In the rental vehicle, the six men rode in stunned silence. While they had been prepared for a confrontation with a man who was maligning the memory of their friend, they were completely unprepared for finding out that Buck was alive. Each one of them, surreptitiously, glanced at Ezra, worried about how he was taking the news.

Ezra was staring out of the window, his body seemingly relaxed. Vin reached back and caught hold of one of Ezra's hands, giving it a squeeze. Chris turned in his seat so he could see Ezra, he was beginning to worry. They pulled into the hotel parking lot and got out.

"I'm going to get a drink," Ezra said as he headed for the bar off of the hotel lobby. Josiah and Nathan followed him, to make sure that he didn't do anything stupid.

When they found their rooms, Chris sank onto the foot of the bed to make his very important phone call. Travis's secretary put him right through. "Orin, you're not going to believe this," he began.

The alcohol burned all the way to the bottom of his empty stomach. Ezra tapped the glass on the bar and the bartender hurried over to refill it. When the young man ordered his third drink in ten minutes, the man behind the bar had looked inquisitively at the older men bracketing the younger man. The graying man nodded to him and he took that as an agreement to tend to him if he got too drunk. The black man asked about food and was directed to the waitress who would bring their order from the restaurant kitchen.

Nathan put a basket of appetizers next to Ezra's drink. After a mini glaring war, he reached out and picked up one of the stuffed potato skins. He slowed down on his drinking as he polished off a couple of the assorted finger foods. Almost an hour later, when Ezra stopped drinking, Josiah thought he was ready to head for the hotel rooms. Instead, Ezra pulled his cell phone and dialed a number. The two older men shared a look as they wondered whom he was calling.

"Mother, do you have a moment to talk? No, no, I am not calling to inform you of any injury. I was just wondering if I might join you wherever you are at the present time. I have recently come upon some news that could affect the rest of my life."

Ezra completed the call and tucked the phone back into his pocket, picking up his drink and downing it in one swallow. He smiled brightly at Josiah and clapped him on the back. His speech was only slightly slurred when he spoke. "Mothah, is in New Orleans. She is most eagah to hear what her dahrlin' baby boy has to say."

"I think we need to get you up to your room," Nathan urged.

***

The doorbell rang and Buck got up to answer it. Leslie hurried in, closing the door behind her. She took hold of Buck's arm and steered him onto the couch. In full nursing mode, she checked his pulse and respirations before dropping beside him. "Okay, now tell me what's wrong."

"You remember that I told you about the guy I was in love with when I had my accident?" Seeing her nod, he continued, "He showed up here a few hours ago."

"Oh my God! That's great! ... Isn't it?"

"I don't know. Oh, Leslie, I don't know what to do. They were all here, all six of them. They said someone told them that I died. They even got an urn filled with ashes. They didn't look for me because they thought I was dead."

"Do you believe them?" Leslie asked.

"Yeah, they wouldn't lie to me about a thing like that. The thing is ... they want me to go back with them ... to Denver. I don't know what to do."

"Do you still have feelings for him?"

"Yes, no, I don't know anymore. I just can't ... pick up and leave. I have a life here, a job."

"You can take pictures anywhere. It's beautiful in Colorado. You could try to get your old job back," she suggested.

"I don't know. It's been too long. I want ... I need ... I don't even know what I want anymore. I thought I did, when I thought I could live without him. But now that I've seen him ... I don't know."

"How did you feel when you saw him today?"

"Elated, excited, ... happy, ... hurt. Oh God, Leslie," Buck said as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and cried.

***

Judge Travis was enraged. He demanded to know how to get in touch with Maude. Falsifying a death record was illegal. Not to mention what she had put Chris and Ezra through. Chris made him agree to wait until Ezra had spoken with her, to find out why she did it. He had an idea, but he wanted to make sure. Just as he was hanging up the phone, Josiah knocked on the door. He and Nathan had Ezra slung between them, one arm over each of their shoulders. They maneuvered him to the second bed and stretched him out.

"What in the hell did you two do to him?" Vin asked.

"He killed six doubles as fast as the bartender would pour them for him. On an empty stomach if he did what I think he did while the two of you were in the bathroom at Buck's place," Nathan answered in the same venomous tone Vin had used on him.

"At least he got Ezra to eat something," Josiah added.

"What did Travis say," Nathan asked of Chris.

"He's pissed off. And that's putting it mildly. He wants to throw her in jail and weld the door shut. Do you realize that Ezra received Buck's life insurance benefits? He could be prosecuted."

"Travis wouldn't do that, would he?" Josiah asked, casting a worried look at the passed out man.

"He wouldn't but the company that handles the insurance might. If they think he was complicit in defrauding them," Nathan explained.

"Okay, let's deal with that later. Where is Maude?" Chris asked.

"He said she was in New Orleans," Josiah replied.

"Could we go get something to eat?" JD asked.

"Someone needs to stay with Ezra," Nathan said.

"I'll stay with him. You can bring me something back," Vin offered.

Chris went to his lover and rested a hand lightly on his shoulder. "You sure?"

"Yeah, I need to be here for him."

The others had only been gone about fifteen minutes when Ezra began to thrash. Soon, he was murmuring Buck's name. Vin crossed to the bed and reached out to keep him from falling off the edge. Ezra turned away from him, groping out and pulling the spread toward him. His fingers grasped the pillow and he drew in into his arms. Vin got up and went to the closet to get another blanket. He spread it over Ezra, sitting on the side of the bed and watching the other man as he dealt with whatever demons his subconscious was dredging up. Ezra continued to mumble Buck's name until he drifted into a deeper sleep.

***

Buck agonized over the situation all evening. He pulled out his wallet and ran his finger over the only picture he had of Ezra. It was one that JD had taken at the ranch during an unguarded moment. His lover's eyes were focused on something in the distance and he was relaxed. The picture was worn from all of the times Buck had handled it after the bandages were removed from his eyes. Whenever he closed his eyes, he could still see the love in Ezra's face just before the accident. He rolled over on his bed, so he could see the picture better. His head ached from all of the emotional revelations. Learning that he had been deceived by Maude, he thought about what it must have been like for Ezra. He began to imagine how much worse it must have been for his lover, trying to recover from serious, life-threatening injuries and coma while mourning. At least he knew why they hadn't ever contacted him. As he relaxed on the bed, he felt some of the hurt he had been holding inside begin to dissolve. He stood the picture up against his alarm clock so he would be able to see it when he opened his eyes in the morning.

Morning came and Buck felt as if a tremendous weight had been lifted from his chest. He no longer felt the burning rage he had been feeling. He wasn't sure that he could go back to things the way they were before the accident, but he wanted to have a chance. And he wouldn't get that chance unless he returned to Denver. He wanted to see Casey, wanted to be there when they handed JD his first child. He got up and packed a bag with all of the things he needed until he could arrange for the rest of it to be shipped to him. Dialing the number from memory, he waited to hear Chris on the other end of the line.

Chris closed his cell phone and rolled over to find Vin waiting for him to say something. A disgruntled, pain filled voice floated from the pile of blankets on the other bed. "I trust that was sufficiently important to warrant disturbing our slumber?"

"That was Buck. He wants to go home with us."

Two pillows fell off of the bed as Ezra rolled over to verify what he'd just heard. The broad smile on Chris's face told him that he wasn't kidding. Ezra let his aching head fall to the pillow to hide the blatant display of emotion scrolling across his face.

They met in the hotel lobby. It was a little awkward for all of them except Buck and JD. The two of them connected on a visceral level, the time apart being easily dismissed. JD picked up one of Buck's suitcases and carried it to the rental vehicle. There was some jockeying for seats as they tried to avoid putting Ezra and Buck too close to each other. They had the same problem when they got on the plane. They hung back, letting the former lovers choose seats before they filled in the remaining spots. Surprisingly, they chose to sit across the aisle from each other. JD climbed into the seat next to Buck and Josiah took the seat next to Ezra. Chris and Vin sat together and Nathan sat across from them, behind Buck and JD. Only the Nathan could see the hungry green eyes that watched Buck when he wasn't looking. Chris caught the looks Buck was giving Ezra. They were hungry and curious at the same time.

Chris dealt with Vin's claustrophobic nervousness by requesting a pair of blankets from the flight attendant. He kept one hand in his lover's lap, teasing him to take his mind off of the enclosed space.

Casey was waiting for them at the airport when they arrived. She ran, screeching, not to her husband, but to Buck. He swept her up in a bear hug, spinning around with her in the middle of the concourse.

"Look at you, you're glowing!" Buck said as he set the pretty little brunette on her feet. He cupped her face and studied her brown eyes before tweaking her nose.

"It's so good to see you again," she said as she leaned in for another hug.

Buck's eyes followed Ezra as he went to the ticket counter. He stepped away from Casey and walked up behind Ezra just in time to hear him trying to book a flight to New Orleans.

"What are you going to do there?" Buck asked.

"Contemplate matricide," Ezra answered calmly.

"Matricide?"

"It means he's thinking of sending his sainted mother into the glorious hereafter," Josiah explained, having arrived in time to hear the tail end of the conversation.

"Can you get another ticket on that same flight for me?" Buck asked the ticket agent, dropping his driver's license and credit card on the counter.

"Buck, you don't need to do this," Ezra protested.

"I want to. I want to know how she got a body to cremate. I want to know why she told all of you that I died."

"You might not have to go anywhere. Travis has issued a warrant for her arrest on a variety of charges. Let's just hang loose for a few days," Chris said.

"She will be brought here?" Ezra asked.

"Yes, as soon as they pick her up she will be extradited to Denver because this is where the case started. Unless she fights the extradition, she will be here within 24 hours of her arrest."

"Let me serve her with the arrest warrant," Buck suggested. "I want to see the look on her face."

"Allow me to accompany him. She'll never suspect it if I'm there. Mother is notoriously well trained in avoiding summons servers."

It took only one phone call to Travis to get permission for Buck and Ezra to go to New Orleans with the needed paperwork. They went to JD's apartment to freshen up and rearrange their overnight bags. Buck was almost overcome by melancholy at being in his former home. JD and Casey had made significant changes, painting walls and carpeting over the hardwood floors. Buck watched the brief videotape of the wedding and was shown ultrasound pictures of Baby Dunne. Too soon, he and Ezra were returning to the airport for the red-eye flight to New Orleans.

Sitting side by side in the first class section of the plane, Ezra shifted nervously in the seat. Buck's seat was reclined and he was dozing lightly. Ezra made use of the opportunity to study the handsome face. His fingers itched to caress that skin, to card through the thick, dark hair. His heart clenched at all of the time lost between them.

"Don't think so loudly there, Ezra," Buck mumbled softly, turning so Ezra could see all of the gentle smile on his face. He had known his former lover was staring at him and he allowed him the indulgence. He knew what it was like, he had often studied his own face in the mirror as it was rebuilt. It was difficult for him when he had been forced to undergo physical therapy.

"A facial therapist?" he'd questioned Dr. Wild.

"Yes, to help you learn to control the muscles again," the surgeon had patiently explained. "You may not realize it, but you slur your words when you speak and you have a perpetual scowl."

It was strange, sitting side by side with the therapist trying to duplicate his facial expression. He had taken it for granted, not understanding how many muscles it took to smile, to wink, to wiggle his nose. He had gotten frustrated, thinking that he might look normal but would spend the rest of his life with the appearance of a mannequin, his face forever frozen in a bored expression.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare," Ezra apologized, directing his gaze out of the window to the darkness and the few speckles of light on the ground far below them.

"Does it look like you remembered?"

"It's perfect."

"Should have seen it when they first took the bandages away."

He was scared and excited at the same time. Dr. Wild had tried to explain it to him but he hadn't been at all prepared for what he saw when he was allowed to look into the mirror. In addition to the multitude of red, healing cuts, there was a profusion of stitches but that wasn't the worst part. His face was swollen and misshapen. He could see where his jawbone was broken and also where his cheekbones were shattered. The bones had fused and would have to be re-broken and repositioned so that they could heal properly.

Tears filled his eyes and he looked away from the mirror. A firm hand grasped his shoulder and a commanding voice ordered him to look again. "Don't get used to this, it isn't permanent. It will change as we go. This is as bad as it gets. You won't remember this except like a bad dream," Dr. Wild said gently.

"I wish I had been there for you," Ezra said, his voice a mere whisper.

"She wouldn't even let me visit you before she sent me away."

"She was there with me when I woke up the first time and she told me that you were gone. I wanted to close my eyes and never open them again when I heard."

"I never thought about how hard it must have been for you. They told me you had several broken bones."

Unconsciously, Ezra rubbed at his thigh. He still had an occasional twinge in it, especially when he overexerted himself. "I was in a wheelchair for several months. It must have been doubly difficult for you, all alone in a strange city, bereft of family and friends."

"Dr. Wild and the nurses were good to me. They saw me through some pretty rough times. My therapist had a hard time getting me to open up sometimes. But he never stopped pushing me. The holidays were the hardest."

Both men grew silent, each deeply lost in thought. Ezra remembered that first Christmas without Buck. He'd gotten unbelievably drunk and tried to commit suicide. Josiah and Vin had been there for him, talking him out of ending his life. Buck was recovering from a surgical procedure that first Christmas, painkillers kept the worst of the depression at bay.

The 'fasten seatbelts' sign came on and the flight attendant warned them that they should prepare for landing. They folded up the small blankets and set the tray tables back into the seats in front of them. A small pocket of turbulence buffeted the plane and Buck's hand gripped the armrest. His arm brushed against Ezra's and they exchanged grins.

They took a cab to the local police station to get someone to accompany them when they served the warrant. Buck stared when they got out in front of a luxurious mansion. The massive marble columns stretched from the porch to the second floor roof. The broad porch ran all the way around the ground floor and hanging baskets of flowers and ivy hung everywhere. A lush, rolling lawn disappeared in the distance. Ezra rang the bell. Buck almost expected to be greeted by a tall, bald man in a tuxedo. When the door opened, a petite woman looked out at them.

"Would you please inform Mrs. Standish that her son would like to speak with her?"

The maid nodded and closed the door, hurrying away. Buck looked at Ezra, surprised that they had not been shown into the house. A few moments later, the woman was back, slipping out to lead them around the wide, whitewashed porch. Maude was sitting on the shady side of the porch at a small table. A light breakfast was set out before her and she was pouring another cup of tea as her visitors approached.

"Ezra, dear, I didn't expect you quite so early in the morning," Maude said without looking up.

A hard look tightened Ezra's face as he reached into his pocket. Buck watched as he slapped the arrest warrant on the table with one hand while drawing handcuffs from his pocket with the other. "Maude Standish, you are under arrest for falsifying a death certificate, defrauding a life insurance company and other charges listed on these papers. Please stand up."

Shock, surprise and anger warred for control of Maude's face as she looked up at her son. Her eyes widened even further as she took in the police officers and recognized the man standing beside Ezra. She swallowed hard, her icy blue eyes darting between the two men before moving on to the maid, who was standing like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Marla, please go and call Mr. Carlson for me. Tell him to get over here immediately," Maude said, her voice dead calm, revealing none of the emotions she felt.

"Stand up, Mother, you are under arrest," Ezra repeated.

"Now, Ezra, let's not get carried away. I realize that you are upset but there is no need for all of these histrionics. Won't you and Mr. Wilmington join me for breakfast?"

Buck watched in shock as Ezra grabbed Maude by the wrist and brought her to her feet. She pulled away when he brought the handcuffs toward her wrist. Suddenly, he propelled her into the railing, easily controlling her as he captured both of her hands.

"I have an order of extradition from the state of Colorado. You can find an attorney when we get there," Ezra said as he dragged his mother around the house. Buck followed silently, amazed at the controlled rage being exuded by his former lover. Ezra guided the handcuffed woman into the back seat of the police car before returning to the cab, nodding at the wide-eyed driver. Buck flashed his badge at the man to let him know that it was alright.

"Take us to the airport," Buck ordered as he got in behind the driver.

There was some confusion at the airport until Ezra displayed the arrest warrant. They were then escorted to the security office to await the next available flight to Denver. Maude had yet to speak to either her son or Buck. She was absolutely mortified to have been escorted through the terminal by the police. She deliberately turned her back on them, staring at the muted television in the corner of the holding area. Ezra paced in the confines of the room, checking his watch every few minutes. Buck ached to comfort him but he didn't quite know how. When Ezra finally sat down, Buck reached out and gently squeezed his shoulder.

"Don't Buck, please," Ezra said, shifting away from Buck. His mind was in turmoil. Giving back the money from the life insurance was no problem, he had simply added it to his investment portfolio and could liquidate stocks to pay it back. What he was struggling with was where to go with his relationship. He didn't know if they could go back to the way things were between them. He had never stopped loving Buck. He was afraid that if he allowed Buck to touch him that he would lose control and out them in front of God and everyone at the airport. Just that concerned gesture had him achingly hard. He slipped into the men's room to relieve himself.

Maude's attorney arrived and examined the papers Ezra presented to him. He conferred briefly with his client before leaving to purchase a ticket for himself. He could easily have prevented them from taking her to Denver but only for a short time. The list of charges was impressive and he hoped that, by not fighting extradition, he could get some of them reduced or dismissed. Once on board the plane, he persuaded the ATF agents to allow Maude to have her hands cuffed in front of her instead of behind her back. The woman was like a pillar of ice, refusing to speak to anyone except the flight attendant when she brought around drinks. Ezra vetoed her request for an alcoholic beverage, forcing her to make due with plain soda.

A Denver police car was waiting at the airport when they arrived. Maude was handed over to them without delay. Ezra was bone tired and desperately in need of two day's rest. He bid Buck farewell and got into a cab. He barely managed to keep his eyes open during the half hour it took to reach his condo.

Buck also took a cab from the airport. He went back to the apartment he used to share with JD. The kid had pressed a key into his hand the day before and told him to make himself at home. Casey was at work, she was a teacher's aide at the local grade school. JD was at the office, Buck called him to let him know that he was there and to ask whether he should crash on the couch or not. JD informed him that they had a bed set up in the small bedroom on the main floor. Buck checked the room and found that there was indeed a full bed in the small room that had been JD's. The walls had been painted to resemble a summer sky, complete with clouds and birds in the distance. He was too weary to care, he just stripped to his underclothes and crawled into bed.

The criminal charges were whittled down to just the most serious ones. Chris discovered, during the course of his interrogation, that Maude had paid for an indigent man to be cremated, which was how she had procured the ashes and urn. An unscrupulous doctor had signed off on the death certificate for a tidy sum of money. She had never thought about the trouble Ezra could get into, she didn't realize that he was Buck's beneficiary. Not really wanting his undercover agent's mother to go to prison, Chris persuaded Travis to recommend that the DA sign off on a plea agreement that placed her under house arrest. It was all very 'Martha Stewart' with Maude agreeing to electronic monitoring and community service. Chris thought it might just be worth the cost of the plane tickets to be able to drive by while the very prim and proper woman picked up trash along the side of the road.

Ezra refused to meet with his mother. He sent word, by Josiah, that she was no longer welcome in his home or his life. He was a long way from the forgiveness that the older man urged him to find for his mother. She had taken away the one thing that made him happy in his life and he was not going to let her back into his good graces any time in the near future. He had returned to the office after waking from his long sleep, refreshed and ready to go back to work. Josiah persuaded Chris to let the man be, he needed to work through everything that had happened in the recent weeks.

Buck did meet with Maude just the one time. While he was recovering from the back-to-back flights, he'd had a wealth of time to think. He was furious with the woman for the lie she had foisted onto his friends, but he had to be grateful to her for giving him back his face. With her lawyer there to ensure that she didn't say anything that could be used against her, Maude met with Buck.

"Well, it seems as if Dr. Wild did a good job," Maude said.

"He did, Ma'am. And I wanted the opportunity to thank you."

"It didn't turn out quite the way I planned."

"Would it have been so bad for Ezra to be happy? Was it really worth putting us through this? Your son is a very special man and I care for him a great deal. I don't know what will happen between us but I promise you that I will never ever hurt him."

"Yes, well, there isn't anything I can do to stop it now, is there? It will be a year before I can leave my abode without the inconvenience of having my every move watched. And my son has made it quite clear that I'm not welcome in his life any more," Maude answered, blinking back tears.

"He just doesn't realize how lucky he is to have his mother still living. I'll talk to him about it, I promise. If there's anything I can do, I'll get you back together with him," Buck said. "Anyway, I just wanted to thank you again, in spite of it all."

Maude was allowed to return to her home in Louisiana and assigned a court officer to supervise her for the duration of her sentence. She and her lawyer boarded a plane under the disapproving glare of her son's boss. Chris Larabee had warned her that he would see her in jail if she messed with him and his friends again.

It took some doing to untangle the red tape that would allow Buck to reclaim his job with the ATF. He had to acquire his medical records from the doctors who had treated him over the past 18 months. He also had to re qualify with his firearm. Vin spent the better part of two days with him at the range, helping him to get ready for the test. Travis threw some muscle around and smoothed the way for him to return to active duty as soon as he was cleared by the department physician and psychiatrist.

One of the first things Buck noticed when they went to New Orleans together was that Ezra was wearing the ring they had selected so very long ago. He admired the way the white gold set off Ezra's natural pale coloring. When Ezra noticed Buck staring at his hand on his first day in the office, he tucked it below his desk and kept it in his lap. The next day, the ring was gone, only the pale indent on his skin betraying that it had ever been there. Buck immediately regretted getting caught staring. He cornered Ezra by the coffee maker and spoke to him about it.

"You didn't have to take it off, Ezra."

"It was a way to ... remember."

"Did you keep the other one?" Buck asked.

"Yes, I couldn't bear the thought of someone else buying it ... wearing it. Do you ... want it back? I kept yours ... it's still in the jeweler's box."

"No, that's alright, you keep it for me. Ezra, do you suppose we could ... go out to dinner some time? For old time's sake?"

Fearing his heart being broken again, Ezra declined the invitation. He could see the hurt in Buck's eyes and he had to walk away. Buck stared after him, realizing that they were both scared of what might happen if they took up with each other again.

Things in the office were a little awkward for a while. Although JD and Casey were thrilled to have Buck back, it soon became uncomfortable for them. Buck tried to present a perpetually smiling face, but it was inevitable that he couldn't maintain it with the tension between himself and Ezra. Chris invited him to come out to the ranch for a weekend to give them a break.

Buck's cherry-red truck had been in storage because Ezra couldn't bear to sell it and he didn't trust anyone else to drive it. After a thorough tune up, it was running like new and Buck drove it out to the ranch. He had been relieved to find that Chris hadn't gotten rid of his horse but he hadn't had a chance to get out there and ride. Vin proposed that the three of them go for a long ride Friday evening, then have a barbecue on Saturday with all of the team. Vin saw it as a step toward getting his friends back to the way things had been. Buck was still trying to get used to the idea that the two men were a couple. He carried his bag in and put it in the spare room. Vin and Chris already had the horses out and saddled, ready to leave as soon as Buck was changed.

The ease and familiarity of the three men allowed them to ride in a comfortable silence for a while. Peso, however, was not up to allowing them a peaceful ride. The gelding kept stopping to forage along the sides of the path and trying to nip Pony's hocks. When even his usual antics didn't gain the desired result, he began kicking at Buck's mount. Steele, usually a most placid, well behaved animal, retaliated by turning his teeth on Peso. When Buck started laughing, he couldn't stop. The marks left by Steele's teeth on Peso's behind struck him funny and he just lost it. Seeing him doubled over the saddle horn with tears rolling down his face, Vin and Chris started laughing too. By the time the men had regained control, the horses were settled down and ready to move on. From then on, they talked about whatever came to mind.

Without thinking about it, Chris turned Pony onto the path that went up to the lake. They reached the clearing and stopped, Chris suddenly realizing what they had not taken down since Buck's return. Of course, Buck's eyes locked on the stone and he nudged his horse toward it. He slipped out of the saddle and squatted down to look at the inscription. It had his name, dates, and a phrase in italics. He brushed his fingers across the letters, remembering when he had first heard those words from Ezra's lips.

It was shortly after he'd moved in with Ezra, they were having a special meal that his lover had worked all day to prepare. As they were about to begin the meal, Ezra raised his wine glass and proposed a toast. "Until forever," he said.

"What does that mean?" Buck remembered asking.

"How long I will love you," Ezra explained.

Chris waited a few minutes before approaching Buck. He put a hand on Buck's shoulder and felt the trembling. When the dark blue eyes came up to meet his, Chris could see that they were welling with tears.

"I'm sorry, I forgot to have it taken down," he said.

"S'alright, it just took me be surprise. You and Ezra did this?"

"Yeah, we wanted a place to remember. He buried the urn here after we scattered the ashes in the lake. He came up here a lot at first, as soon as he recovered enough to ride. I really thought we were going to lose him for a while."

"He told me how badly he was hurt in the accident."

"It wasn't just the physical stuff," Vin corrected.

They let the horses get a drink and graze for a while before heading back to the house. Chris put together a pot of spaghetti and they had a few beers. Vin popped a movie into the DVD player and they stretched out in the living room to watch it. Chris sat on one end of the couch with his feet up on the coffee table. Vin laid on the couch with his feet pressed to his lover's thigh. Buck kicked back in the recliner.

The movie was almost over when Buck noticed that Chris was lightly rubbing his lover's shin. Vin was becoming aroused and his jeans poorly concealed it. A flash of pain wrapped around Buck's chest and he studiously avoided looking toward the couch.

Vin noticed the tension radiating from Buck and nudged Chris to make him stop. When the movie was over, Chris got up to go into the kitchen with the empty beer bottles. Vin got up to go to the bathroom and detoured into the kitchen afterwards. He wrapped his arms around his lover from behind, deliberately rubbing his hard on against Chris's ass.

"Easy there cowboy, we have a guest in the house," Chris murmured. Vin nuzzled the blond hair at the nape of Chris's neck, drawing a low moan.

Buck started into the kitchen to get a glass of water to wash down the Tylenol he wanted to take. When he heard Chris moan softly, he froze. They didn't know he was there. He could see Vin pull the tee shirt from Chris's pants so he could touch his skin. He saw Vin leaning his hips toward Chris and knew that he was aroused. Buck spun on his heel and hurried to the spare bedroom. He realized how big a mistake it was to agree to spend the night at the ranch now that Chris and Vin were a couple. Just seeing them together was a reminder of all that he had lost.

The next morning, Chris noticed that Buck was avoiding them. He looked out to see his oldest friend standing outside of the paddock, scratching Chaucer under his mane. The thoroughbred had his head hanging over Buck's shoulder. Steele stood next to Chaucer as if only supervising the pair.

"This isn't helping him," Vin said as he stopped next to Chris and looked out the window.

"Was it a mistake, bringing him back here after we found him?"

"I don't know about a mistake but I never figured it'd be this hard for them."

"Ezra said something to you?" Chris asked, knowing his lover was closer to Standish.

"Yeah, not anything direct, but I know it's eating him up inside."

They stood and watched for a while before going on with their morning routine. Buck wandered in a little later, grabbed a cup of coffee and went right back outside. When Vin went out to the barn to feed the horses, he found that Buck had already put out grain for them and was in the process of cleaning the stalls.

"I'm sorry," Vin said, just loudly enough for Buck to hear him.

"For what?"

"You're uncomfortable here, with us."

Putting the rake against the wall, Buck began to deny it. "No, it isn't like that at all. I'm just having a little trouble getting used to all this again."

"How are things between you and Ezra?" Vin asked, disliking the need to pry.

"It's like someone replaced him with a stranger. Can I ask you something?" He waited for Vin to nod. "Did he date anyone while I was ... gone?"

"No, we tried taking him out with us, to get him started, but he began to beg off so we stopped. He's pretty much drawn in on himself."

Chris came into the barn and Buck went back to raking the stalls. Vin slipped away, trying to give them a chance to talk about whatever was bothering them. There was an almost visible tension between the two old friends. When they both reached for the wheelbarrow at the same time, Buck flinched.

"I'm sorry this is so hard for you," Chris said as Buck turned away. He waited until Buck sat on a nearby bale of hay before continuing, "I didn't think about how it would be for you being here with me and Vin-"

"It isn't that, Chris. I'm happy for the two of you, I really am, it's just-"

"You didn't expect it to hurt so much?"

Buck looked up, startled, "Is it so transparent to all of you?"

"No. You forget, I saw that same look in the mirror for a lot of months. When I wasn't too hung over to recognize it," Chris said with a smile. "Are you going to be alright? Do you want to stay somewhere else? Josiah's maybe?"

He saw the offer for what it was, not as an attempt to get rid of him, and Buck smiled. "Nah, I'll just hang out here for a while. See how things go. Okay?" Chris nodded, feeling some of the tension ease between them.

Nathan arrived first, bringing a platter of finger foods and a veggie tray. JD arrived next, struggling with a case of beer and an assortment of sodas. Josiah and Ezra arrived together, with a pot of chili and several pounds of steak. A festive mood soon blossomed. JD dug out a Nerf football and he and Vin began playing on the lawn. Josiah and Nathan were hovering over the grill, arguing over the sauce. Ezra saddled Chaucer and spent a while riding around the paddock before setting up the low jumps and practicing his English dressage technique. Buck's eyes followed his former lover.

It made his groin tingle watching Ezra posting on the horse's back. He couldn't help remembering how he had used those same movements when they made love. He was staring at Ezra when Chaucer suddenly picked up speed and jumped the corral rails. Buck was on his feet, his heart in his throat as he watched the chestnut gelding racing across the pasture.

"I've tried and tried to get him to stop doing that," Josiah said to Buck as he pressed a fresh beer into his hand. "I keep seeing him falling one day."

"He's too good for that."

"It only takes a second for an accident to happen," the profiler said.

Chaucer was winded when Ezra slid from the saddle. He let the horse go to the lake as he walked over to the gravestone. Chris had said that he wanted to take it down in a couple of weeks. Going to his knees in front of the stone, he pulled something from his pocket. Letting the chain spool from his fingers, he stared at the two rings hanging from it. The sun glinted off of the white gold, sending out rays of reflected light. He used his pocketknife to dig along the edge of the cement base and dropped the rings and chain into the hole. He pressed the loose dirt back and stared at the inscription he'd requested for the stone. His eyes blurred with tears and he blinked them back quickly. Finally, he stood and whistled for Chaucer.

Buck stared at the spot where Ezra had disappeared into the woods until he spotted him returning. He walked down to the barn and opened the gate from the corral so that Ezra didn't have to dismount. He followed them and stood back to watch as Ezra loosened the girth strap.

"Steaks are about done," Buck said.

"I'll be right there."

"I see you kept up with your jumping."

"It was part of my therapy, to help me rebuild the lost muscle. The doctor said riding was good for me," Ezra explained as he put the saddle on the rack. Buck continued to watch as Ezra groomed the horse before putting him in the stall. They walked back to the house together.

The meal was excellent and the men settled around the table to eat. Afterwards, they continued to sit around, watching Chris's new mare in the field. She was due to foal in three months. The owner of the stud was paying a pretty hefty sum for the use of the mare. She stretched her nose down to nip at the grass before turning to jog along the fence. Buck sighed aloud, wondering if he would still be here to see the new foal.

Things evened out between Buck and Ezra over the next few days. There was a new resolve in Ezra's mind since he had buried the rings. He was polite and cordial to his former lover, almost the way he had been before they began to date. Judge Travis put Team 7 on the Enrique Rodriguez case, not having made any headway with the other team. Ezra spent the rest of the week putting his cover together.

It was a fairly routing meeting at a popular restaurant. Ethan Stone laughed and drank with his friends as the bosses discussed business. Enrique was explaining something to Jose when he turned and called for his newest salesman. Jose Santiago was very high in the upper echelons of the crime bosses around Denver. He commanded a large gang of drug and weapons sellers that ruled the streets. Next to him was Phillipe Rosa, who ran the delivery trucks that imported all manner of illegal contraband from Mexico. Ezra put his drink down and wove through the crowd to the man who had called for him.

"Ethan, my friend, you are familiar with the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, are you not?" Enrique asked as he put his arm around the shorter man.

"They are only the greatest composers of this century," Ezra agreed, smiling gamely.

Enrique broke into song and Ezra joined right in. Up the block, Josiah turned the volume down on the speakers in the surveillance van. Buck and Chris exchanged a smile as they heard the men singing. From their video feed, they could see Ezra and Enrique swaying in tandem as they sang at the top of their lungs. Phillipe glanced around nervously before joining in the chorus. Jose tossed back another drink before joining in.

In the small meeting room at the back of the restaurant, Jose opened a packing crate filled with stolen military rifles. He also displayed a briefcase filled with rocks of cocaine. Enrique wrinkled his nose at the drugs but eagerly caressed the guns. He hefted one, checking the balance before replacing it in the crate.

"These are lovely but hardly appropriate for my purposes," Enrique said haughtily. "These are difficult to conceal. I need a gross of Glocks or Sigs for my crew."

"I can acquire all that you need in the next few days," Phillipe promised. "I have a shipment coming in that is all small stuff. I can also put my hands on a large quantity of plastic explosives if you are interested."

In the surveillance van, Chris gripped the edge of his seat as he heard the men casually discussing guns and explosives. He really didn't like having Ezra in the middle of such a dangerous group. It was too soon after the emotional upheaval, he worried about whether or not Ezra could stay in character and not get his cover blown. There was also the added complication of the plastic explosives, which increased the danger during a bust, a stray bullet could set them off.

"No explosives, I don't want to take a chance on one of my underlings getting aspirations of greatness," Enrique said angrily.

"However, I might be able to fence it to some friends of mine who have need of it in other cities for other operations," Ezra offered.

"What is he doing?" Chris growled.

"Trying to get the stuff off the street?" Josiah supposed.

When Ezra got to the office a few hours later, Chris was calmly pissed. Ezra defended his actions with sound reasoning and Travis agreed that they should get the explosives if they could. He suggested that they send another agent in as the 'friend' Ezra had referred to. Since JD and Vin were obviously the wrong type and Enrique had a rabid dislike for "colored" people, Nathan was excluded. Chris and Josiah had both been involved in another bust that hadn't yielded enough evidence to convict Jose so they were out. That left only Buck or bringing someone in from another team. Since Buck was familiar with explosives, it was decided to allow him to go in as the buyer.

The meeting was going smoothly. Phillipe had gotten the crate of handguns and explosives and contacted Enrique to arrange the buy. Buck and three agents from the Reno office, who were acting as his crew, were just getting out of the car. The rest of Team Seven, together with teams two and five, were waiting in the curtains, as it were, for the signal to go in. James Randall, from the Reno office, strode forward and put the briefcase of money on the trunk.

"ATF! Freeze!" Chris yelled into the megaphone. Several hands went for guns and a few managed to clear leather and get a shot off. Ezra and Buck raised their hands in surrender, moving out of the line of fire. Shots flew past them, penetrating the side of the limo Enrique had arrived in and shattering the rear glass. Phillipe fired at Josiah and was spun around as Vin's sniper rifle sent a bullet into his shoulder. Enrique grabbed Buck and hid behind him, pressing a small 22 into his ribs.

Vin saw the gun and his finger eased off of the trigger. A few minutes later, there was a rather intense stand off. After forcing Ezra to his knees and clubbing him with Buck's weapon, Enrique pushed Buck into the limo and ordered his driver to run over the agents standing in the doorway. With very little room to maneuver, the car slammed into the stack of crates, sending them toppling over Ezra's unconscious form before a bullet took out the driver and the vehicle slammed into the wall.

Inside the limo, Buck watched in horror as the crates fell on Ezra. When the driver slumped against the steering wheel, he made his move. A solid right cross rendered Enrique senseless and Buck burst from the car as soon as it hit the wall.

"Freeze!" "Don't move!" "Drop your weapon!" Agents yelled from all sides as they saw someone come surging out of the back of the limo. Buck raised his hands as he searched for one of his teammates.

"Buck, get over here!" Chris yelled, as he and Josiah were carefully lifting the crates from on top of Ezra. Nathan was already on his knees, reaching under the pile to gather information about the injured man. Buck jogged over and began to help with the heavy crate. Vin rappelled down from the rafters and JD ran in from the surveillance van. Other agents tried to help but they soon realized that they were in the way. An ambulance took the injured gunrunners and the driver to the hospital while the others were loaded into police cars for their trip to jail.

"Ezra, can you hear me?" Nathan asked as soon as they had uncovered his head. Getting no response, he found his pulse and nodded to the others. It took four of them to lift the last crate off of Ezra before Nathan and the paramedics could go to work.

Buck noticed a thin line of blood behind Ezra's ear and his knees folded. It took Josiah and Chris to keep him from moving the injured man. The paramedics checked Ezra's spine and legs before rolling him onto a backboard and immobilizing his head and neck. They split the sleeve of his suit coat and shirt, in preparation for starting an IV. There was a low moan and Ezra's eyes opened, blinking several times before coming to focus.

"Please don't move, Agent Standish," the paramedic urged as he slipped the needle into the vein he had selected. Ezra flinched, trying to move his arm. Panic was instantaneous, Ezra began to struggle, digging his heels into the smooth board and trying to turn on his side.

"Ezra, it's all right," Buck said as he reached out and caught hold of Ezra's hand. "Let the man do his job," he said as he stared into the frightened green eyes.

"Buck! I thought ... I was afr-"

"I'm fine. Just be still and let them get you ready to go to the hospital."

Three stitches behind his ear and a prescription for something for pain was all the treatment Ezra needed at the hospital. He was bruised and would be sore for a few days but was otherwise unharmed. Buck stayed with him at the hospital until he was discharged then drove him home. Ezra was oddly silent in the car, he didn't speak until Buck shut off the engine.

"Buck, I ... want to thank you ... for being there ... at the hospital with me," Ezra stammered. It was one of the few remnants of the accident that he had not been able to deal with. He went all to pieces at hospitals. One time, when Josiah had fallen and wrenched his knee a few months ago, Ezra actually fainted in the waiting room. It brought back too many painful memories and he tended to hyperventilate and pass out. "Will you ... come in for a while?"

A broad smile lit Buck's face as he got out and came around to help Ezra out of the car. Nathan and JD had brought it to the hospital so Ezra would have a way home. Vin insisted that the rest of the team leave the hospital and get started on the paperwork. He hoped that the couple would get closer if they were left alone together. Buck took Ezra's elbow and steadied him. He wanted to pull the man into his arms but he didn't dare, not yet.

Inside of the condo, Ezra peeled off the suit coat and shirt, tossing them into the trashcan. He went to his closet and grabbed a pullover sweater. When he tried to pull the sweater down, the sore muscles in his back caused him to hiss aloud. Buck was right there, pushing the soft material up and away.

"What are you doing?" Ezra asked.

"Come over here and stretch out on your stomach," Buck said as he steered Ezra toward his bed. He guided Ezra into lying down. Beginning at his shoulders, Buck began to gently massage the tense, sore muscles.

It was almost like before and Ezra closed his eyes as he reveled in the pleasurable sensation of the large, gentle hands moving over his back. He flinched when Buck reached the worst of the bruised areas. Instantly, the touch became gentler, lighter, until he relaxed again. When Buck reached his hips, Ezra groaned softly, thinking the massage was over. Buck got up from the bed and moved to ease the shoes from Ezra's feet, rubbing them as he did. Moving back around to the side, he placed one hand on Ezra's back and spoke softly, "Roll over and let me undo your pants."

Without thinking about it, Ezra did as he was told. Buck gently removed Ezra's pants and draped them across the quilt rack at the foot of the bed. He took the quilt and spread it over the prone body. Ezra had returned to his stomach and folded his arms under his pillow.

"Do you need a pain pill?" Buck asked.

"Yes, please." After he'd taken the pill, Ezra settled on the pillow again and Buck's hand gently passed over his back. Some ten minutes later, he was deeply asleep.

Buck left Ezra sleeping and went into the other room. It was like stepping back in time almost two years. Very little had changed in the collection of rooms he had shared with his lover. A single picture of the two of them still sat on the bookcase. He was stunned to see his baby picture next to it. Ezra had commented that he loved that picture but Buck would never let him put it out because it embarrassed him. His mother had taken it after a bath and he was lying naked on her bed with a feather boa across his back.

Realizing that Ezra would probably sleep for several hours, Buck decided to make himself at home. It had been a long time since he had spent any length of time at the condo but he knew where everything was. After checking the doors and windows, Buck was overcome by lethargy. Worn out from the long and emotionally charged day, he grabbed a blanket from the spare bedroom closet and settled in the recliner to sleep.

When he awoke, alone, Ezra was unbearably saddened. He had somehow hoped that he would find Buck lying beside him. Getting up was an exercise in pain and he shuffled into the bathroom. After using the toilet, he decided that he needed another pain pill and some hot tea to settle his nerves. Ezra was standing at the kitchen counter, staring at the coffee maker that he used to make his herbal tea. So deeply lost in thought that he didn't hear Buck coming, he started when he felt the firm hands on his back.

"Are you still hurting?" Buck asked.

"I thought you'd gone."

"You shouldn't be alone. Go and lay down, I'll bring the tea and a pain pill."

Buck gave Ezra the pill and a cup of tea and gave him another massage. When he thought Ezra was asleep, he got up to return to the living room.

"Please stay?" Ezra murmured, reaching out to snag one of Buck's hands.

"You sure?"

"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't."

It took him only a few minutes to strip down to his underclothes and slide into the bed. They immediately returned to old habits, Ezra turning on his side as Buck spooned against his back. The warmth of Buck's body soothed the aching muscles and the pain pill sent Ezra into a deep, healing sleep.

The phone was ringing when Ezra finally opened his eyes again. He felt an instant of panic when he realized that he couldn't easily move. A heavy warmth was wrapped around him and a warm breath was tickling his ear. The ringing had stopped by the time he wormed out from under Buck's arm. He carefully sat up on the edge of the bed before coming to his feet and heading for the bathroom. When he came out, the bed was empty. His stomach clenched and he grabbed his robe before padding out to the kitchen. Buck came out of the other bathroom and startled him. He tried to spring away and lost his balance. He grabbed for the first thing he could reach and found himself tightly clasped in Buck's arms.

"Good morning," Buck murmured, just before he lowered his lips to Ezra's.

He surrendered for a moment to the wonderful sensation of having warm lips pressed to his. When Buck's tongue ran along his upper lip, he opened his mouth willingly. As their tongues fought the familiar duel, Ezra moaned. He arched his back, pressing his groin against Buck's thigh. It had been so long since he'd been so aroused.

Buck let his hands roam down Ezra's back to his behind and he pulled them closer together. He could feel the proof of Ezra's desire against his thigh. He worked his hands upwards, kneading the taut muscles until he felt the smaller man flinch.

"I'm sorry," Buck whispered, "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Don't stop," Ezra whispered.

Taking a deep breath, Buck let his arms tighten slightly around Ezra. "You're in no shape for what I had in mind just now. Come on, how about a nice, hot shower?"

Ezra came back to work the next day with a new spring in his step. He was smiling for the first time in a long, long time. Buck had come in earlier, smiling and happy too. The others could only assume that the couple was back together.

There was something easier about the mood in the office the rest of that week. Buck was all smiles, laughing and joking with JD and Vin just like old times. Casey was beginning to have morning sickness and was miserable. Buck tried to reassure JD that she would be alright but JD was worried. Chris finally took the young man aside and talked to him about when Sarah had suffered from morning sickness. He related the jokes and teasing that had gone on between them after it passed, assuring JD that, like the labor pains she would endure, the morning sickness would pass.

Buck began to feel like a third wheel at his former home. Casey tried so hard to make him feel comfortable and welcome, but she really wanted to finish the baby's room and she couldn't do that with him there. It made her anxious, not being able to set up the crib. Her stomach was so touchy that every little smell made her sick. JD took off early one afternoon to accompany her to the doctor for a visit. When they got home, the neighbors were cooking something and the odor upset Casey's stomach. She barely made it to the toilet before vomiting. It was too much for her and she began to cry. Buck had warned him that her hormones would cause her moods to change suddenly but JD hadn't believed it.

"Casey honey, go upstairs and lay down for a while. I'll make you some tea, that'll settle your stomach." He smiled as he tried to lead her to the stairs.

"I don't want to go upstairs! I want to lay on the couch!"

"But honey, Buck will be here soon and he's bringing Josiah over so we can work on-"

"Damn it, JD, this is our home, not his! If I want to lie on the couch, I'll lie on the couch. When is he going to leave? I'm tired of having someone around all the time!"

JD was confused. Where was his sweet, loving wife? What had happened to the woman he had fallen in love with. Casey continued to scream and rant at him, "can't even plan a meal without asking if he likes it! I can't finish the baby's room! I have to be completely dressed all the time!" Casey's ranting stopped as the apartment door opened and Buck stepped in, hurt showing clearly on his face. Josiah was behind him, looking concerned. Casey froze for a moment before running for the stairs. She stumbled on the bottom step but went on, slamming the bedroom door when she got up there.

"Buck ... she's umm ... she didn't mean it," JD said by way of apology before running up the stairs to knock on the door, pleading with Casey to open up.

"I'll be right back," Buck told Josiah, going into the room he was using and throwing things into his laundry and overnight bags. When he looked up from the dresser, Josiah was standing there, calmly watching him pack. The profiler took the heavier bag and Buck followed him out of the apartment. Buck stopped just inside the door and pulled out his keys, removing the key from his ring and placing it on the table. He turned the lock and closed the door behind him. "I'll grab a room at a hotel until I can find a place," he told Josiah.

"You'll do no such thing. I have plenty of room and you are more than welcome to stay at my place. It'll be just us two swinging bachelors."

JD called just after they reached Josiah's and begged Buck to come back. He said that Casey was sorry for the way she'd acted. Buck was torn, he knew that his young friend would be upset if he didn't go back but he felt that the strain was too much for the young couple.

"It's better this way, Kid. You two need your own place. You need to finish that room for my Godchild. I'll be fine here at Josiah's swinging bachelor pad. Don't worry about it. Tell Casey-girl that I love her and I'm not mad at her."

Buck and Chris got together that weekend to take down the stone from up by the lake. They had a small skid and chains to attach it to the horses. They were going to take the stone down and the monument company was going to sand it down and reuse it, with their blessing. They rode up to the lake and started working to free the stone from the cement base. When it came loose, a portion of the base broke and slipped out of place. As soon as the stone was secured to the skid, Buck bent over to put the piece back and noticed something glinting in the sun. Pulling off his glove, he raked across the object, revealing more of it. He took hold of the chain and lifted it slowly.

"What'cha got there, Buck?" Chris asked after taking a drink from his canteen.

The chain continued to come up until the items on the end were revealed. Buck gasped as he recognized the rings. Cupping them in his palm, he shook off his other glove to brush away the dirt that clung to them. The rings were different than he remembered. He blew on them to get rid of the last bits of dirt so he could see what had looked like scratches on the smooth, polished surface. His chest ached as he drew breath, looking at the words inscribed so beautifully on both of the rings 'Until Forever.'

Chris took the chain and looked at the rings. He remembered when Ezra had first started wearing the ring at the office and it wasn't inscribed. Why would he have them inscribed if he was going to bury them up here? He let them fall back into Buck's hand before drawing his hand through his hair. Buck stared at them for a while longer before putting the chain around his neck and tucking the rings under the collar of his tee shirt. He sighed as he rose, looking toward the lake before starting for his mount.

"Don't say anything to him about this, please?" Buck asked of Chris.

"Not a word," he answered as he swung up into the saddle.

Several weeks passed and Chris noticed that Buck was still wearing the chain around his neck, assumedly with the rings on it. Keeping his word, he had not made mention of them. He noticed that Ezra was unusually quiet all day at the office. He looked to Vin to see if Ezra had said anything to him about what was going on. Vin shook his head, he was as confused by the behavior as his lover. Since they had no pending cases, Chris didn't feel the need to pry, yet.

Ezra arrived home and hurried in to answer the phone. He had barely gotten the receiver to his ear when he heard the caller hang up. Sighing in frustration, he put the phone down and went back to close the door to the garage. Removing his suit coat, he put it on a hanger in the hall closet. He shrugged out of his shoulder holster and hung it up, removing his gun and putting it in the safe. That was the bulk of his evening routine. He would spend the rest of the evening pretty much just moping around in the apartment. Against his will, his eyes went to the photo of he and Buck that he had kept on the bookshelf. Several times, he had picked up the phone, intending to call and invite Buck over. Each time, he would chicken out around the fourth number as he dialed.

A knock on the door ended his inner ruminations. He got up and crossed the floor, mentally organizing his excuses not to have to go out or to have company in tonight, he just didn't feel up to spending time with anyone. When he had two good excuses in mind, he opened the door. There, on his porch, was a vision from one of his recurring fantasies. While his brain switched gears, albeit slowly, the visitor spoke.

"Are you going to invite me to come in?"

Stunned, Ezra stepped back and allowed his visitor to step into the apartment.

"These are for you."

Ezra reached out with trembling hands to take the bouquet of flowers, automatically drawing them to his face to inhale deeply of their scent. "I'll ... I'll ... just go put these in water," he managed to say as he walked into the kitchen. When he had put the flowers into a vase, he came back into the living room.

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

"It's ... it's good to see you," Ezra said, as a whole flock of wild birds took flight in his stomach.

"You just saw me not an hour ago at the office."

"I know but ..."

"We have to talk."

Taking three large steps, Buck closed the distance between them. He reached out to press his hand gently to Ezra's cheek, only to have him pull back. With his other hand, he took hold of Ezra's arm, preventing him from retreating any farther.

"Are you really afraid of me, Ezra?"

"No."

"Then why have you been avoiding me?"

Buck raised his hand again and cupped Ezra's cheek. He let his thumb brush lightly over the high cheekbones as he stared into the emerald depths of his eyes. He leaned down slowly, until his lips gently brushed against Ezra's. He felt the tremulous breath against his cheek as Ezra pushed up into the feather-light kiss. Buck resisted the urge to grin as he felt Ezra's hands come up to grip his upper arms. He slipped his hand around to cradle the shell of Ezra's head as he opened his mouth to allow the probing tongue.

When they finally parted lips, Buck tightened his arms around Ezra and held him close as he spoke. "Would you do me the honor of having supper with me some place special?" He was hurt when he felt Ezra shaking his head 'no' against his chest. "Why?" he asked softly.

"I don't want to share you with anyone tonight," Ezra replied. "You do know what night this is, don't you?"

"It's the anniversary of the first time we went out together."

Ezra pulled back, staring up in wide-eyed wonder.

"You thought I wouldn't remember?" Buck asked.

"I must admit ... that I didn't think ... with all that you went through ... that you'd remember."

"I made reservations at Antonio's, unless you really want to stay in."

That was the place they had chosen for their first 'date.' It was a quaint, private little place, that catered to couples who valued their privacy above all else. Instead of tables in the open, or booths, they had booths that were separated by thin walls, heavily insulated to insure that conversations were not easily overheard. Rich, heavy drapes closed off each booth. It was one of the only places Ezra felt comfortable enough to go with a male escort.

"I would prefer to stay in, if you don't mind," Ezra said softly.

"Whatever you prefer."

They moved toward the couch and sat down. There were still some awkward motions, as each of them struggled not to crowd the other. Finally, they settled for side by side, not touching.

"I'd like to ... start over with you ... if you're willing," Buck said.

"Are you certain? After what my M-m-mother put you through?"

"Ezra, what your mother did has no bearing on how I feel about you. I never stopped loving you, not even for a moment."

"Certainly didn't seem that way when we found you," Ezra replied.

"I was hurt that you didn't look for me."

"I thought I knew where you were."

"Oh yeah, which reminds me, I helped Chris take that stone down. Did you know that?" he waited for Ezra to nod before continuing, "I found something while I was up there."

Thinking he was referring to the urn, Ezra nodded again. "I thought it was appropriate."

Surprised at the response, Buck stared at Ezra. "Appropriate?"

"Yes, I thought it a fitting place. It wasn't as if I could put it on my mantle. I couldn't bear the thought of seeing it day after day."

"You had it on your finger when I came back!" Buck said.

"On my ... oh, you're talking about-"

"The rings. What did you think I was talking about?"

"The urn. I thought you were talking about the urn your ... the ashes were returned in," Ezra answered. A moment later, he realized what Buck was talking about. "The rings?"

Buck reached up and caught the chain, pulling it out of his shirt until the rings popped out of his collar and dangled there. Ezra stared at them for a moment before raising his eyes to Buck's.

"I thought you were going to keep them?" Buck said.

"After you noticed that I was wearing ... mine, and you were there ... in the office ... everyday, it was too hard ... seeing you and not ... not being able to ... touch you."

"But I asked if we could have supper together. I tried to get you to go out with me."

"I couldn't face you. After what my mother did, I didn't think you would want to go through that again," Ezra said.

Buck slipped off of the couch onto his knees in front of Ezra, pulling the chain off at the same time. He unhooked the clasp and let the rings fall into his palm. Plucking one from his hand, he put it on the coffee table before taking up the remaining ring. He picked up Ezra's hand and slid the ring back onto his finger, settling it over the pale mark it had left before when he wore it. After turning the ring so that the inscription was on top, he lifted Ezra's hand to his lips to press a gentle kiss to the ring. As he released the hand, he knelt up and kissed each of Ezra's eyelids, brushing away the single tear that escaped from the emerald eyes. Settling back on his heels, he picked up the other ring and placed it in Ezra's palm. Drawing a shuddering breath, Ezra took Buck's hand and slid the ring onto it, just as he had planned to do two years ago.

After several minutes of mutual staring at the rings, they both chuckled nervously. Buck came to his feet, pulling Ezra up with him. He nuzzled against Ezra's neck for a moment before groaning at the hip that ground against his groin.

"Don't start something you don't intend to finish," Buck warned.

"I plan on finishing it," Ezra promised.

***

A few months later, Team 7 was gathered at the ranch. A baby cried and was quickly shushed as soft strains of a string quartet filled the air. Two extraordinarily handsome men faced each other under a rose-covered trellis. The Unitarian minister stepped up and his voice carried clearly on the light breeze.

Ezra's heart was hammering so hard that he thought the others must surely be able to hear it. He took Buck's hands with his own trembling hands. Lifting his eyes, he followed Buck's arms up to his shoulders, to his chin, his nose, and finally to his eyes. The intensity of the love shining from those blue eyes made his chest ache.

Buck gently squeezed the trembling hands that took hold of his. He waited patiently for Ezra to look up at him. When the deep green eyes finally met his, Buck was awed at the wealth of emotion displayed there. His body responded to the hot flush of feeling and he was grateful that his tuxedo trousers were loose fitting.

They exchanged the rings again, even though they had been wearing them for some time. They embraced, not wanting to make their friends uncomfortable watching them palpate each other's tonsils.

"Oh go on, give him a kiss," JD called from his seat next to Casey. His daughter, Shannon, was sleeping peacefully in a sling, nestled against her mother's heart. She twitched slightly at the burst of laughter that sounded around them.

Buck felt Ezra tip his head up and nuzzled until he caught his lips in a chaste kiss amidst polite applause. When they parted, Chris and Vin were right there, congratulating them with warm embraces. Josiah and Nathan were also there with hugs. They gently wrapped an arm around Casey, not wanting to wake the baby, while fiercely squeezing JD.

After the reception and the catered meal, Buck and Ezra mounted their horses and rode up to the lake. In their saddlebags, they had small bags of cement mix. They mixed the material and poured it into the hole that was left when they removed the headstone. Both of them pressed a hand into the wet cement and used a twig to write their names below the imprints. Above them, Ezra etched the phrase that was on their rings - Until Forever.

END

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