ATF Universe
Note: This is just a little bit of fluff. Actually a fever induced story, but I’m all better now. Thanks to Mog for this little sandbox to play in.
The Southern ATF agent slowly poured himself another drink. He figured he’d need it to make it through the evening and it was only four o’clock. She was on her way, no stopping her. It had been a while since her last visit, but did it have to be on the weekend? The least she could do was come during the week when he had the excuse of going to work to get away from her. With a sigh, he walked over to his stereo system and pressed the power button. The beginning music to "My Girl" started playing and he closed his eyes in annoyance as a voice came over the music from the front door.“Honey I’m home.”
He turned around slowly to face the black-clad agent and groaned.
“I guess you’d say, what can make me feel this way,” a sing-song voice from behind the leader stated.
Larabee grinned and put an arm around the teen as she walked up, and joined in, “My girl, my girl, my girl, talkin’ 'bout my girl.”
Standish quickly reached over and cut the power to the stereo and turned questioning eyes on his leader. He watched as Sam grabbed an overnight bag from beside her and took off to the guest room.
“What’s going on?” the undercover agent questioned.
“I have to go to the weekend seminar with Nathan and Josiah. Inez just so happens to have the flu and Nettie is on a weekend trip with some of the orphanage kids,” the agent replied.
Ezra cut in finishing, “let me guess, JD’s spending the weekend with Miss Wells, and Buck’s determined to keep Senorita Recillos company.”
Larabee nodded his head and then remembered something else, “And Vin’s taking the weekend off for some downtime.”
“Ah, I see. So, you’re expecting me to take her. What if I have something planned Mr. Larabee?” Standish asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Cancel,” he stated in a quiet tone, then yelled, “Sam I’m leaving!”
The teen jogged into the living room and over to the black-clad man. Wrapping her arms around his neck she stated, “Bye, have fun, love ya lots.”
“Bye,” he replied, kissing her forehead. “Love you too.”
“Bye Ez,” Larabee waved to his agent over the teen’s head and grinned at him.
Before Ezra could say anything, Larabee walked out the door. The teen turned innocent eyes to the undercover agent.
“So, what’s for dinner?”
“Ha,” Standish replied, “don’t make me laugh.”
Both of them looked at the phone as it started ringing, they shared a glance and simultaneously bolted for it. The agent quickly snatched it from the teen, tossing her a look.
“Hello…yes mother…oh…well…you’ll have to call them back, I have company…one…okay…yes…I will…goodbye.”
The teen looked up at him expectantly as he ran a hand through his hair, letting out a deep breath.
“What is it?” she questioned.
“Mother’s taking us to Morton’s for dinner,” he replied, looking around the living room.
“You mean that classy place, that ‘dress as if you own a corporation’ kind of place?”
“Yeah, uh…” he began, “do you still have that business-type suit you bought for the banquet?”
“Yeah, it’s in my closet.”
“Good, get in the car,” he told her, grabbing his coat.
+ + + + + + +
“I’m glad I get to meet her and everything, but I’d really rather not go!” the teen yelled from the guest room.
“I’m not leaving you here alone, besides,” Standish stated, walking in the room, “if I give you a signal, you could probably pull off a migraine.”
“I’m not going to lie to your mother,” Sam stated, taking the rollers from her hair.
“Trust me, you won’t be lying about it.”
The teen rolled her eyes as the undercover agent made his way back to his living room. A few minutes later the girl walked into the room and stated, “I feel like a waitress.”
“Good, you look like one too,” Ezra commented with a grin, as the doorbell rang. “I’m just kidding.”
Sam shook her head in disgust as Standish opened the door.
“Mother, you’re early,” she heard him state.
“Yes, well, I thought I’d show up early to talk with your guest,” the Southern woman replied, walking into the room.
The voice had Sam tilt her head a little in recognition, as the woman entered the room.
Maude glanced around the room and let her eyes settle upon the girl, and a soft smile graced her face.
With a smile of her own, Sam rushed to the older woman, announcing, “Aunt Maude.”
“Samantha dear,” the Southern woman stated, pulling the girl into a hug. “It’s been so long.”
“It’s great to see you,” the teen responded, as Maude pulled her an arms length away, holding her by the shoulders.
“Let me get a look at you child,” she stated. “Oh, you’ve grown into a beautiful young lady, just like your grandmother predicted.”
The teen blushed and looked to the floor as Ezra stepped over, confusion and surprise written on his face.
“Wait…wait…wait…did I miss something?” the undercover agent questioned.
Maude turned and looked at her son questioningly, “This is the Samantha Mr. Larabee has guardianship over?”
Ezra slowly nodded his head, still confused.
“Well, how come you never told me?” she questioned, then realized he had no idea what she was talking about. “Let’s sit down.”
Sam walked over and sat down beside Maude on the couch, while Ezra took a chair.
“I’m afraid I’m a bit confused too Aunt Maude,” the girl stated, looking at the older woman.
“Don’t worry, you have every right to be darlin’,” she replied sweetly, patting the girl’s knee, then turned to Ezra. “You honestly don’t remember her?”
“No Mother, I positively have no idea what you’re talking about,” he responded.
“Well, Samantha’s grandmother and I were friends. Do you remember Miss Catherine?” Maude questioned.
“Of course I do, but that was in Georgia, Sam’s from here,” the man replied.
“Yes, but until she was six, she lived in Georgia.”
Ezra glanced to the teen, questioning his mother’s statement. Sam nodded slowly, and shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, I can’t believe you don’t remember,” Maude said still in shock. “You were about fourteen….”
As Maude continued, Ezra sat back and allowed his memories take over.
Georgia, 12 years earlier . . .
The green eyed boy shuffled the cards expertly as he sat under the big willow tree, the slight breeze swaying the branches. The tree created a hide-away for him and his guest. He then pulled a card from the deck, revealing an Ace of Spades. His action caused the little brunette in the green ruffled dress to clap her hands wildly and giggle.“Again Ez, again,” she stated, unable to say his whole name.
Ezra grinned and quickly shuffled the cards, doing the exact movements as before, revealing the same card, causing the three year old to giggle and clap some more.
“Come on,” the teen stated, picking her up. “You want to go see the horses?”
“Ya huh,” she replied, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Laying her head against his cheek, she stated, “I wove you Ez.”
Ezra began walking towards the stables with a smile, “I love you too.”
+ + + + + + +
“But Miss Catherine wasn’t related to us,” Ezra interjected.
“I can help with this one,” the teen replied. “Maude’s last name changed so much, that I couldn’t keep track, so I just started calling her Aunt Maude. It was easier to remember.”
“I never connected it. It never crossed my mind,” Standish stated, running a hand through his hair.
“We'd better hurry or we’ll miss our reservations,” the Southern woman remarked, standing up.
+ + + + + + +
After dinner, Maude’s limousine pulled up outside of Ezra’s apartment. The three climbed out and Sam gave Maude another hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“Thanks, I guess I’ll see you when I see you,” the teen stated.
“Or before,” Maude laughed a little.
“Goodbye,” the girl responded, and then headed up the walk.
“Goodbye,” Maude returned, then looked at her son. “I got word of her parents' death, but I was in London. When I returned, I tried to find her.”
Ezra looked at his mother. Was that maybe a tear in her eye? He shrugged off the thought as she continued.
“I was going to adopt her. I couldn’t stand the thought of her growing up in some filthy little apartment, and I knew how much you cared about her, but I was told she had already been taken I knew I hadn’t been the best mother before, and I guess I thought I could make up for that by taking her as my own.”
Yep, that was a definitely a tear now escaping from her eye. Ezra was surprised when his mother leaned forward and gave him a hug and kissed his cheek.
With a quick swipe at her cheek, she looked up at him. “But that’s all in the past now, so, take care of her. Try to remember she was your first adoring fan.”
With that, the woman climbed back into the limousine, leaving her son speechless. The window rolled down and Maude looked out. “I love you son.”
“Love you too Mother,” Ezra found himself saying.
After the limo pulled out of sight, he turned and headed toward his door. He walked in and closed it, locking it behind him.
“I found Oreo’s,” he heard the teen state from the kitchen.
He walked over to the room she was in and leaned against the doorway, narrowing his eyes at the girl.
“What? I was going to share,” she responded to the look by placing the chocolate goodies on the counter bar.
“You started it,” he accused with a slight grin, pointing his finger at her for emphasis. “You started that horrible nickname.”
“What?”
“When you were three, you couldn’t pronounce Ezra, so you said Ez instead,” the undercover agent replied.
“Oh, well I’m so sorry. If I’d a known better I wouldn’t have done it,” she responded. Then with a smile she stated, “Don’t you think it's weird that I was too little to remember you, yet after all these years, here I am.”
“I’d rather not question the fates that be,” he responded, walking over to grab up his pack of Oreos.
“We going to tell Chris?”
“We’ll worry about that tomorrow,” Standish responded.
“You know one day, we’ll have to sit down and you’ll have to tell me what I was like when I was itty bitty,” she stated.
“One day,” he agreed.
“I feel one of those brotherly/sisterly moments coming on,” the teen told him, “You know like on the Waltons.”
Ezra turned and cocked an eyebrow at her, causing her to laugh.
“Come here, Ez,” she stated, annunciating the ‘Ez’, holding out her arms.
As she hugged him, she reached back on the bar and grabbed the Oreo pack.
“Thank you,” she stated as she took off out of the kitchen.
“Hey, those are mine!” Standish yelled, running after her.
The End
Feedback would be appreciated, as always.