Just us║E. Buckley x O.C.

It happened on a quiet Sunday morning, a rare break from the usual chaos of family life. The kids were playing in the backyard of their new home, Buck was half-asleep on the couch with a cartoon murmuring in the background, and Hope was in the kitchen with Margaret, sipping coffee and flipping pancakes with her usual effortless grace.

Margaret had been quieter than usual all morning, distracted. Hope noticed.

“Okay,” she said finally, turning to her with a raised brow. “Spill it. You’re hiding something. Don’t make me interrogate you, I have years of mom experience. I’ll get it out of you.”

Margaret laughed nervously, setting down her mug. “Alright. But promise me you’ll stay calm.”

Hope tilted her head, intrigued. “Unless you’re pregnant, I think I’ll survive.”

Margaret chuckled. “Not pregnant. But… I’ve been seeing someone.”

Hope’s eyes lit up instantly. “What?! That’s amazing! Who is he? Do I know him?”

There was a pause. Margaret bit her lip, hesitating for only a second before saying, “Yes. You know him.”

Hope blinked. “Wait… what do you mean I know him? Is he a firefighter? A paramedic?”

“No,” Margaret replied, her voice steady now. “He’s a lawyer. Italian. Annoyingly charming.”

Hope stared at her for a second, mouth slightly open.

“No. No, you’re not, wait. Filippo?! My brother?!”

Margaret nodded, a sheepish smile on her face. “Surprise?”

Hope’s face shifted from shock to stunned silence to an explosive grin in under three seconds. “Are you kidding me? That’s amazing! Why didn’t you tell me?!”

“We wanted to wait,” Margaret said quickly. “I didn’t want you to think I moved here just for him, I wanted a fresh start, and we weren’t even sure where it was going at first, but now…” She shrugged with a small, hopeful smile. “It feels real.”

Hope threw her arms around her in a hug so tight Margaret actually gasped.

“Margaret, I’m so happy for you,” Hope said, pulling back with a look of pure joy on her face. “You two are perfect. I mean, you already feel like family, and now you might actually become family!”

Margaret laughed, visibly relieved. “You really think so?”

“Absolutely. He’s going to be lucky if you even let him stay in the relationship after I’m done grilling him,” she teased. “But seriously… I’m thrilled. You deserve all of this. And the fact that it’s my brother? I mean, how perfect is that?”

Just then, Jayden toddled into the kitchen holding a stuffed bunny. “Auntie Marget?”

Margaret smiled and scooped him up. “Yes, sweetheart?”

“You with us forever?”

Hope met Margaret’s gaze, eyes softening.

Margaret kissed Jayden’s cheek and whispered, “Maybe little man.”

*A/N*
4 more chapters and the story will be officially over :(