Child Of My Heart (5/12) - Mag7/Highlander
Title: Child Of My Heart (5/12)
Author: strangevisitor7
Fandom: Magnificent 7 and Highlander
Beta: Much thanks to ithildyn
Prompt: #57 - Lunch for Crossovers100. My table is here
Rating: PG, Gen
Characters: HL: OFC Charlotte Sparrow (AKA Pearl Black); Mag7: Ezra Standish and the rest of the seven
Summary: Ezra and Charlotte talk and life settles into a comfortable routine before an unexpected arrival changes everything.
A/N: Charlotte is an Immortal and an original character created by ithildyn. The rest of Charlotte’s stories can be found on ithildyn’s journal Here
A/N2: For time line purposes, this chapter takes place before "Witness"
Chapter List
Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3; Chapter 4; Chapter 5; Chapter 6; Chapter 7; Chapter 8; Chapter 9; Chapter 10; Chapter 11; Epilogue
Child Of My Heart, Chapter 5
The lawmen had made pigs of themselves over Charlotte’s exceptional repast. Ezra was secretly pleased and a bit surprised at the easy camaraderie that had developed between his cousin and his colleagues. Ezra busied himself with checking over his tack for the ride back to town, when he felt a presence behind him.
“Why don’t you stay?” Chris said.
“That is not necessary, Mr. Larabee,” Ezra replied.
“Enjoy your family, Ezra,” Chris said, smiling as he looked past the gambler to where Charlotte and the children waited on the porch. “We’ll see you back in town tomorrow.”
Ezra followed the man's gaze and found he didn't want to leave just yet. “I believe that I shall spend the night.” Ezra matched the gunslingers smile. Patting the gambler on the back Chris left to see to his own horse.
“Anyone seen JD?” Buck asked.
“He and Jemma went for a walk out back,” Penny said, giggling along with the other children.
“Did he?” Buck chuckled and started to dismount from his big grey to chase down their youngest member.
“I’ll find him,” Ezra said as he strode past Buck and headed toward the back of the house.
The southerner turned the corner to find the two young people leaning, shoulder to shoulder, against the back wall.
He cleared his throat and watched with amusement as JD jumped away from his cousin who blushed at the interruption.
“Ezra!” Flustered, the young man gestured at Jemma. “We were just talking and I should have said something to you. You being her cousin and all -“
Stifling a smile and trying to look stern, Ezra held up a hand to stop JD from rambling. “Everyone is leaving and I simply came to retrieve you.”
“Right,” JD said. He tapped two fingers to his hat in Jemma’s direction. “Ma’am,” he intoned solemnly before heading toward Ezra.
Ezra stopped JD with a hand to his chest. “We’ll talk about this when I return to town tomorrow. That is if you survive Buck’s teasing,” he finished with a smile.
JD groaned and continued on his way.
The gambler turned his attention to his cousin.
“Please don’t be angry,” Jemma said shyly.
“Why would I be angry?” He was confused by her plea. He’d only thought to tease JD.
She looked relieved as she took his arm to be lead to where everyone waited.
**************
After the six lawmen had ridden off and the children were sent inside to clean up, Ezra settled himself on the front porch.
Charlotte appeared and handed him a glass as she sat down beside him.
Ezra took the drink and smiled. “Scotch and the good stuff too.”
“Only the best for you.”
He downed the drink and set the glass on the railing.
“That wasn’t so bad now was it?” she teased. “Playing the respectable family man.”
“Respectable?” Ezra snorted. “You,” he poked a finger into her shoulder, “are ruining my reputation.”
“All part of the plan.” She smiled. “They were very appreciative of the meal.”
“They adored you.”
“It was the pie.”
He shook his head. “I’ve never seen Chris laugh that much. I shudder to think what stories you were sharing at your end of the table.”
“Just family anecdotes and very little about you; I promise.”
He eyed her with disbelief. “I know you’ve said something to Nathan. The man has changed his attitude toward me practically overnight.”
Charlotte shrugged. “I have no idea what your talking about."
She was trying not to look pleased with herself and it was all the evidence Ezra needed that she was lying. "What have you been telling him?"
"Nothing. Maybe he just likes you now that he’s gotten to know you.”
“I doubt that,” Ezra quipped.
“Don’t do that,” Charlotte snapped. “Don’t dismiss yourself like that.”
“You may be misguided enough to think highly of me, dearest cousin, but those men are not so easily taken in by my charm.”
“Charm? Is that what you call it?” She laughed.
“And what did you say to Buck when he helped you in the kitchen; the man looked positively stricken when you both returned.”
Charlotte chuckled. “I simply told him if he wished to remain a buck, he needed to stay away from Jemma. The fact that I was handling a rather large butcher knife at the time seemed to drive the point home.”
Ezra laughed heartily. “Yes. He definitely got your message.”
“I don’t think I have to worry about him chasing after Jemma,” Charlotte said with relief.
“No, now you have to worry about JD.” Ezra told her of the scene he’d found when he went searching for the young gunslinger. “You must face the fact that Jemma is a pretty girl and will be attracting a great deal of attention.”
Charlotte nodded. “Do you think highly of JD?”
Ezra hadn’t really given the matter much thought. “I certainly trust him to watch my back and I believe him to be an upstanding and honest young man. Why?” His eyes narrowed as he studied her.
“I like him too,” she said as she patted his hand. “Tomorrow you will talk to JD about your expectations concerning his behavior should he choose to pursue a courtship.”
“Me? How in the world is your daughter’s virtue my responsibility? Besides you handled Buck just fine. I suggest a similar approach with JD if you wish to scare him away.”
Charlotte laughed. “You are Jemma’s oldest male relative. It would be best for you to handle these types of conversations.”
Ezra paled. “What are you doing to me, Lottie? I don’t want that responsibility.”
She rolled her eyes at the awful nickname. “Face it, Ez,” she said using his equally hated one, “You are a lawman and a family man now. You have certain responsibilities whether you want them or not.”
“Good Lord, mother was right.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She always insisted that if I spent too much time with you, I might become respectable,” he said.
“Respectability becomes you,” she confirmed
Ezra grabbed the glass from the railing and rose from his seat. “I need another drink,” he grumbled.
Charlotte’s lilting laughter followed him into the house.
*****************************
Three weeks later
Nodding to Vin, Ezra settled himself into the next chair on the boardwalk. He automatically pulled out his cards and began mindlessly shuffling them as he surveyed the street in front of them.
“Stopped by your cousin’s place yesterday,” the Texan drawled.
It had been a few weeks since Charlotte had had them all out for lunch. It had gone much better than Ezra expected. He was surprised how often one of his associates would deliver a message from his cousin having checked on the ranch during their routine patrols.
“I thank you for your attention to my relations,” Ezra replied. “And what kind of pie enticed you out to my cousin’s home this time?”
Vin chuckled. “Apple.”
Ezra nodded knowingly.
“Reminds me. She asked me ta give you this list of supplies.” Vin reached into his buckskin coat, pulled out a piece of paper and handed it over. “She wanted you to bring them out on Sunday.”
Ezra scanned the list. “Mr. Tanner, just how much pie did you have?” The list was almost exclusively items needed to restock Charlotte’s pie baking ingredients.
The tracker blushed. “Not my fault. She just kept bringing more. Hell, Ezra, you know she makes the best damn pie in the territory.”
“I have to agree,” Ezra said laughing. If the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach, Charlotte had easily won the affections of the motley crew of gunslingers with her delicious confections.
He tucked the list into the pocket of his green coat. The two settled back into companionable silence as Ezra resumed his card shuffling to pass the time.
Ezra couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this contented. No, that wasn’t true, he’d always felt happiest when he’d been left with Charlotte. The fact that she was back in his life and had taken his friends under her wing was very satisfying. Friends. Was it possible? He looked from Vin to where Josiah stood leaning against the support post. Maybe Charlotte was right, these men were becoming his friends and they saw him as a friend too.
He smiled, enjoying the unusual feeling of happiness that stole over him.
“Now there’s a vision that makes a man believe in God,” Josiah intoned.
Ezra looked to see what had captured the preacher’s attention and felt his heart drop; the moment of contentment was gone in a puff of smoke as he stared at the woman who had stepped off the stage. Mechanically, he rose and pushed past his friends.
“Mother?” The words escaped his lips as he continued toward the figure in black, fervently hoping he was wrong.
***************
Ezra assisted his mother in settling into her room at the hotel.
“What are you doing here, mother?”
Maude busied herself with the task of unpacking. “I just missed you, darlin’ boy,” she said without looking up.
“Yes, I’m sure that’s it,” he said, the sarcasm carefully modulated. “What happened in St. Louis?”
She turned to face him, hands on hips. “Really, Ezra, I wanted to see you. St. Louis had become,” she waved a hand, “tedious.”
“And?”
“And I wanted to see Charlotte too. She’s camped out around here somewhere with her ever growing brood.”
“Hardly a camp site, Mother. She has a very large home on her ranch south of here,” Ezra said. “And that is no way to refer to our cousins.”
Maude shook her head. “Don’t tell me you’re becoming attached to her collection of misfits. How long do you plan on staying in this ridiculous little town catering to that woman’s whims?”
Ezra stiffened at his mother’s dismissal of Charlotte. “I am here because I choose to be, not because of Charlotte.”
It was entirely false. He’d found himself here because he had been caught up in events on his way to visit Charlotte. He stayed because he enjoyed the proximity of his beloved cousin and, he had to admit, because of the growing friendships he was developing with the six other peacekeepers. Always there had been jealousy in regards to his affection for Charlotte; Ezra knew better than to feed his mother’s green-eyed monster.
She smiled. “So you do have a plan. Who is the mark? Can I help?”
“There is no mark,” Ezra said. “I am simply biding my time until a better opportunity presents itself.”
“Of course, darling,” Maude said as she stepped closer to him. “Maybe I can find us an acceptable diversion to pass the time.”
“Please, mother, behave yourself. There are no confidence games to be had here, I assure you.”
Maude laughed. “Then you aren’t looking hard enough.” She grew more serious as she stared at him and raised a hand to run it along his cheek. “I may have a surprise for you later, if you’re a good boy.”
Ezra clasped her hand. “I’m not five. I do not need a reward for good behavior.”
Maude smiled enigmatically. “No you’re not. You’re the perfect age aren’t you?” she mused, her eyes taking on a faraway cast as if she was entranced by her own internal thoughts.
“Mother, are you well?” he asked.
She snapped her attention back to him. “I’m just a little tired from the trip.”
“Of course,” he replied, not entirely convinced. “I’ll leave you to get some rest. We can meet later for supper if you’re feeling up to it.”
“Thank you,” she said as she ushered him to the door.
“How long do you think you will be staying?” he asked, pausing on the threshold.
“Why as long as it takes, dear boy,” she answered cryptically.
Ezra chuckled as he headed down the hallway. He never could get a straight answer to a simple question.
Author: strangevisitor7
Fandom: Magnificent 7 and Highlander
Beta: Much thanks to ithildyn
Prompt: #57 - Lunch for Crossovers100. My table is here
Rating: PG, Gen
Characters: HL: OFC Charlotte Sparrow (AKA Pearl Black); Mag7: Ezra Standish and the rest of the seven
Summary: Ezra and Charlotte talk and life settles into a comfortable routine before an unexpected arrival changes everything.
A/N: Charlotte is an Immortal and an original character created by ithildyn. The rest of Charlotte’s stories can be found on ithildyn’s journal Here
A/N2: For time line purposes, this chapter takes place before "Witness"
Chapter List
Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3; Chapter 4; Chapter 5; Chapter 6; Chapter 7; Chapter 8; Chapter 9; Chapter 10; Chapter 11; Epilogue
Child Of My Heart, Chapter 5
The lawmen had made pigs of themselves over Charlotte’s exceptional repast. Ezra was secretly pleased and a bit surprised at the easy camaraderie that had developed between his cousin and his colleagues. Ezra busied himself with checking over his tack for the ride back to town, when he felt a presence behind him.
“Why don’t you stay?” Chris said.
“That is not necessary, Mr. Larabee,” Ezra replied.
“Enjoy your family, Ezra,” Chris said, smiling as he looked past the gambler to where Charlotte and the children waited on the porch. “We’ll see you back in town tomorrow.”
Ezra followed the man's gaze and found he didn't want to leave just yet. “I believe that I shall spend the night.” Ezra matched the gunslingers smile. Patting the gambler on the back Chris left to see to his own horse.
“Anyone seen JD?” Buck asked.
“He and Jemma went for a walk out back,” Penny said, giggling along with the other children.
“Did he?” Buck chuckled and started to dismount from his big grey to chase down their youngest member.
“I’ll find him,” Ezra said as he strode past Buck and headed toward the back of the house.
The southerner turned the corner to find the two young people leaning, shoulder to shoulder, against the back wall.
He cleared his throat and watched with amusement as JD jumped away from his cousin who blushed at the interruption.
“Ezra!” Flustered, the young man gestured at Jemma. “We were just talking and I should have said something to you. You being her cousin and all -“
Stifling a smile and trying to look stern, Ezra held up a hand to stop JD from rambling. “Everyone is leaving and I simply came to retrieve you.”
“Right,” JD said. He tapped two fingers to his hat in Jemma’s direction. “Ma’am,” he intoned solemnly before heading toward Ezra.
Ezra stopped JD with a hand to his chest. “We’ll talk about this when I return to town tomorrow. That is if you survive Buck’s teasing,” he finished with a smile.
JD groaned and continued on his way.
The gambler turned his attention to his cousin.
“Please don’t be angry,” Jemma said shyly.
“Why would I be angry?” He was confused by her plea. He’d only thought to tease JD.
She looked relieved as she took his arm to be lead to where everyone waited.
**************
After the six lawmen had ridden off and the children were sent inside to clean up, Ezra settled himself on the front porch.
Charlotte appeared and handed him a glass as she sat down beside him.
Ezra took the drink and smiled. “Scotch and the good stuff too.”
“Only the best for you.”
He downed the drink and set the glass on the railing.
“That wasn’t so bad now was it?” she teased. “Playing the respectable family man.”
“Respectable?” Ezra snorted. “You,” he poked a finger into her shoulder, “are ruining my reputation.”
“All part of the plan.” She smiled. “They were very appreciative of the meal.”
“They adored you.”
“It was the pie.”
He shook his head. “I’ve never seen Chris laugh that much. I shudder to think what stories you were sharing at your end of the table.”
“Just family anecdotes and very little about you; I promise.”
He eyed her with disbelief. “I know you’ve said something to Nathan. The man has changed his attitude toward me practically overnight.”
Charlotte shrugged. “I have no idea what your talking about."
She was trying not to look pleased with herself and it was all the evidence Ezra needed that she was lying. "What have you been telling him?"
"Nothing. Maybe he just likes you now that he’s gotten to know you.”
“I doubt that,” Ezra quipped.
“Don’t do that,” Charlotte snapped. “Don’t dismiss yourself like that.”
“You may be misguided enough to think highly of me, dearest cousin, but those men are not so easily taken in by my charm.”
“Charm? Is that what you call it?” She laughed.
“And what did you say to Buck when he helped you in the kitchen; the man looked positively stricken when you both returned.”
Charlotte chuckled. “I simply told him if he wished to remain a buck, he needed to stay away from Jemma. The fact that I was handling a rather large butcher knife at the time seemed to drive the point home.”
Ezra laughed heartily. “Yes. He definitely got your message.”
“I don’t think I have to worry about him chasing after Jemma,” Charlotte said with relief.
“No, now you have to worry about JD.” Ezra told her of the scene he’d found when he went searching for the young gunslinger. “You must face the fact that Jemma is a pretty girl and will be attracting a great deal of attention.”
Charlotte nodded. “Do you think highly of JD?”
Ezra hadn’t really given the matter much thought. “I certainly trust him to watch my back and I believe him to be an upstanding and honest young man. Why?” His eyes narrowed as he studied her.
“I like him too,” she said as she patted his hand. “Tomorrow you will talk to JD about your expectations concerning his behavior should he choose to pursue a courtship.”
“Me? How in the world is your daughter’s virtue my responsibility? Besides you handled Buck just fine. I suggest a similar approach with JD if you wish to scare him away.”
Charlotte laughed. “You are Jemma’s oldest male relative. It would be best for you to handle these types of conversations.”
Ezra paled. “What are you doing to me, Lottie? I don’t want that responsibility.”
She rolled her eyes at the awful nickname. “Face it, Ez,” she said using his equally hated one, “You are a lawman and a family man now. You have certain responsibilities whether you want them or not.”
“Good Lord, mother was right.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She always insisted that if I spent too much time with you, I might become respectable,” he said.
“Respectability becomes you,” she confirmed
Ezra grabbed the glass from the railing and rose from his seat. “I need another drink,” he grumbled.
Charlotte’s lilting laughter followed him into the house.
*****************************
Three weeks later
Nodding to Vin, Ezra settled himself into the next chair on the boardwalk. He automatically pulled out his cards and began mindlessly shuffling them as he surveyed the street in front of them.
“Stopped by your cousin’s place yesterday,” the Texan drawled.
It had been a few weeks since Charlotte had had them all out for lunch. It had gone much better than Ezra expected. He was surprised how often one of his associates would deliver a message from his cousin having checked on the ranch during their routine patrols.
“I thank you for your attention to my relations,” Ezra replied. “And what kind of pie enticed you out to my cousin’s home this time?”
Vin chuckled. “Apple.”
Ezra nodded knowingly.
“Reminds me. She asked me ta give you this list of supplies.” Vin reached into his buckskin coat, pulled out a piece of paper and handed it over. “She wanted you to bring them out on Sunday.”
Ezra scanned the list. “Mr. Tanner, just how much pie did you have?” The list was almost exclusively items needed to restock Charlotte’s pie baking ingredients.
The tracker blushed. “Not my fault. She just kept bringing more. Hell, Ezra, you know she makes the best damn pie in the territory.”
“I have to agree,” Ezra said laughing. If the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach, Charlotte had easily won the affections of the motley crew of gunslingers with her delicious confections.
He tucked the list into the pocket of his green coat. The two settled back into companionable silence as Ezra resumed his card shuffling to pass the time.
Ezra couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this contented. No, that wasn’t true, he’d always felt happiest when he’d been left with Charlotte. The fact that she was back in his life and had taken his friends under her wing was very satisfying. Friends. Was it possible? He looked from Vin to where Josiah stood leaning against the support post. Maybe Charlotte was right, these men were becoming his friends and they saw him as a friend too.
He smiled, enjoying the unusual feeling of happiness that stole over him.
“Now there’s a vision that makes a man believe in God,” Josiah intoned.
Ezra looked to see what had captured the preacher’s attention and felt his heart drop; the moment of contentment was gone in a puff of smoke as he stared at the woman who had stepped off the stage. Mechanically, he rose and pushed past his friends.
“Mother?” The words escaped his lips as he continued toward the figure in black, fervently hoping he was wrong.
***************
Ezra assisted his mother in settling into her room at the hotel.
“What are you doing here, mother?”
Maude busied herself with the task of unpacking. “I just missed you, darlin’ boy,” she said without looking up.
“Yes, I’m sure that’s it,” he said, the sarcasm carefully modulated. “What happened in St. Louis?”
She turned to face him, hands on hips. “Really, Ezra, I wanted to see you. St. Louis had become,” she waved a hand, “tedious.”
“And?”
“And I wanted to see Charlotte too. She’s camped out around here somewhere with her ever growing brood.”
“Hardly a camp site, Mother. She has a very large home on her ranch south of here,” Ezra said. “And that is no way to refer to our cousins.”
Maude shook her head. “Don’t tell me you’re becoming attached to her collection of misfits. How long do you plan on staying in this ridiculous little town catering to that woman’s whims?”
Ezra stiffened at his mother’s dismissal of Charlotte. “I am here because I choose to be, not because of Charlotte.”
It was entirely false. He’d found himself here because he had been caught up in events on his way to visit Charlotte. He stayed because he enjoyed the proximity of his beloved cousin and, he had to admit, because of the growing friendships he was developing with the six other peacekeepers. Always there had been jealousy in regards to his affection for Charlotte; Ezra knew better than to feed his mother’s green-eyed monster.
She smiled. “So you do have a plan. Who is the mark? Can I help?”
“There is no mark,” Ezra said. “I am simply biding my time until a better opportunity presents itself.”
“Of course, darling,” Maude said as she stepped closer to him. “Maybe I can find us an acceptable diversion to pass the time.”
“Please, mother, behave yourself. There are no confidence games to be had here, I assure you.”
Maude laughed. “Then you aren’t looking hard enough.” She grew more serious as she stared at him and raised a hand to run it along his cheek. “I may have a surprise for you later, if you’re a good boy.”
Ezra clasped her hand. “I’m not five. I do not need a reward for good behavior.”
Maude smiled enigmatically. “No you’re not. You’re the perfect age aren’t you?” she mused, her eyes taking on a faraway cast as if she was entranced by her own internal thoughts.
“Mother, are you well?” he asked.
She snapped her attention back to him. “I’m just a little tired from the trip.”
“Of course,” he replied, not entirely convinced. “I’ll leave you to get some rest. We can meet later for supper if you’re feeling up to it.”
“Thank you,” she said as she ushered him to the door.
“How long do you think you will be staying?” he asked, pausing on the threshold.
“Why as long as it takes, dear boy,” she answered cryptically.
Ezra chuckled as he headed down the hallway. He never could get a straight answer to a simple question.