Child Of My Heart (11/12) - Mag7/Highlander
Title: Child Of My Heart (11/12)
Author: strangevisitor7
Fandom: Magnificent 7 and Highlander
Beta: Much thanks to ithildyn
Prompt: #69 - Thunder for Crossovers100. My table is here
Rating: PG, Gen
Characters: HL: OFC Charlotte Sparrow (AKA Pearl Black); Mag7: Ezra Standish, Maude Standish and JD Dunne
Chapter Summary: The conflict between Ezra and Maude continues
A/N: Charlotte is an Immortal and an original character created by ithildyn. In Charlotte’s bio, Ith mentioned that she’d lived in New Mexico in the 1860’s, so it was obvious to me she knew the Mag7 boys. I have added the idea that she was Maude Standish’s teacher, longtime friend and one of those people Maude would occasionally ‘dump’ Ezra with. The rest of Charlotte’s stories can be found on ithildyn’s journal Here
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 11
Ezra paused outside the barn to finally button his shirt and vest. He studied the blood and the hole in his garments as he put himself back together. His mother had killed him. Ezra knew it would be a long time before he’d be able to forgive her for all she’d put him through.
He felt Charlotte standing behind him. “Are you all right?” she asked.
He chuckled at the absurdity of the question. Today he’d learned he was adopted, had died and then been reborn as an Immortal. And in addition to all that, he’d severed ties with Maude. He thought about these events and realized he was fine, in fact, better than fine.
Ezra turned and sent her a huge smile. “I feel liberated. I’m well and truly over the shock. Ironic that it took dying to finally know that I have the ability to take control of my own life.”
Charlotte returned his smile. “Oh, Ezra, you can’t know how happy it makes me to hear you say that.” She walked over to embrace him.
As he held onto Charlotte, it all became clear. He knew without a doubt what he wanted. He’d never been more sure of anything. Was it his Immortality that made him feel this confident in his own opinion? Did it matter?
He broke their embrace and smiled down at the wonderful woman who was the true mother of his heart. He felt such joy that she was in his life.
“Charlotte, I want to stay here. Immortal or not, this is where I belong. Near you and the children and working along side my friends. My friends,,” he repeated the phrase, savoring the words.
He looked past Charlotte when Maude stormed out of the barn.
“Ezra, you are being ridiculous,” she insisted as she walked toward them. “Charlotte has obviously misrepresented the benefits of Immortality!”
He put himself in front of his cousin. “Charlotte explained everything perfectly and I meant every word.”
Ezra glared at her and Maude flinched. He smiled to himself as he thought it might rival one of Mr. Larabee’s because Maude was certainly backing down.
“We need to talk,” she said, congenially.
“No, Maude, we don’t. You need to get in the wagon and when we get to the house, JD will take you back to town. You will then get on the stage and leave this territory.”
“But you’re Immortal now, everything has changed. You need me.” There was desperation in her voice which caused it to slip into a whine. This kind of anxiety was something he’d never seen in his mother before.
Ezra laughed without humor. “For the first time in my life I don’t need you. When I was a child, Charlotte bowed to what you wanted and I have always done everything you asked without question. Now you will do what I want, and I want you to leave.”
“You are sending me away?” The whine was becoming more pronounced. Ezra realized Maude wasn’t used to losing to him or to Charlotte and no longer knew how to play the scene to win.
“Yes I am. Not a pleasant feeling to be sent away, is it? Well, you did that to me my whole life. You did a selfish thing when you claimed me as your son and then again today you took away my mortality. You have to live with the consequences.”
“It wasn’t selfish. It was for you.”
Ezra shook his head in exasperation and looked at Charlotte.
“She won’t ever understand,” his cousin confirmed. “Don’t even try to explain. Go up to the house. I’ll get her in the wagon.”
He reached out to squeeze Charlotte’s hand. “Thank you.”
“Ezra, don’t so this.” Maude pleaded.
“Goodbye, Maude. If I see you again before the turn of the century, it will be too soon.” Without a backward glance he mounted Chaucer and rode away. Maude had always worried that he’d pick Charlotte over her, but the truth was he was picking himself. For the first time he was going to do what he wanted, and he’d never been so happy in his life.
*************************************************************
Ezra opened the door to the house looking for JD. He found him encircled by the Black clan and in the midst of telling one of his horrible jokes. As JD finished the punch line, the younger children roared with laughter.
“It seems you have finally found an audience who appreciates your sense of humor,” Ezra said drawing their attention to him.
“Told you they were funny,” JD said, a huge smile of satisfaction on his face.
“It seems we all underestimated your outstanding comedic abilities,” Ezra snickered. JD beamed at the praise, missing the sarcasm as Ezra knew he would. “JD, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Sure, Ezra, whatcha need?” The young gunslinger rose from the settee and crossed the living room to stand in front of the gambler waiting for his assignment.
“Would you please escort my mother back to town and make sure she is on tomorrow’s stage?"
Confusion crossed JD face. “Don’t you want to do that yourself? Say goodbye and all.”
Ezra shook his head. “Charlotte needs me here and mother understands. I will return to town in a few days. Please inform Mr. Larabee of my extended absence.”
“Okay,” JD agreed, unsure of why Ezra wasn’t doing this himself, but obviously pleased to be given the responsibility. “I’ll take care of her.”
Ezra stilled and raised a hand to massage his temple as the buzzing hit him. Smiling, he understood that the sensation indicated that Charlotte was near. He had not lied in the barn, being able to feel his cousin at a distance comforted him immensely.
“You feeling all right?” JD asked noticing his reticence.
“I am fine. I simply heard the arrival of the wagon,” Ezra explained as he ushered the younger man toward the door, followed closely by the children.
Charlotte was already out of the wagon and halfway up the steps by the time Ezra and the others exited the house. She had a look of supreme satisfaction on her face as she met his gaze.
“JD has agreed to take mother back to town,” he confirmed her unasked question. Ezra then turned his attention to Maude.
He was jolted by the look of pure defeat he saw on her face. He had a moment of regret for his harsh words at the barn before the memory of all that had happened today overrode his programmed response to please his mother.
Playing the dutiful son, he walked over to the wagon to say his goodbyes. He held out a hand and assisted her as she climbed down. Maude searched his face for absolution, sighing as she realized there was none to be found.
Putting on her best mask, Maude assumed her part in this play for those watching. “Goodbye, my darling boy,” she said as she leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.
Ezra congratulated himself on not flinching at the contact. “Take care of your self, Mother.”
“I always do.” Maude then made her farewells to Charlotte and the children before Ezra assisted her back into the wagon. She sent him one final imploring look which he rebuffed. She nodded and sat resignedly waiting for JD to take her away.
Ezra smiled as he turned his attention to JD and Jemma who were also saying goodbye. He still hadn’t had that talk with JD, but watching his gentle manner with his cousin he doubted there would be a need for it.
He returned to the porch. Standing next to Charlotte, her hand grasping his in a sign of solidarity, Ezra searched for feelings of regret or loss as he watched the wagon disappear over the horizon. There were none. He was finally free of Maude and all he felt was contentment.
He squeezed Charlotte’s hand. “Any trouble after I left?”
“I finally made her see that what she’d done was wrong and,” she smirked, “it didn’t hurt that I was still holding my sword.”
Ezra looked stunned as he realized what must have transpired. “You threatened to - ” He made a slashing motion across his throat to simulate decapitation.
“I’m quite good, I’ll have you know. Maude would be no match for me,” Charlotte laughed. “And you’d be surprised how effective that particular threat can be.”
This was a whole new side to his cousin, one that he would be getting to know very soon. “I have no doubt. She certainly was no match for you today.”
“In her own way she really does care for you.”
Ezra shook his head. “I’m not sure that I will ever believe that,” he sighed.
“I’ve known her for almost fifty years and I may never understand the woman,” Charlotte said sympathetically. “But I convinced her to disappear for a few decades and try again after the turn of the century.”
Ezra laughed. “Profound advice, dear cousin. Let us hope she takes it.”
***********************
A/N: Next: The Epilogue featuring all seven!
Author: strangevisitor7
Fandom: Magnificent 7 and Highlander
Beta: Much thanks to ithildyn
Prompt: #69 - Thunder for Crossovers100. My table is here
Rating: PG, Gen
Characters: HL: OFC Charlotte Sparrow (AKA Pearl Black); Mag7: Ezra Standish, Maude Standish and JD Dunne
Chapter Summary: The conflict between Ezra and Maude continues
A/N: Charlotte is an Immortal and an original character created by ithildyn. In Charlotte’s bio, Ith mentioned that she’d lived in New Mexico in the 1860’s, so it was obvious to me she knew the Mag7 boys. I have added the idea that she was Maude Standish’s teacher, longtime friend and one of those people Maude would occasionally ‘dump’ Ezra with. The rest of Charlotte’s stories can be found on ithildyn’s journal Here
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 11
Ezra paused outside the barn to finally button his shirt and vest. He studied the blood and the hole in his garments as he put himself back together. His mother had killed him. Ezra knew it would be a long time before he’d be able to forgive her for all she’d put him through.
He felt Charlotte standing behind him. “Are you all right?” she asked.
He chuckled at the absurdity of the question. Today he’d learned he was adopted, had died and then been reborn as an Immortal. And in addition to all that, he’d severed ties with Maude. He thought about these events and realized he was fine, in fact, better than fine.
Ezra turned and sent her a huge smile. “I feel liberated. I’m well and truly over the shock. Ironic that it took dying to finally know that I have the ability to take control of my own life.”
Charlotte returned his smile. “Oh, Ezra, you can’t know how happy it makes me to hear you say that.” She walked over to embrace him.
As he held onto Charlotte, it all became clear. He knew without a doubt what he wanted. He’d never been more sure of anything. Was it his Immortality that made him feel this confident in his own opinion? Did it matter?
He broke their embrace and smiled down at the wonderful woman who was the true mother of his heart. He felt such joy that she was in his life.
“Charlotte, I want to stay here. Immortal or not, this is where I belong. Near you and the children and working along side my friends. My friends,,” he repeated the phrase, savoring the words.
He looked past Charlotte when Maude stormed out of the barn.
“Ezra, you are being ridiculous,” she insisted as she walked toward them. “Charlotte has obviously misrepresented the benefits of Immortality!”
He put himself in front of his cousin. “Charlotte explained everything perfectly and I meant every word.”
Ezra glared at her and Maude flinched. He smiled to himself as he thought it might rival one of Mr. Larabee’s because Maude was certainly backing down.
“We need to talk,” she said, congenially.
“No, Maude, we don’t. You need to get in the wagon and when we get to the house, JD will take you back to town. You will then get on the stage and leave this territory.”
“But you’re Immortal now, everything has changed. You need me.” There was desperation in her voice which caused it to slip into a whine. This kind of anxiety was something he’d never seen in his mother before.
Ezra laughed without humor. “For the first time in my life I don’t need you. When I was a child, Charlotte bowed to what you wanted and I have always done everything you asked without question. Now you will do what I want, and I want you to leave.”
“You are sending me away?” The whine was becoming more pronounced. Ezra realized Maude wasn’t used to losing to him or to Charlotte and no longer knew how to play the scene to win.
“Yes I am. Not a pleasant feeling to be sent away, is it? Well, you did that to me my whole life. You did a selfish thing when you claimed me as your son and then again today you took away my mortality. You have to live with the consequences.”
“It wasn’t selfish. It was for you.”
Ezra shook his head in exasperation and looked at Charlotte.
“She won’t ever understand,” his cousin confirmed. “Don’t even try to explain. Go up to the house. I’ll get her in the wagon.”
He reached out to squeeze Charlotte’s hand. “Thank you.”
“Ezra, don’t so this.” Maude pleaded.
“Goodbye, Maude. If I see you again before the turn of the century, it will be too soon.” Without a backward glance he mounted Chaucer and rode away. Maude had always worried that he’d pick Charlotte over her, but the truth was he was picking himself. For the first time he was going to do what he wanted, and he’d never been so happy in his life.
*************************************************************
Ezra opened the door to the house looking for JD. He found him encircled by the Black clan and in the midst of telling one of his horrible jokes. As JD finished the punch line, the younger children roared with laughter.
“It seems you have finally found an audience who appreciates your sense of humor,” Ezra said drawing their attention to him.
“Told you they were funny,” JD said, a huge smile of satisfaction on his face.
“It seems we all underestimated your outstanding comedic abilities,” Ezra snickered. JD beamed at the praise, missing the sarcasm as Ezra knew he would. “JD, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Sure, Ezra, whatcha need?” The young gunslinger rose from the settee and crossed the living room to stand in front of the gambler waiting for his assignment.
“Would you please escort my mother back to town and make sure she is on tomorrow’s stage?"
Confusion crossed JD face. “Don’t you want to do that yourself? Say goodbye and all.”
Ezra shook his head. “Charlotte needs me here and mother understands. I will return to town in a few days. Please inform Mr. Larabee of my extended absence.”
“Okay,” JD agreed, unsure of why Ezra wasn’t doing this himself, but obviously pleased to be given the responsibility. “I’ll take care of her.”
Ezra stilled and raised a hand to massage his temple as the buzzing hit him. Smiling, he understood that the sensation indicated that Charlotte was near. He had not lied in the barn, being able to feel his cousin at a distance comforted him immensely.
“You feeling all right?” JD asked noticing his reticence.
“I am fine. I simply heard the arrival of the wagon,” Ezra explained as he ushered the younger man toward the door, followed closely by the children.
Charlotte was already out of the wagon and halfway up the steps by the time Ezra and the others exited the house. She had a look of supreme satisfaction on her face as she met his gaze.
“JD has agreed to take mother back to town,” he confirmed her unasked question. Ezra then turned his attention to Maude.
He was jolted by the look of pure defeat he saw on her face. He had a moment of regret for his harsh words at the barn before the memory of all that had happened today overrode his programmed response to please his mother.
Playing the dutiful son, he walked over to the wagon to say his goodbyes. He held out a hand and assisted her as she climbed down. Maude searched his face for absolution, sighing as she realized there was none to be found.
Putting on her best mask, Maude assumed her part in this play for those watching. “Goodbye, my darling boy,” she said as she leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.
Ezra congratulated himself on not flinching at the contact. “Take care of your self, Mother.”
“I always do.” Maude then made her farewells to Charlotte and the children before Ezra assisted her back into the wagon. She sent him one final imploring look which he rebuffed. She nodded and sat resignedly waiting for JD to take her away.
Ezra smiled as he turned his attention to JD and Jemma who were also saying goodbye. He still hadn’t had that talk with JD, but watching his gentle manner with his cousin he doubted there would be a need for it.
He returned to the porch. Standing next to Charlotte, her hand grasping his in a sign of solidarity, Ezra searched for feelings of regret or loss as he watched the wagon disappear over the horizon. There were none. He was finally free of Maude and all he felt was contentment.
He squeezed Charlotte’s hand. “Any trouble after I left?”
“I finally made her see that what she’d done was wrong and,” she smirked, “it didn’t hurt that I was still holding my sword.”
Ezra looked stunned as he realized what must have transpired. “You threatened to - ” He made a slashing motion across his throat to simulate decapitation.
“I’m quite good, I’ll have you know. Maude would be no match for me,” Charlotte laughed. “And you’d be surprised how effective that particular threat can be.”
This was a whole new side to his cousin, one that he would be getting to know very soon. “I have no doubt. She certainly was no match for you today.”
“In her own way she really does care for you.”
Ezra shook his head. “I’m not sure that I will ever believe that,” he sighed.
“I’ve known her for almost fifty years and I may never understand the woman,” Charlotte said sympathetically. “But I convinced her to disappear for a few decades and try again after the turn of the century.”
Ezra laughed. “Profound advice, dear cousin. Let us hope she takes it.”
***********************
A/N: Next: The Epilogue featuring all seven!