Athena Grant And Bobby Nashs Relationship On 911

9-1-1 has introduced many romances over the years, but none have been as influential as the relationship between Bobby Nash and Athena Grant. Peter Krause and Angela Bassett’s characters have been instrumental to the first-responder drama since it premiered in 2018, and their love story ran as an undercurrent for seven years straight. Bobby and Athena quickly became one of the best couples in the 9-1-1 franchise, and their relationship impacted the entire series.

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There’s a found family in 9-1-1 that acts as the glue holding the ensemble together, with the 118 firefighters— Henrietta “Hen” Wilson (Aisha Hinds), Howard “Chimney” Han (Kenneth Choi), Evan “Buck” Buckley (Oliver Stark), Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman), and Ravi Panikkar (Anirudh Pisharody)— and their loved ones creating a central community for the series. Other tangential characters, like Buck’s sister and Chimney’s wife, Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt), help round out the core group. Yet, Bobby and Athena were at the center of everything in 9-1-1, at least until the events of season 8 abruptly disrupted their illustrious love story.

Bobby & Athena's Professional Relationship Bloomed Into Romance

Season 1

Athena Grant and members of the 118 crouching in 9-1-1.

Initially, Bobby and Athena had a purely professional relationship as they worked together during 9-1-1’s over-the-top emergencies in season 1. The two characters had independent storylines, with Athena mainly preoccupied with her husband coming out as gay and her daughter having a near-death experience. Meanwhile, Bobby was riddled with guilt due to the part he played in his family’s 2014 death, and the fire captain had a hopeless outlook on life.

Even as both characters underwent their personal development, Bobby and Athena were imperative to each other’s growth in 9-1-1 season 1. Athena gave Bobby a reason to look forward to the future for the first time in years, and Bobby offered a sense of stability that Athena desperately needed during such intense personal turmoil. By the end of 9-1-1 season 1, Bobby embraces life again by going on a date with Athena.

Bobby & Athena's Love Quickly Deepened, Leading To Marriage

Seasons 2-3

Harry Grant (Marcanthonee Reis) carving pumpkins with his family in 9-1-1.

9-1-1 season 2 opens by establishing that Bobby and Athena’s date was successful, resulting in a stable relationship. They pass many major milestones, such as Bobby meeting May (Corinne Massiah) and Harry (Marcanthonee Jon Reis), Athena’s children. Bobby and Athena’s relationship develops quickly in 9-1-1, with Bobby even proposing in season 2, episode 10. Though the couple had only officially been together for around half a season, the progression didn’t feel rushed thanks to how developed their bond was.

After the 118 is targeted by a deranged young man, Bobby is spurred into action and asks Athena to marry him immediately. The couple forgoes a formal ceremony for a courthouse wedding, with only their children as witnesses in 9-1-1 season 2, episode 18. Bobby and Athena have countless other heartwarming moments in 9-1-1 as they settle into their new life as husband and wife, but the honeymoon period doesn’t last forever.

Marital Life Brought Its Own Unique Challenges For Bobby & Athena

Season 4

Angela Bassett as Athena Grant looking on seriously in 9-1-1 season 7

Amid the many intense disasters in 9-1-1 season 4, there were also more intimate hardships that Bobby and Athena faced as a couple. Harry was kidnapped in the closing episodes of season 3, with season 4 exploring the fallout and the stress it put on his relationship with Athena. Bobby’s past battles with addiction also returned to the forefront of the series, with the fire captain acting as a sponsor for another addict.

Unfortunately, Bobby and Athena failed to properly communicate, leading to their biggest fight where they mutually imply their marriage isn’t working. Bobby didn’t tell Athena about his sponsorship, she didn’t tell him about her retirement offer, and they both decided that their disconnect could indicate a lack of trust. Thankfully, the couple managed to reconcile and ended season 4 on a good note, successfully weathering the first major storm in their relationship.

Communication Brought The Couple Closer During Times Of Need

Seasons 5-6

Bobby (Peter Krause) and Athena (Angela Bassett) talk on 9-1-1 season 7, episode 9.

Once Bobby and Athena passed their first serious hurdle as a married couple, their bond was stronger than ever in subsequent seasons of 9-1-1. Bobby and Athena’s storylines were practically inseparable most of the time, with the two characters acting as a unit. 9-1-1 season 5 focused on strengthening Bobby’s relationships with May and Harry, with Athena's daughter even calling Bobby her “dad” in season 5, episode 16. However, Bobby and Athena remained distinct characters despite their unwavering relationship.

Athena even had an entire episode dedicated to her character, when she and Bobby traveled to Florida to clear her father’s name after he was arrested for a cold case (9-1-1 season 6, episode 3, “The Devil You Know”). During an unthinkable conflict, Bobby stood by Athena’s side and supported her as she helped solve the decades-old case and brought the true culprit to justice. Aside from being one of 9-1-1’s best episodes, “The Devil You Know” perfectly illustrated how much Bobby loved Athena, risking his life just to help her find answers.

Extreme Circumstances Threatened The Pair, But They Prevailed

Season 7

Angela Bassett as Athena Grant-Nash and Peter Krause as Bobby Nash dancing on a cruise ship in 9-1-1 season 7.

After so many emotional, traumatic experiences, the couple undeniably deserved a break, which 9-1-1 season 7 promised to provide. The season opens with Bobby and Athena on a cruise to celebrate a late honeymoon. Of course, in true 9-1-1 fashion, nothing good lasts for long. The cruise is overtaken by criminals who leave the passengers to fend for themselves as the ship begins to sink. Bobby and Athena even share an official goodbye after the ship capsizes, but the rest of the 118 manage to find their location and rescue them just in time.

In true 9-1-1 fashion, nothing good lasts for long...

Nonetheless, 9-1-1’s near-death experiences were persistent, especially when it came to Bobby and Athena. Later on in the season, Bobby and Athena’s home is set on fire— Bobby rushes in and saves Athena, only to suffer a cardiac event and nearly die immediately afterwards. Luckily, Athena is able to celebrate his recovery to close out 9-1-1 season 7. The couple may have lost their home, but they still had each other, which was more than enough.

Bobby & Athena's Plans For The Future Were Tragically Cut Short

Peter Krause as Bobby Nash in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 15.

Bobby and Athena had survived everything up to 9-1-1 season 8, and the power couple seemed poised for a long, fulfilling future of narrowly avoiding more danger. The majority of the season seemed to only enrich their connection, with Athena meeting Bobby’s mother for the first time in season 8, episode 11 and the pair agreeing to build a new home from scratch. Bobby and Athena were putting down roots for their long-term future, which only made it more devastating when Bobby suddenly died in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 15.

Bobby’s death in 9-1-1 came with only a third of the season left, rendering all the grand plans he and Athena previously made totally obsolete. Whereas Athena was planning what their life would look like after retirement, she was unexpectedly cast in the role of the widow. By the end of the season, Athena buries Bobby in Minnesota, sells their forever home, and welcomes the new Bobby— Maddie and Chimney’s second child, named after the fallen hero.

Such an important character dying would always feel too soon, but Bobby’s death in 9-1-1 season 8 was especially abrupt. There was little narrative build-up, and Athena deserved better than to watch the love of her life die such a quick, violent death. Irrefutably, Bobby and Athena’s relationship was one of the most important aspects of 9-1-1, and the full aftermath of abandoning their love story is still unfolding.

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