning annoyance. "Unbelievable."
Carlos drops his spatula and turns panicked eyes to TK. He opens his mouth, but TK swallows whatever he was about to say with a kiss. "Hey, I'm kidding. I'm happy to be here."
Carlos' hands are sticky with powdered sugar and frosting, but he still cups TK's cheeks and kisses him again before he strays too far away. "I'm really happy you're here," he breaths against his lips when they part again.
TK nods, closing his eyes, and rests his forehead on Carlos'. "This sure beats listening to music and eating pastries alone," he says sincerely, before a cheeky grin overtakes his sweet smile, "and it got me out of trying new vegan eggnog recipes with my dad."
Carlos gasps, and dramatically clutches his chest. "You wound me, Tyler. Here I thought you genuinely wanted to bake together."
TK sticks his tongue out and fights the urge to remind Carlos he's never baked a day in his life. He likes eating pastries, not actually making them. Although, on second thought, he might actually enjoy baking with him. But he doesn't say any of that, instead he dips his finger on the frosting and smears it across Carlos' nose. "You're one to talk. I'm only here as your personal assistant."
"You're lucky you're not, or HR would have fired you already," Carlos mutters, catching TK's hands before he can smear more frosting across his face and licking it off his finger.
TK lets out a good-natured chuckle and accompanies it with a playful wink. "You'd miss me too much," he quips, a mischievous grin dancing on his lips as he reaches forward to snatch a gingerbread man out of the tray, ignoring Carlos' previous remark of no cookies until after dinner.
Were it anyone else, Carlos would have snatched the cookie right back, but seeing as it's TK, and he's been screwed since that night at the Honky Tonk, he just waits expectantly for his verdict.
TK breaks the cookie in half, offering one half to Carlos. He takes it but instead of taking a bite off it, leans forward and bites the exposed end away from TK's fingers, holding out his own half for him in return.
TK's eyes widen in shock at Carlos' move, but it quickly transitions into an infectious, delighted laugh. "Well played," he concedes, shaking his head in defeat before taking a bite off the offered half with a sigh of appreciation.
"Good?" Carlos asks, eyebrows raised expectantly.
TK finishes the cookie, and leans forward to kiss Carlos. "Delicious," he finally breathes out into the shared space.
Carlos rolls his eyes, but the smile on his face remains. "I meant the cookie," he jests, trying to fake annoyance but the affection in his gaze is unmistakable.
TK taps his chin, as if he was thinking it over. "Cookie was good," he confirms, his tone soft and warm. He leans in, swiftly licking the chocolate ganache off Carlos' nose. "Frosting was too. But you're so much better than both."
December 2021
On December 2nd, within an Austin apartment, a man leans forward, his hand trembling slightly as he lights a new candle. He's careful not to drop the shamash as he sets it back in the menorah, not wanting to incur the wrath of more than one version of his God. The warm glow of the candles reflects on his face, illuminating the tears streaming down his face, yet failing to reach the depths of his broken soul.
The space is quiet, except for the gentle melody of Christmas music resonating from the living room speakers. Discarded, burnt cookies lie in the trash, while an open recipe book on the counter remains set to a page featuring Sufganiyot. Despite the fact he still can't actually pronounce the word, he attempted to make them, yet the dough now rests in a bowl, half-submerged in water in the sink.
In a corner of the room stands a Christmas tree, its lights only partially aglow—the string ending somewhere in the middle. Sparse ornaments dot its branches, creating a feeble attempt at holiday cheer.
The rest of the apartment isn't much better and it mirrors the disarray. Pizza boxes occupy the coffee table, frozen meal cartons crowd the trash can, and the coffee pot wears the stains from previous mornings.
Settling onto the couch, the glow of his phone reveals a series of unanswered texts on his phone—Christmas party invitations waiting to be received, inquiries about lunch and dinner plans or post-work drinks demanding responses, family members and friends asking if he's okay and if there's anything they can do.
Shaking his head, he fails to respond to any message, except for a brief thumbs-up and smiley face sent to his mother confirming Sunday dinner plans. With a dismissive flick, he sends his phone flying to the other side of the couch.
The side of the couch that's empty and will remain empty, just like the unoccupied side of his bed.
That night, Carlos cries himself to sleep, his pillow the only thing absorbing his silent despair. He cries some more in the morning, then he washes his face, dresses up, and goes to work.
-x-x-x-
The following morning, a man arrives at his workplace in another part of Austin, awkwardly clutching tins of Christmas cookies, each adorned with matching ribbon and bow.
"When did you become the Pillsbury Doughboy?" teases one of his coworkers upon receiving a tin.
"Christmas cookies, sweet!" exclaims another, already savoring a bite of a ginger molasses treat.
"Did you bake this?" questions someone else, eyeing a Snickerdoodle Bar skeptically.
With a nod, the man meets their doubtful gazes. Beneath their skepticism, he senses their sadness. A shared sorrow that weighs on all of them, but nowhere as heavy as on his shoulders. It's an invisible cloak that threatens to choke him, gradually stealing his breath since that one fateful night when it all ended with a bang and not a whimper.
The previous night had been particularly bad, prompting him to bake. The first batch emerged too soft, the second too hard, the third burnt, and only the last batch turned out right.
He shed tears as he tasted the first cookie, yet he pressed on. His teardrops continued to glisten on the counter as he added ingredients to the mixer, frosted cookies and waited for others to cool down.
He didn't have a big family—no sisters, nieces or nephews, no brother-in-law, tías, or abuelos, to share the cookies with. But he had a work family and, thus, here he was, sharing with them the cookies born out of his despair.
Hesitantly, and then more animatedly, his friends sample the cookies, their expressions gradually softening into genuine smiles. He finds it in himself to smile back. And in that simple exchange of hesitant bites and shared smiles, a missing piece falls into place even if the greater picture is still missing.
An alarm goes off somewhere in the distance and it interrupts their conversation, though he wasn't particularly inclined to speak in the first place. Snatching a bite of a plain sugar cookie, he hurriedly exists, a solitary tear trailing down his cheek as he goes.
For the rest of the day, TK works, and that night, he bakes. Then he cries and eats broken pieces of gingerbread men with hot chocolate for dinner.
-x-x-x-
Weeks later, the two men step into the same Austin apartment, for the first time in weeks. The holiday decorations are gone and the place looks tidier than before.
"You moved me in," one of them says.
"Welcome home," his boyfriend responds, before leaning in until their lips meet.
They kiss like it's the first time all over again, but also like it could be their last.
Throughout the next few hours, their gaze remains locked in an unbroken connection as they reacclimate to the shapes of their bodies, the lines etched on their faces, and the cadence of their voices. All the while, TK's hand entwined with Carlos serves as an anchor to this lifetime, grounding him in the present, while Carlos' body pressed against TK is as a promise that, for as long as they're together, the chill of loneliness, and nearly dying, will never return.
December 2022
Carlos lugs the Christmas tree through the door, balancing it precariously as he kicks the door shut behind him. He glances around the apartment, noting the silence and lack of festive cheer. When his gaze lands on TK, he can't help but deflate a little. He's still sitting dejectedly at the kitchen table, scrolling through his phone with a distant look in his eyes.
He sighs softly, deciding to give TK some space. Setting the tree in the corner of the living room, Carlos starts quietly decorating it, the sound of rustling branches the only thing breaking the silence in the house. Eventually, he goes to their room to get the remaining ornaments and out of the corner of his eye, sees TK staring intently at his phone, a picture of Gwyn and little Jonah on the screen.
Heart aching, Carlos skips the ornaments and walks to the kitchen instead. "Hey," he says softly, gently placing a hand on TK's shoulder, "Want to talk about it?"
TK looks up, his eyes clouded with unshed tears. "What's there to talk about?" He shrugs and leans closer to Carlos' side. "I just… I miss her so much, Carlos. I miss her every day, but I miss her a little more on Christmas because that's a time we were always together, even when I moved with my dad, and when we came to Texas. She always made sure to come visit even if just for a weekend."
Carlos pulls him closer and places a kiss on his forehead. "I'm sorry, TK." He wishes he could say more, but what can he say when he has never experienced the kind of pain that envelops TK now. He knows loss, all first responders do to some extent, but his parents are both still alive so he feels complete in a way that he knows TK will never be again.
"How do you feel about baking some of her favorite cookies?" He proposes, wanting to distract his boyfriend somehow. "I remember you said she always made some when she visited. We can include them in the gift boxes I'm putting together for our family and friends."
TK shakes his head, a small, sad smile on his lips. "Baking was her thing… and it's your thing too. Not mine."
Carlos sighs dejectedly and sits down next to him, their knees touching. "Would you be open to me baking some of her recipes? You don't have to help if you're not in the mood. If not, I can just bake the gingerbread man I was planning for today."
Looking uncertain, TK manages an almost convincing nod. He stands and returns a moment later carrying an old recipe book, its pages wrinkled in the corners and stained from many hours in the kitchen.
"Thank you, I promise to take care of it." Carlos grabs the book and starts gathering ingredients.
Meanwhile, TK continues scrolling through photos on his phone, a lone tear escaping every time he sees his mother's smile. Eventually he takes a deep breath and joins Carlos at the kitchen island.
Quietly, Carlos turns the book so they can both see and hands TK a bag of almonds so he can measure the right amount.
In the next few hours, the broken pieces of TK's heart start to mend with each new ingredient added into the mix.
They work side by side in companionable silence, with Carlos guiding TK through the steps, their hands brushing occasionally, igniting invisible embers in their wake.
"I remember when I was little," TK says when they're forming the almond crescents to set in the tray. "Mom would let me roll the dough. I always made a mess, but she never got mad. She only laughed and said the messier the kitchen, the better the result."
Carlos chuckles, his eyes twinkling as he imagines a young TK with flour in his hair and his small hands sticky with butter. "Thank you for sharing that memory with me."
"Thank you… for doing this, Carlos. It means a lot," TK says softly, his voice thick with emotion.
"Anything for you, Tyler. We're in this together."
-x-x-x-
Later they move to the living room, the aroma of vanilla and almond heavy and familiar in the air.
Together, they finish with the lights and start hanging ornaments: glass globes and icicles, wooden figurines, iron snowflakes, and some vintage ornaments from past generations of Carlos' family.
Once they're done, just before they settle the star to finish the tree, Carlos asks TK to wait and rushes to their room. He comes out a moment later and hands TK a final ornament.
TK cradles the piece in shaking hands, and takes a deep breath. "This was my mom's favorite," he explains, his voice barely above a whisper. It's a Star of David made in fabric, with a picture of TK, Gwyn, and Owen in the center. He'd made it for his mom as a class project.
"I found it last week in one of the boxes Enzo sent, I thought you would want it near. I hope I didn't overstep," Carlos says, wringing his hands as he waits.
"You could never, but… are you sure you want it on the tree?" TK can't help but ask. "It's old and tattered, and everything else is so nice and sparkly."
Carlos smiles at the gesture but shakes his head anyway. "It's not about a perfect tree, TK. It's about one that's a little of you and a little of me… and us, and our families. It's about bringing a bit of her back into our lives."
TK looks into Carlos' eyes, seeing only love and sincerity there. "She'd love this," he says as he moves to hang the ornament, but Carlos stops him with a tentative hand on his shoulder.
"Then let's put it at the top." He takes the ornament and raises on his tiptoes, settling it in place of the usual star.
Seeing it there, some weight lifts off of TK's shoulders and the tightness in his chest eases just a little.
Together they step back to admire their work, matching smiles on their faces as they stare up at the small symbol of Gwyn's presence in their lives.
Carlos wraps an arm around TK's waist, pulling him close. "Merry Christmas, TK."
"Merry Christmas, Carlos," TK replies, a sense of peace washing over him.
December 2023
Their first Christmas as a married couple wasn't supposed to be Carlos' first without his father, just as their first Christmas in their shared apartment wasn't supposed to be TK's first without his mother. But life's a bitch and here they are (or rather Tim is a bitch but TK and Carlos don't know about the omnipotent God destined to bring them misery and leave them parentles, and so still, here they are).
It's December 15th, the last day of Hanukkah and less than two weeks before Christmas, and the Reyes-Strand residence couldn't look any less festive. The menorah is lit, illuminating the corner of the living room and casting shadows across the rest of the space. But the Christmas tree is still at the farm, and the flour for the traditional cookies is still at the store. Instead, there's a poor excuse of a pre-illuminated, pre-decorated tiny tree sitting atop the coffee table, surrounded by unopened boxes from Amazon containing Walker’s Assorted Shortbread, Royal Dansk Danish Cookies, and White Fudge Oreos—a makeshift substitute for the cherished baked goods Carlos usually creates.
Carlos sits on the couch, staring blankly at the Hallmark movie playing on the TV, uncharacteristically unmoved by the decorations the protagonist walks past. His demeanor is as blank as his motivations and he wants nothing more than for the holidays to end and December to go on its merry way.
The months following Gabriel's passing were undeniably tough, but eventually, in between the shared pain with his mother and sisters, and the love and support he received every day from TK and their friends, Carlos found the strength to move forward. Slowly, he reached a point where he could smile again without guilt or the threat of an imminent breakdown.
It all had gone well, or well enough, until December arrived. Gabriel had loved Christmas, and with his life also went Carlos' inherited love for the holiday. Despite his own sadness, he tried to be present for TK and their friends as they got carried away in the holiday excitement. Everything worked out until a few nights ago when he was driving home from work, and "Feliz Navidad" started playing on the radio. It was his father's favorite Holiday song, and it pushed Carlos over the edge. He parked his car on the shoulder in the middle of the highway and cried until TK called him an hour later, asking if he was working overtime and had forgotten to tell him.
And so, every night since then, Carlos had come home from work tired and sad, carrying takeout and apologies. They ate in silence and watched in silence as the Hallmark magic failed to reach their living room.
This night is no different. When the credits roll on Hallmark's 'The Secret Gift of Christmas', Carlos automatically kisses TK on the forehead and mumbles something about being tired and going to bed early.
At this point in their routine, TK usually takes a hold of Carlos' hand and follows his boyfriend into the room, getting into bed together and running his fingers through his curls until he falls into a restless sleep. Tonight, however, he says he's too awake to sleep and stays behind.
TK waits until the bedroom door closes, a hushed silence settling over the room. Then he tiptoes into the kitchen and starts planning.
-x-x-x-
The following night, TK is reassured he's made the right choice as soon as he turns to Carlos, who is sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the 'Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown', playing on the TV. It took TK a few months of knowing Carlos to realize he loved baking shows as much as he loved baking itself. Typically, his boyfriend is a bundle of nervous energy and excitement when they watch. Tonight, however, he's quiet and subdued, and TK dearly misses his running commentary about the contestants and the treats they're trying to make. He even misses his uncharacteristic snark when someone messes up and his adorable muttering that he could have done it better.
As the living room clock ticks closer to eight o'clock it's TK who becomes the bundle of nervous energy as his conviction wavers, and he begins questioning his decision. Luckily, or maybe unluckily, he has no time to wonder further as the doorbell rings, and Carlos turns to look at him uncertainly.
"Can you get that? Please," TK calls offhandedly, busying himself with some dishes that needed drying.
Carlos raises a suspicious eyebrow and gingerly lifts from the couch. "Are we expecting someone?"
"Just takeout," TK lies, shelving the plates and cups from breakfast but looking at the front door out of the corner of his eye.
"Right." Carlos stops by the antique mirror he inherited from his grandmother to fix his hair, straighten the neck of his Polo, and take a few deep, calming breaths.
A shriek welcomes him as he opens the door. Instead of a delivery driver, there's Judd and Paul struggling to carry a fresh Christmas tree in between them, Mateo fumbling with various grocery bags and a case of beer, Marjan holding Target bags of Christmas ornaments, and Nancy, arms full with a Yule Log Cake from their favorite local bakery. Grace and Tommy are standing at the back, alongside Charlie, Evie, and Izzy, the last of which is carrying three boxes of various gingerbread houses.
More surprising is the fact they're all dressed in Christmas Pajamas ranging from completely adorable to hilariously inappropriate.
"Hey everyone," Carlos says, his breath hitching, and vision blurring.
"Hi Reyes. Thanks for having us," they all say in chorus.
Their friends are already familiar with the Reyes-Strand residence as if it were their own and they waste no time making themselves at home. Judd and Paul expertly navigate the Christmas tree through the door, their laughter filling the air when they almost knock over a framed picture of the firefam plus Carlos last 4th of July. Mateo arranges the food on the kitchen counter with one hand, the other already holding a beer can, while Marjan untangles strings of Christmas lights and Nancy opens boxes of ornaments and arranges them on the coffee table. Grace and Tommy, with the help of Evie, Izzy, and Charlie, begin to set up the living room with festive decorations.
TK notices Carlos standing by the door, shocked by the unexpected gathering of friends, and gestures to the others to go on without them. Concerned, he makes his way to his husband, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey," TK says softly, looking into Carlos' eyes. "You okay?"
Carlos, still processing the scene in front of him, startles a little. Eventually he manages a nod and a tentative smile. "Yeah, just overwhelmed. I didn't expect…"
TK understands the unspoken words and pulls Carlos into a hug. "I wanted to make this holiday special for you, for both of us. Our friends thought so too. They have been texting all week asking to come over. They wanted to bring some Holiday cheer to us," he whispers, and his breath near Carlos' neck is warm and tingly and comfortable.
"Thank you." Carlos takes a deep breath, melting into TK's embrace. "I never thought I'd have this again."
TK sighs sadly and squeezes him a little tighter. "We can make new traditions, babe. We can celebrate with our friends, and just the two of us. We can create new memories," he pauses, letting his words reach Carlos before he continues, "and none of that is going to erase the traditions or memories you shared with your dad. Just like they didn't erase the ones I shared with my mom. They would want us to be happy and carry on enjoying the holidays."
Carlos nods into TK's shoulder, giving himself an extra moment to breathe him in before he pulls back. "How did I get so lucky?" He asks seriously, cupping TK's cheek and running his thumb over his bottom lip.
"I've been asking myself that same question for years," TK replies, without missing a beat. "We're a team, remember?" He closes the distance between them and kisses Carlos chastely, hoping to avoid the familiar groans and chants to "find a room".
"Besides, your smile? It makes it all worth it."
Before Carlos can respond, TK pulls him into their room and dresses them in matching pajamas before they rejoin their friends in the living room, the atmosphere already buzzing.
They decide to divide and conquer, and spend the next few hours setting up the tree, decorating it and the living room, baking chocolate chip and sugar cookies, and building three gingerbread houses because Evie, Izzy and Charlie couldn't agree on one.
Quickly, the room is transformed into a lively scene of laughter and friendly arguments, much like the Hallmark movies Carlos is so fond of. By the time the clock ticks midnight, the living room is no longer bare and shadowed, but adorned with twinkling lights, enough ornaments to rival Santa's workshop, and the fresh scent of a Christmas tree and recently baked cookies.
With the parents of the group having all gone home, way past the girls' bedtime, the exhausted remaining members of the group lounge in between the furniture and the floor, finishing the day eating cookies, broken pieces of gingerbread houses, and drinking spiked hot chocolate or apple cider.
When Carlos goes to bed a few hours later, he's still sad and a little bit overwhelmed, but he breathes a little easier. The holiday magic that seemed lost has been rekindled by the people who care about them the most.
December 2024
Carlos stands by the cabin's window, gazing out at the twinkling Christmas lights adorning the houses of their temporary neighbors. Snow had been lightly falling for hours, initially dusting the ground in a soft, white blanket. Now, it fully covers the yard, their car, and every road leading out of town and to the airport.
Resigned, he turns back to the room, which is filled with the comforting scent of pine and cinnamon. TK is bustling around, unpacking the luggage he had only packed this morning just before their phones buzzed with matching alerts informing them that their flight had been canceled.
After a challenging year in which they almost lost their way to each other, TK had convinced him to abandon tradition and embrace the new beginning that was thwarted before. No one had passed away recently, and their ghosts and demons were finally at peace.
So instead of spending a familiar Christmas at home, they had taken a flight to Aspen and spent a magical week getting familiar with each other and relearning the ways to make each other's hearts soar. The cozy cabin, with its roaring fireplace and rustic charm, had become a sort of sanctuary for them, a place where they could truly reconnect without other people and their jobs taking their attention.
Sensing eyes on him, TK pauses and looks up, a smile breaking on his face as soon as he sees Carlos staring. "You know, since we're snowed in, we might as well make the most of it."
Carlos raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What did you have in mind?" He asks, his tone light and playful.
TK grins and nods towards the kitchen. "How about we bake some cookies?"
"Cookies?" Carlos looks dumbfounded at the many boxes of homemade cookies Andrea sent "because it's important to keep tradition alive."
"We're alone in a snowed-in cabin, with nothing to do and nowhere to be, and you want to bake cookies? Who are you, and what have you done with my husband?" He asks seriously.
TK chuckles, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Do you have other ideas, Ranger Reyes?"
Carlos nods and beckons TK closer. "I wouldn't mind continuing what we were doing last night," he whispers, his breath hot on TK's ear. "We don't have a hot tub at home, after all."
"I like the way you think." TK leans back and kisses Carlos chastely, laughing when his husband chases him and stumbles as he leads the way to the fenced-in patio.
-x-x-x-
"This week has been perfect," Carlos murmurs sometime later. He wraps his arms around TK from behind, resting his chin on his shoulder as they stand in matching ugly sweaters and cozy sweatpants gazing at the Christmas tree they decorated on their first night here.
TK turns his head to press a kiss to Carlos' temple. "It really has. We should do it more often."
Carlos nods and pulls a small box from his pocket. "That reminds me, I have one more gift for you. I was going to give it to you when we were back in Austin to fight the post-vacation blues, but now feels like the perfect time."
TK's eyes widen in surprise as he takes it in. Carefully, he unwraps a delicate locket. Inside it's a picture of the two of them on their honeymoon, and their initials are engraved on the cover of the small heart.
"It's a promise that no matter what comes our way, we'll face it together. You're my home, TK. I'm sorry that this year I strayed a bit farther away." Carlos holds up the locket and clasps it around TK's neck, its length making it fall just above the insignia he's seen his husband wear every day since they met.
Tears well up in TK's eyes and he turns around, burying his face on Carlos' chest as he hugs him tightly. "I love you so much, Carlos. Thank you."
Carlos smiles, heart full. "Thank you, TK."
Lost in their own bubble, TK and Carlos lose track of the time. The cheers coming from outside are the only thing alerting them of the arrival of the new year.
Laughing, they turn towards each other. "Happy New Year," TK whispers, their foreheads pressed together.
"Happy New Year," Carlos echoes, pulling him into a slow, heartfelt kiss. One full of promise for the new year.
They move to the couch with a plate of gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate, and sit down, content to just hold each other.
Carlos turns to look into TK’s eyes, mesmerized at how they reflect the light from the fireplace. He chuckles softly, "We were supposed to be at Nancy's party, but I wouldn’t trade this for anything."
TK smiles, his thumb brushing the heart-shaped locket resting above the one beating inside his chest. "Neither would I. This feels right."
As the night gives way to dawn, the sound of distant fireworks and jubilant cheers fills the air, but in their cabin, the world revolves solely around the two of them.
Raised by two betas super thrilled and open-minded over their boy's sex and gender, TK lives within his dynamic confident about who he is. It also meant a lot of awkward conversations with both his (divorced) parents.
Got into marijuana as a teen to ease his heats. Graduated to harder stuff as time went on, and started using before and after his heats until it became frequent drug abuse. His life-threatening addiction resulted in an intervention by his mother Gwyn. He can no longer take suppressants because of this drug abuse early in life
Thankfully, his heat cycle is consistently regular because of life without suppressants. He is rarely caught surprised, has at least two apps tracking his heat cycles, and pays obnoxiously close attention to his diet and lifestyle habits as an adult just in case it alters his cycle.
Loves and loves deeply. After the disaster break-up with Alex and subsequent relapse, he is hesitant to attach himself to the doe-eyed Carlos.
His pheromones have been known to cause problems -- for Carlos, actually, whenever the alpha happened to be on scene at a call. When he noticed the police officer having trouble concentrating giving Captain Strand a situation report whenever TK was standing nearby, the omega started wearing scent patches. Turns out it was only Carlos affected -- only God knows why -- and when the two finally got together, it seemed to settle.
Empathetic, sometimes to a fault, his presence grounds Carlos in a way his alpha never expected someone could.
TK also tends to push Carlos' buttons in a way the alpha never believed someone could. The two broke up at least three times in the first two years of their relationship as they attempted to figure out each other's boundaries. An endless cycle of miscommunication tended to plague their early relationship.
As a paramedic, TK does find himself on calls that involve omega victims of domestic violence and sexual assaults. He has long conversations with Carlos after work on normal days, but after calls like this? Sometimes it involves long discussions about the upbringings of gender dynamics and the sociological reasonings behind such attacks. Philosophical discussions can ensue, but unanswerable questions cannot be answered.
Wants kids. After marrying Carlos, he so desperately wants kids and adores seeing Carlos with the Vega and Ryder children. And not being on suppressants means that accomplishing that shouldn't be hard. But it is, and despite all odds, TK and Carlos fail to conceive the first three heats he has after the decision to go all in.
TK understandably becomes frustrated, emotionally charged and angry at himself for this 'failure'.
When they do finally conceive, TK only puts two and two together when his balance becomes compromised -- he finds he's 'tripping' over things that aren't there. When he tells Carlos he thinks something's wrong with him, Carlos hesitates and says he's noticed TK's scent has... shifted a little.
The Sinners/Limbus Company (Limbus Company) vs Firehouse 126 (911 Lone Star)
The Sinners
Firehouse 126
Voting ended onMay 10, 2023
The Sinners: Dante, Yi Sang, Faust, Don Quixote, Ryōshū, Meursault, Hong Lu, Sinclair, Outis, Gregor, Rodion, Heathcliff, Vergilius, Charon, Ishmael
Firehouse 126: Owen Strand, TK Strand, Marjan Marwani, Paul Strickland, Judd Ryder, Mateo Chavez, Tommy Vega, Nancy Gillian, Carlos Reyes & Grace Ryder
Submissions are still open!
The Sinners:
Through every universe and timeline, they are always together no matter what. Also Rodya and Gregor are basically Sinclairs parents at this point. also i just really like limbus company
First of all. Exact even gender divide!!!!!. Second of all they’re soulmates in the funniest way possible (Through every possible mirror world, they are still coworkers). Third of all they’re all named after classic literature which , frankly , Is transgender as helle,. Fourth of all They’re all so autistic It makes my little brainweird heart happy. Also sidenote sorry I can’t add an image I had to VERY WUICKLY open thsi up on my phone but … My sillies …
Hrgrhnrhr just. They are all So Different in terms of background w the only commonality being that they aren't exactly Good People (tm) but!!! Even though they start out being coworkers *at best* they!!!! End up caring for each other So Much even by the 3rd chapter,, and chapter 3.5 Hells Chicken (a sort of "beach episode" to know more about the characters and the world) was So So So good like. They're just a bunch of silly little guys your honor and in my heart of hearts they're also all a flavor of trans and autistic. No neurotypical would go on a rhyming paragraphs long review of a dish that was literally thrown in their face thank you
What is the 126’s obsession with Settlers of Catan? I mean it’s a great game but come on mix it up a little. Play a co-op game like Pandemic or something. I know they’d absolutely LOVE a TTRPG like Dungeons and Dragons. Mateo as a noble Paladin, Marjan as a badass Monk, TK as a dark and mysterious Warlock, etc. plus I could imagine Paul as the DM, weaving these knuckleheads through an adventure, it’d be so good.
I'll Be Cleaning Up Bottles With YOu (On New Year's Day)
TK and Carlos throw a New Year's Eve party for the 126 crew.
Read on ao3 here
Carlos wasn’t used to sleeping in. Even on days when he wasn’t working, he was up by sunrise to go for his run, stopping on the way home to pick up muffins and coffee for himself and TK to enjoy before his husband ran off to work or before they started on whatever responsibilities they had for the day. Today, however, when he rolled over to check his phone, he was appalled to find that it was almost noon.
There was a straightforward explanation for his laziness, New Year’s Eve. He and TK had invited over their friends to the loft for a party the night before. They’d kept it relaxed and fun, nothing vastly different from the other 126 hangs that happened at their house, aside from the presence of Judd, Grace, and Charlie. However, they’d stayed up well past midnight, and frankly, Carlos was too old for that shit.
Their friends had arrived almost an hour before they’d told them too, all with the pretense of helping set up, but Carlos knew the truth. He’d long since stopped being surprised that a group of people that spent so much of their lives living in the pockets of their friends wanted to spend more time together when they were off the clock. It was kind of nice actually, and Carlos found himself slightly envious. He had friends in APD, ones that he would get lunch with during their shifts and spend a few extra minutes talking to in the bullpen before heading home, but none that he would invite to spend time with himself, his husband, and all of their friends. Luckily, TK’s friends had become his friends and he was considered an honorary member of the 126 family.
He rolled to the side to look at TK, who was still dead to the world on his side of the bed. His husband was on his side, mouth open and drooling into his pillow. Carlos smiled at him, reaching over to brush a stray hair off his forehead. TK snuffled and rubbed his cheek against the pillow, blinking up at Carlos.
“Morning baby,” he whispered, voice a little rough from sleep.
“It’s afternoon now amor,” Carlos chuckled.
“Wait really? You slept that long?”
“I surprised myself. Apparently, I’m too old to stay up until three am.”
“Me too,” TK stretched like a cat and rolled into the middle of the bed to snuggle up against him. “Are we an old married couple already?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Eh,” TK shrugged. “There are worse people to be old with I guess.”
“I’m flattered,” Carlos rolled his eyes and pushed TK’s shoulder playfully as his husband giggled and clung to him like a needy octopus.
“Did you have a good time last night?” he asked, propping his head on Carlos’ chest.
“I did,” he said, running a hand through his hair.
*****
The party had been a lot. Carlos was used to hosting the 126, but they usually stayed for a few hours, played some games, and went their separate ways. This time, they’d be staying up until midnight, and Carlos was prepared for them to stay longer than that. He was also prepared for a few of them to drink too much and pass out on the couch or in their guest room. Judd and Grace had been the first to show up, with beer, snacks, and Charlie in tow. TK immediately commandeered the attention of the kid, leaving Carlos to escort their guests in. Judd and Grace had been to their house the least, the invitation to 126 hangs had always been extended to them, but previously being the only married members of the group and still, the only ones with kids, left them turning it down more often than not. TK had spent the entire week before begging Judd to come, promising that they would only tease him a little bit if he left early and that Charlie could lay down in his and Carlos’ bed if she got tired. He’d finally given in to his begging, texting Carlos to confirm their attendance and asking if they needed to bring anything. Carlos had said no, but Grace had refused to show up empty-handed and followed Carlos into the kitchen with a crockpot of Rotel dip and a bag of chips. The rest of the team had filed in soon after and the gathering was in full swing by eight o’clock. Carlos had spent most of his time in the kitchen with Grace, chatting and sipping a beer. That was until TK had wrapped his arms around his waist and given him puppy dog eyes, begging him to come to play Mario Kart with them. Grace had just laughed and waved him on following them to the living room where she perched on Judd’s chair and lifted Charlie into her lap. They’d been met with a variety of whip sounds when Carlos sat down and TK handed him a control, to which they’d both responded with an exaggerated kiss and a middle finger.
As it got closer to Midnight, TK snatched the remote from Mateo and turned on the live stream of the countdown in Times Square. It was nearing ten o’clock and Judd and Grace took their leave then, wanting to get Charlie, who had been asleep in TK and Carlos’ room for the better part of an hour, home before the chaos of celebration erupted in downtown Austin. All of them shuddered at the thought, thankful they all had the night and the next day off.
“Have you ever been there TK?” Mateo asked as they watched the chaos of the New York streets unfold on screen.
“Hell no. My mom threatened my Dad with bodily harm if he ever tried, and frankly, it’s a first responder’s worst nightmare. I worked New Year's Eve a few times when I was still in the city but I was never in the middle of it. I was usually a few streets over, taking care of the drunk people who didn’t make it all the way home before they passed out.”
Marjan shuddered at the thought, “I do not envy your past life TK.”
“I don’t miss it,” he agreed.
TK pulled out the special bottle of sparkling cider they’d bought for the occasion as the countdown dropped into the minutes. He poured a glass for each of them, handing them around as the clock ticked down.
“Hey baby,” TK whispered.
“Yes?”
“Be my New Year’s kiss?”
“Always amor.”
TK grinned and leaned into his side as the timer dropped to seconds.
TK leaned in to kiss Carlos softly, tasting the sweet cider he’d been drinking throughout the night. Nancy and Mateo were locked in their own kiss, and Marjan kissed Paul on the cheek so that they weren’t left out.
Paul took his leave soon after, offering to drive Marjan home, but she declined, opting to continue playing games with the four remaining members of the group. TK had pulled out The Game of Life, none of them having the brain power left for something like Catan. Carlos flipped the tv to Friends reruns for background noise as they lost themselves in the game.
When they finally decided to go to bed, it was almost three am. They refused to let their friends drive home at that hour and Carlos all but shoved Nancy and Marjan into the guest room, Mateo opting to take the couch so the girls could be comfortable.
Carlos bid them goodnight with the promise of food in the morning before dragging TK off to their room. They showered together, to save time and water, then fell into bed together, barely saying goodnight before they were asleep.
*****
“You gotta let me get up babe,” Carlos said. “I need to find something to make for breakfast. Or lunch. Whatever.”
“Nuh-uh. I want cuddles. It’s supposed to be a lazy day.”
“And it will be,” Carlos kissed the top of his head. “As soon as I feed our friends and they go home, we’ll cuddle on the couch and watch Grand Designs all day. Okay?”
“Fine,” he grumbled but let Carlos go. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Take your time my love.”
When he entered the living room, Mateo was sitting up on the couch scrolling through his phone.
“Mornin’ Carlos,” he greeted.
“Good morning. Are Nancy and Marjan up?”
“I think so. Marj was texting me a little bit ago but I haven’t seen either of them yet.”
Carlos nodded and moved to the kitchen, searching the fridge for something to make. He heard the girls and TK make their way into the living room and make themselves comfortable on the couch with Mateo, turning on the tv.
“How do you feel about pancakes,” Carlos called.
“Don’t worry about us Carlos,” Marjan said.
“Yeah seriously dude,” Nancy agreed. “You cooked for us leat night and let us crash here. We’ll grab something on our way home.”
“Are you sure?” Carlos asked, feeling mildly guilty about letting them leave without eating.
“We promise man,” Mateo assured. “We’re gonna get out of your hair. We’ll see you Tuesday TK.”
“Bye guys,” TK said, walking them out and shutting the door behind them. He turned to face the house and cringed at what he saw. “God it’s a mess in here.”
“Yeah, it is.”
The coffee table was cluttered with beer bottles that no one had felt like cleaning up before they went to bed. There were empty plates on the kitchen counter and the trash can was close to overflowing.
“Hand me a garbage bag.”
“Huh?”
“You won’t be able to relax until this place is clean so hand me a trash bag. The sooner we get it clean, the sooner we can lay down and do nothing.”
Carlos cleaned up the kitchen, rinsing dishes and putting them in the dishwasher. TK cleaned up the plates and bottles from the living room, then stripped the sheets from the guest bed and grabbed the throw blanket Mateo had used to put in the wash.
Once the place was finally clean, they collapsed on the couch and TK turned the tv to Grand Designs before snuggling into Carlos’s chest.
“I know that’s not how you wanted to spend your day,” Carlos said, rubbing a hand up and down his back.
“There’s no one else I’d want to spend my day cleaning up bottles with.”
Carlos chuckled and planted a kiss on the top of his head, “Happy New Year TK.”
Just finished watching Lone Star's s3 ep 1 and 2 and all i gotta say is:
Everyone is going to end up in the hospital in ep 3.
I mean, Paul had this whole wall collapse on top of him and got hypothermia, TK is with a fucking ventilator because of hypothermia and about to die if I guide myself with what Tommy said after speaking with the doc, Owen fell off a cliff or something idgaf about him, and Marjan my woman had a car accident and just got out of her car and into the snow storm, like ???
Mateo u better watch out, and Judd... your girl will have the baby, I'm a 100% sure of that. (Haven't read the synopsis nor watched a trailer btw)
Nancy and Tommy and Carlos... you are the only ones with brain cells, take care of yourselves and your people please, Texas needs you. <3
