Prequel to: Reflections

Ezra Standish woke to the wonderful feeling of hands caressing his back and hair. If he was a cat, like his lover claimed, he would be purring. He opened his eyes slowly.

"Morning, angel-love," a mid-western drawl whispered, before the owner of the voice leaned down for a kiss.

"Morning, Buck," Ezra replied, smiling and stretching languidly. Buck Wilmington watched his lover and smiled.

"Are you sure you're not part cat? I swear I heard you purring a moment ago," he asked, laughing. Ezra just smiled at his lover, as he climbed on top of the older man and kissed him.

"I don't know many cats that can kiss like that, do you?" he whispered, huskily.

"Nope. But, then I haven't kissed many cats," Buck answered, stroking Ezra's chestnut curls. He loved the younger man's hair, first thing in the morning, before anything was done to it. It was so soft to the touch.

"You are incorrigible, Buck. But, that's why I love you, baby," the Southerner giggles, playing with his lover's mustache.

"I could fill a book with all the reasons why I love you, angel-love. Your eyes when you smile, your smile that lights up a room, your way with kids, the way you love me," Buck said, still playing with Ezra's hair.

"I'll hurt you if you start singing that song," the younger man threatened, but the smile in his eyes ruined it.

"What song, angel-love?" the blue-eyed man asked innocently.

"You know what song. The song you always play when we are at the saloon, you dork," Ezra giggled, poking his love in the chest.

"I don't know what you're talkin' 'bout, angel-love," Buck replied, kissing his love, before regretfully pulling himself out of bed. "I'm going to take a shower. Unfortunately, we have to go to work," he continued, heading for the bathroom. Ezra immediately missed the warmth of his lover's body, but was definitely enjoying the show. He was tempted to join the other man in the show, when he remembered he had to call his mother to check when her plane would be in this coming weekend. He just dialed her number, when he heard a very off key and loud rendition of Faith Hill's, 'The Way You Love Me', coming from the shower. He laughed again, waiting for his mother to pick up.

"Hello? Maude Standish speaking," a female voice answered.

"Hello, Mother. I was calling to confirm the time of your arrival this weekend," Ezra said trying not to laugh as he heard, "Oh, I love the way, love the way you love me. There's no where else I'd rather be," coming from the bathroom.

"Yes, about this weekend."

Ezra felt his heart drop into his stomach.

"I meant to call you about that. Something has come up, and I'll not be able to to make it. Perhaps next month, darling."

He felt his heart break and his insides twist. Maude continued without letting her son speak.

"Now, how have you been, darling? Have you been eating? You were entirely too thin the last time I saw you."

He looked down and saw she was right.

"Did you finally get a hair cut? Your hair was dreadful, it was much too long."

He ran a hand through his hair and saw she was right.

"And are you still with..... Oh, what is his name? The tall gentleman with the mustache. I honestly don't know what he sees in you, or you in him. It will never last. My car is here, darling. I must be going. Perhaps next month, darling." Without saying 'goodbye' or waiting for a response, she hung up. Blinking away the tears in his eyes, Ezra stared at the phone. Then, he gently placed it back on the bedside table. Still fighting tears, he walked over to the mirror on the closet door.

'Am I really too thin? Is my hair really that bad? What does Buck see in me?' he thought to himself. The conversation from early ran through his mind, trying to heal his broken heart.

'Your eyes when you smile, your smile that lights up a room, the way you love me,' Buck had said.

"Why can't I see what he sees," Ezra asked himself out loud, staring at his reflection in the broken glass.