Never a Dull Day
By Rebel Yell
Part of the Riches AU, created by me.  Acknowledgements belong to a few other AUs, Little Britches and Little Ezra AUs.  All the usual disclaimers apply!
Part One
?Ellen.  Ellen Larabee.  Its been a long time.?  Ellen turned, a surprised grin spreading across her face at the sight of her childhood friend.
? Mary Ann Davidson.  Oh, I can?t believe you?re back.?  The two women hugged, Ellen momentarily forgetting the young boys with her.
? How long has it been?? Mary Ann asked, as they pulled apart.
? Oh, gosh, it must have been four years now since you?ve been home.  How?s Bill and the kids??
? Oh, Bill?s the same as always.  His construction business is doing better than ever.  Becky is twenty-five now, I told you in my last letter about Jesse, her little boy.  He?s almost a year old now.  She?s due again in the late fall.?
? That?s right.  It?s Grandma Mary Ann now.  How?s grandparenthood??
? Wonderful.  All the fun of kids, with practically none of the responsibility.  Still no grandchildren for you??
? No.  Chris certainly seems serious about Sarah though.  You remember Hank Connelly, Sarah?s his older daughter.?
? That?s great.  My Jason is engaged now too, to a young teacher, Angela.  Michelle is still in school, she?ll be a senior this year at the University of Illinois.?
? Is she still hoping to go to law school??
? Oh, she got accepted to some schools, just has to decide now.?
? Oh, wonderful.  How?s your baby??
? Rob is almost fifteen now.  He?s playing varsity baseball this year.  Now, how?re Jim and the boys?  Six now is it?? Mary Ann asked.
? Jim?s like Bill, the same as ever.  The ranch is doing its usual best.  Josiah is working at the Community Center in Eagle Bend now, he?s a psychiatrist.  Chris and Buck are on the ranch with Jim,  Buck hasn?t changed a bit since you were last here.?
? Still quite the ladies? man I take it??
? Definitely.  He?s a good boy though.  Nathan will be a senior in high school this year.  He?s applying to colleges already, he?s still set on being a doctor.  Vin?s turning in to quite the athlete, he?s eleven now, you know.  You?ve never met Vin have you??
? No.  How?s JD??
? Oh, all ready to start first grade in the fall.?
? Quite the brood you?ve got there.? Mary Ann smiled, seeing the boys standing behind her old friend.  Obviously Vin and JD, the other were all too old to be the small boys looking somewhat bored.
? Yes, well we have a house full.?
? Everyone thinks I have a house full, and I don?t have half a dozen sons.?
? Mom.?  JD tugged lightly at his mother?s hand, the six year old having noticed Ezra walk towards a bench and sit down.
? JD, don?t interrupt.?
? JD?  You don?t remember me do you??
? Unh-uh.?
? I?m Mrs. Davidson, I?m a friend of your Mom?s from when she was even younger than you.?
? Oh.  Hi.?
? Why don?t you come out to the ranch for dinner while you?re here??
? I?ll ask Bill, but I?m sure he would love to see you all again.  Rob?s staying with a friend back in Naperville, so it?ll just be the two of us.?
? How does tomorrow night sound??
? Wonderful.?  Mary Ann smiled.
? We?ll see you then.?  Ellen looked around, grasping JD?s hand quickly.  ?Where?d he go??
? If you?re looking for Vin, he?s over there on the bench.?  Mary Ann pointed out, and Ellen followed her line of sight.
? Oh, Lord.?  She sighed, knowing Ezra had heard the whole conversation.  She?d forgotten to even mention him, and the deceptively sensitive young southerner no doubt took that to heart.
? What??
? That?s not Vin.?
? But he was standing with JD, I assumed he was your son??
? He is.  He?s actually our foster son, Ezra.  I forgot to mention him.  We?ve been trying to convince him he?s equal to our other boys.?
? Oh.  Well, I?m sure he?ll forgive and forget.  Kids are resilient.  Just look at your boys.?
? I hope so.  I?ll see you tomorrow then, about 6??
? We?ll be there.?
? Bye, Mrs. Davidson.? JD said politely, although he didn?t think he liked the woman.  She hadn?t really done anything, but Ezra?s feelings were hurt, and JD didn?t like it when his brothers got hurt.
? Bye, JD.?  Mary Ann headed further down the street, while mother and son walked towards Ezra, who was staring out across the street blankly.
Part Two
  ;Ezra had left after Mrs. Larabee made the second reference to her six sons.  Being left out once again had hurt at first, but the southerner quickly kicked himself.  He should have known, should have remembered, that he wasn?t their son.  Not like the others.  Oh, sure they said he was equal to their legal sons, and they were fair enough in their judgments and punishments, but there was a big difference between fairness and affection.  After all, the Larabees were just doing ?the right thing by him?, weren?t they?  The Judge Travis had asked them to take Ezra in, it wasn?t like they?d chosen him freely.  Ezra had allowed himself to be drawn in over the last three months, mistaking a will to be kind to the poor abandoned little boy for genuine affection for Ezra Standish.  It was a foolish mistake.  Nobody liked Ezra.  There were times Ezra didn?t even like Ezra.  Ezra did what he?d learned so long ago, he?d emptied himself of emotion again, letting his own affection for the Larabee family leak out as if through a drain.  He could not allow himself to think of them as family.  He had no family.  Instead he was content to remain in a safe location where he was fairly treated and well-fed, until Maude came to pick him up again.  It was only a matter of time.  Mother always came back, usually in the form of a whirlwind that swept him along to their next stop in a matter of a few short days.
? Ezra??  Ellen asked tentatively, knowing better than to touch Ezra when he was distracted.  Jim had learned that the second night Ezra had been with them, causing the boy to jump a mile and flinch away from the strong hand.  It was similar to Vin?s reactions, although they were far milder now that he?d been on the ranch for three years.
Ezra managed not to jump, instead turning to face his foster mother calmly.
? Mrs. Larabee?  Are we prepared to depart??
? Yes.  Let?s get home so I can make dinner.?
? As you wish.?
? I want to sit up front this time, Mom.?  JD piped up.
? JD, you know you?re too little.  Its not safe.  Sit in back.?
? I shall join you in the rear of the vehicle if you like, JD.?  Ezra volunteered.
? But don?t you want to sit up front??
? Today, I believe I might prefer to seat myself in the back seat.?
? Okay.  Come on.?  JD grabbed his brother?s hand and raced to the car.  Ellen smiled, as Ezra laughed, a rare but welcome sound that only Vin and JD seemed able to elicit.  Watching the boy for a few moments, she couldn?t comprehend why the boy?s mother seemed to care so little for him.  He was a charming boy, if a bit difficult at times, and he was unfailingly well-mannered and considerate of others, quiet, intellectual and he possessed a dry wit that could make you burst out laughing at the oddest times.  There were none of the problems that usually led to abandoned children?that they knew of.  There was still so little they knew about Ezra?he could talk for hours, and would on occasion, but he very rarely SAID anything.  He?d managed to hide a badly sprained ankle from the whole family for nearly three days.  If he couldn?t admit a physical problem, how could they expect him to speak of his emotional ones?  Vin had had similar symptoms, if you wanted to call them that, when he first arrived.  Ellen prayed that Ezra was merely withdrawn, that another of her boys had not suffered the horrors of abuse as Vin had.  Her logical mind told her he had, but a mother?s heart hoped none the less.
Part Three
	They arrived back at the ranch, JD piling out of the car to sprint towards where Buck and Chris had just parked the old truck, coming from the chores at the north edge of the property.  Ezra eased himself from the car, ducking away as Ellen went to put her hand on his shoulder.  The whole family was used to it by now, but it still hurt to think of what caused him to cower away from touch.
? I?ll take the bags inside, Mrs. Larabee.?  Ezra volunteered, picking up the shopping bags that completed the last minute back-to-school necessities for tomorrow.  Thinking about school had Ellen shaking her head.  JD was excited, nervous, happy and sad all at once.  He was a real ?big boy? now, going to school full time with his brothers.  Nathan was content to be heading back to his education, the boy was a born scholar, always learning, always reading.  Vin dreaded school, he much preferred the days of summer spent playing with JD, and lately Ezra, fishing, a few extra chores and a lot of extra time.  Vin disappeared from the house nearly at dawn, returning only for meals and when the sun vanished on the horizon.  Ezra was impossible to read.  He?d been tested in June, to make sure he was on level with his agemates.  He?d tested well above the sixth grade level.  The suggestion had been made to put him in a program for gifted children in Eagle Bend.  Ellen had loved the idea, always ready to encourage her boys academically to achieve their fullest potential.  Jim had been more wary, leery of sending Ezra away from the support network they were trying to convince him he had.  Ezra hated the idea.  He had simply adamantly refused to go the gifted program.  No reason, no more explanation.  Just that he wouldn?t go.  So, he?d been enrolled in the sixth grade at Deer Creek Elementary, where Vin would be in fifth and JD in first grade.
?Ezra, don?t you think its time you called us something other than Mr. And Mrs. Larabee??  Jim came out of the garage, wiping his hands free of the engine oil.
? Its your name, sir.?
? No more sir or ma?am either.  You can call us Jim and Ellen.?
? Or even Mom and Dad if you want.? Ellen suggested, trying to keep the comment light.  Jim shot her an angry look, knowing they?d agreed not to press the southerner into a place he was uncomfortable with.  Right on cue, Ezra went off.
? You aren?t my parents.  You never will be.  You don?t even want to be!?
? Whoa, there, big guy.  How do you know we don?t want to be your parents??  Jim asked, knowing that his other sons were watching, but feeling that whatever had Ezra so upset might just make something slip that normally the boy would never say.
? She doesn?t!  If she did, she would?ve at least mentioned my existence to her friend this morning.  Instead Ezra disappears into the background again.  Should I stay in my room or the attic, or basement, or barn or what when she comes over?  We wouldn?t want the good people to know I?m here, would we??
? Ezra, I?m sorry, I just forgot.  Mary Ann and I have exchanged so many letters about our children??  JIm was lost, but figured he?d get the story from his wife later.
? Ezra, you know all our boys are equal-?
?I?m not your boy!  I?m NOT!  How many times do I have to say this?I HAVE PARENTS ALREADY!?
Part Four
? I know you have a mother, but she?s not coming back-? Jim tried to reason.
? SHE IS!  She always comes back.  She forgets sometimes, but she always comes eventually.  Its my fault anyway.?
?Don?t you ever say that, Ezra.  I wouldn?t let any of my boys do it, and I?m not letting you.  Nothing is your fault.?  Ellen barely managed to keep from yelling.
? It is.  She hates me because I?m too much like my Dad.? Ezra stopped abruptly, realizing he let his past slip out.
? Ezra, your file said you never knew your father?he?s not listed on the birth certificate.?
? Its not important.?
? Yes it is.  If he?s out there he should know-?
?Its not important.?
? Ezra-?
? Its.  Not.  Important.?
? Ezra.? Jim held up a hand, keeping his wife from saying anything.  ? It IS important.  I?d really like to know why you told everyone you never knew him, and why his name isn?t on your birth certificate.?
? I barely remember him.  He died when I was five.  Okay??  Ezra snapped, running down the driveway.  He had no particular destination in mind, just away.  He ran until he was tired, no idea how long or how far he had run.  Slowing to a walk, he found himself wandering along a creek, his breathing returning to normal.  His thoughts wandered as his feet did the same.
	His memories of Caleb Standish were vague, fuzzy, mostly feelings more than events.  He had one picture of his father, it was safely held in the locket around his neck that Ezra never let out of his sight.  The rest of his ?memories? were things he?d heard from others.  Mother never talked about him, but occasionally when Ezra stayed with a ?friend of the family? he heard things.  Mother.  Ezra had always marveled at his mother.  She was beautiful, so full of life and ready for anything.  She was also horribly inconsistent.  She alternated between over protective and intrusive in his life, to detached and completely uninvolved, to the point of going months without seeing him at all, or calling or writing.  The periods of absence fluctuated.  If she was married, Ezra would live with her.  If she was dating, he would have no contact at all.  If she was unattached, there would be rare phone calls and visits.  Sometimes Mother just disappeared for no reason.  Like now.  She hadn?t been dating anyone, or planning to do so, that Ezra knew of.  She just dropped him off at ?Uncle? Ed?s home in Colorado Springs, and left, ten months ago.  It was the longest Ezra had ever gone without seeing or hearing from her, and he was getting worried.  He wanted to go home?back to the house Mother still owned outside Charleston, and live there like before Dad died.  Ezra had made that announcement a few days before Mother left, and the feeling had not faded.  He wanted to go home.  To be honest, he just wanted a home like other kids.  A place that was his?he?d never have to leave if he didn?t want.  Someplace where he was welcome, and wasn?t just some charity case.  He liked the Larabees well enough, but this wasn?t his home.  They weren?t his parents.  Ezra was surprised to find that he suddenly wished they were.  He?d have a home, brothers, a life he?d dreamed of.  He smiled at the thought, before the guilty feeling returned.  His dreams always made him feel guilty, that he was being disloyal to his real parents.  Mother and Dad always loved him, made sure he was taken care of by someone.  Lots of kids had worse lives.  He shouldn?t dream away what he had.  Finally noticing the world around him, Ezra realized the sun was setting?it had only been midafternoon when he left the ranch.  He was bound to get hungry soon.  Looking about for familiar landmarks, the southerner couldn?t find any.  He decided to follow his path out here directly back.  At least until he got his bearings back.  As he headed back towards the ranch, Ezra paid more attention to the nature surrounding him.  A deer, a doe to be precise, Ezra noted, munched quietly on the grass of a small clearing not far away.  A few frogs croaked in the creek, and the trees framed gorgeous scenery.  The young boy walked slowly, enjoying the change in nature as dusk settled in and then gradually changed to nightfall.
Part Five
	Back at the ranch, the Larabee men had been out looking for Ezra since late afternoon.  Jim and Nathan had taken a left at the end of the driveway, the other three boys had gone right.  Reporting back at dinner, there had been no sign of Ezra, but if he?d stayed on the road, it would be hard to track.  Right after the meal, they?d gone back out, leaving JD, Vin and Ellen to worry and wait.  Ezra did not find his way back to the house.  Buck, Chris and Josiah returned a little after eleven, claiming it was too dark to look with almost no moon, and Ezra had left the road, he had to have as he hadn?t been seen by any of the neighbors in either direction.  Half an hour later, Jim and Nathan pulled into the drive, with the same idea.  JD and Vin had been in bed since nine, but neither was sleeping.  No one would sleep well tonight.  Chris said he?d call it in in the morning.  Nathan went to bed himself, knowing that morning came early tomorrow with the first day of school.  The others stayed up, silently worrying about the boy out wandering.
	It was quarter after midnight when they all heard steps on the front porch.  Practically stampeding to the front door, Chris flung open the door to be greeted by a dirty, slightly ragged version of his foster brother. Ellen hugged him, despite his squirm to be let go.  Jim did the same, then held the boy at arms? length.
? Ezra, don?t you EVER do this again?  Understood??
? But-?
? No buts.  No running away.  Stay, and deal with your problems.  Let us help.  Okay??
? Okay.?  Ezra nodded, and shook the hand Jim extended to him.
? Now, get upstairs, and let the rest of your brothers know your home, so maybe we can all get some sleep before tomorrow.  Get.?  Ezra scampered up the stairs, and JD could be heard boisterously greeting him across the house.  Their three oldest now content to retire themselves, Jim and Ellen looked at each other and smiled.
? Never a dull day.?  They said in unison.
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