Then later in that same scene, when her and Eddie were in the living room, she asked if she could see Christopher. All I could think of is why didn't she ever contact her son in the nearly two years she had been gone? She could have called him, had weekly video calls, e-mailed him, wrote and mailed him letters, sent postcards, sent him presents that included notes or letters or did absolutely anything else to have continued communication with her son. Instead it just felt like she truly gave up on him and didn't see the point in communicating with him.
(Shannon 9-1-1 season 2 episode 7: Haunted)
I know she had been overwhelmed raising her son while her husband was off at war (see 9-1-1 season 3 episode 15: Eddie Begins) but for all Eddie's faults of running away he did at least contact them via video calls while overseas. I think what's disappointing is that after she came back into both of their lives, she was planning to leave once again. It's okay if she didn't want to be married anymore (she wanted a divorce). And it's also okay that she didn't want to be a mother anymore (as I said not everyone is equipped for it) but it would have been better if she had realized both those things sooner.
Because if she had it wouldn't have changed anything for Eddie and Chris because at that point Eddie had already been raising Christopher as if he was a single parent. While Eddie and Chris were still getting used to living in Los Angeles, their lives were far from empty of good people in their lives. But Shannon choosing to come back into their lives especially Christopher's was a big deal. The little boy even made a wish to Santa Claus that his mom would return and I'm sure once she did, he thought she was finally going to stay and be there for him. Unfortunately, she just couldn't be or didn't want to be. She didn't think she could be the mother that Chris needed and the saddest thing of all is that in the end, a terrible accident made it so that she would never get the chance to be.
As for Eddie, he wasn't ready to be a parent either, hence why he continued to stay away by being in the Army. He used the excuse that they needed the money that being in the Army provided instead of physically being there for his family. This was something that he learned from his own father Ramon who was always gone "providing for the family" due to work. After Eddie was discharged from the Army, he had to learn how to be a parent to his son. And once Shannon left, he understood how overwhelming being a parent can be but the thing is his parents despite their cruel words gave him an out if he wanted it by saying that Christopher should stay with them.
Their so-called reason was that Christopher needed consistency and stability (in their opinion) and that Eddie wouldn't have to continue tiring himself out working three jobs just to make ends meet. And if he accepted one of the firefighter jobs in either California or Chicago, Christopher would end up being cared for by strangers which wouldn't be the case if he was being raised by them.
Eddie could have easily took them up on their offer and left Christopher with them but he didn't. He chose not to give up on his son by giving him to his parents. Eddie didn't let their lack of confidence and cruel words stop him from continuing to raise his son and give him a wonderful life full of love and understanding. Something that I like is that Eddie didn't just make the decision to leave for both of them, he gave Christopher a chance to make his own decision. Because he said to his son "I was thinking of taking another trip. And I was wondering...maybe if you wanted to come with me?" By asking that question he allowed his son to voice his opinion because there might have been a chance that Chris may have wanted to live with his grandparents. But I'm glad he didn't because Eddie and Christopher leaving El Paso, Texas and going to Los Angeles, California was for the best.
(Eddie and Christopher 9-1-1 season 3 episode 15: Eddie Begins)
There's no doubt that Eddie absolutely loves Christopher and it shows in everything that he does including some of the decisions (good or bad) that he's made throughout the series. But the thing is he will never stop trying to be the best father he can be for his son. And I love that now that he's going to therapy, he is being the best person he can be for himself. He has a lot of baggage he needs to unpack but he's on his way to being the person that he wants to be which will make him an even better father.
(9-1-1 season 4 episode 2: Alone Together)
Before, I end this, it's hard to over look Evan "Buck" Buckley's part in Christopher and Eddie's story. Because where Shannon gave up fighting for her son, Buck willingly stepped into it and never stopped fighting for Christopher. From the moment he found out about Christopher, he has tried to help or be their for Eddie and Chris however he could. Where Ana Flores as Christopher's then English teacher initially saw limitations, Buck saw adaptability and showed that there is more than one way of doing something. He even helped Eddie build a special skateboard for Christopher.
Buck is truly Eddie and Christopher's person. During the tsunami when Buck and Christopher got separated, Chris never stopped asking for Buck. Even asked Buck if could spend Christmas with him when Eddie had to work. And not to mention asked Buck if he could go over to play video games at his house after Eddie said they were taking a little break from the internet. Also, when Christopher was mad at his dad when Eddie started dating, he ran away to Buck. And finally, when Chris was scared and worried about his father when Eddie was dealing with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), he called Buck for help. As for Eddie, where he was hesitant to let Shannon back into their lives, he actually let Buck in completely. He let Buck really see him, the good and bad parts. When he broke down due to PTSD, Eddie let Buck see him, didn't try to hide but actually cried in front of him and he accepted Buck's help. He truly let Buck into his life.
(9-1-1 season 4 episode 3: Future Tense)
I don't know what the Showrunners and writers have in store for Eddie and Buck's love lives going forward with this series because to me they are perfect for each other. They are partners in ever sense of the word. And Buck is already like a second parent to Christopher and not to mention he's his legal guardian.
I always found it interesting that when Eddie was shot and in the hospital, it was Buck who went to tell Christopher not Eddie's then girlfriend Ana or Eddie's Tia Josephina "Pepa" or Abuela Isabel. Also, while Eddie was recuperating in the hospital, it was Buck who took care of Chris instead of Ana, Pepa or Isabel. The writers have continued to make a point in showing how important Buck is to both Eddie and Christopher. They have intertwined all three of their lives to the point that it's difficult to imagine the writers trying to introduce two new love interests to fit into Buck and Eddie's lives. I can't imagine a new love interest for Eddie who could love both him and Chris and be there for them the way that Buck already is. Same goes for Buck because Eddie and Chris are already two of the most important people in his life and they are always there for him and letting him know how much he means to them.
(9-1-1 season 4 episode 14: Survivors)
I'm looking forward to seeing how the story continues in the sixth season for Christopher, Eddie and Buck. Hopefully, it will only get better and they will finally officially become the family that they already are.
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