Sequel to: Reflections

When the two men walked into the office, the other five men knew something had happened. Vin Tanner dragged Ezra into the break room and started asking questions.

"What happened? Are you alright? Did Buck do anything?" he asked, worriedly.

"Mother. I'm fine. And why would Buck do anything to me?" Ezra answered, raising an eyebrow at his friend.

"Your mother? I thought she was coming to visit this weekend? I know Buck wouldn't do anything. It's my job as your brother to ask about those things. I may have to kick his ass, should he decide to be stupid," Vin stated. When he heard his friend mention Maude, Vin immediately knew the problem: She was squelching out of her visit again.

"Yes, mother. I called her this morning and she said something came up and that she wouldn't be able to come down this weekend. Oh, well, that just means I can come out to the ranch as originally planned," Ezra answered, really not wanting to tell his best friend the rest of the details. They still hurt too much to speak about.

Vin caught the evasiveness and let it slide. He could see the pain in his friend's green eyes. He also knew Buck would take care of it, or he would kick his ass.

"Well, since you're comin' out, could ya pick up some of that beer you brought last time? That was some good stuff," Vin asked, smiling and throwing an arm around the smaller man.

In the other room, Buck is explaining to the others what happened.

"So, she's not coming down this weekend?" Chris asked, 'again' was understood. Buck nodded.

"Ezra didn't take that very well, I take," Josiah said, a statement rather than a question.

"That is an understatement. There were some other things.....," Buck trailed off, not wanting to discuss this behind Ezra's back. But, the others understood.

"It's ok, Buck. We know Maude," Nathan assured his friend. Buck nodded and watched his lover and Vin come out of the break room, talking about beer.

"Buck, make sure Ezra gets the good stuff, the kind we all like," Vin said, laughing.

"I am not wasting my money on anything fancy. You buffoons only waste it," Ezra argued, laughing as well. Chris just shook his head.

"Let's try to do some work today, shall we ladies?" he asked, smiling as everyone headed for their work stations.

Later that day, the two lovers begged out of meeting the rest of the team at the saloon and went home. At the apartment, they were barely in the door when Buck nearly attacked Ezra. Somehow, neither man knew how, they ended up in the bedroom and on the bed.

"What did I do to deserve that? Not that I'm going to argue," Ezra asked, tracing the curve of Buck's jaw with his finger. The older man brushed a kiss against his angel-love's mouth before answering.

"I didn't think I needed a reason. But, if I do, just to say that I love you," he murmured against the other man's lips. Ezra shivered.

"I love you, too, Buck. More than I ever thought I could love anyone," the younger man whispered back, leaning up to kiss his love. "Buck, do you think Chris would be upset if we didn't go to the ranch this weekend?" Ezra asked.

"No, but Vin would. He seemed deadset on having that beer," the older man answered, his blue eyes twinkling with mirth. Ezra stuck his tongue out, only to have it caught by Buck. Only the need for air broke them apart. "Vin can do with out his damn beer," Buck stated, before returning his attentions to his angel-love.