A/N: Ezra gets a kid. I have no idea how this happened but I literally woke up and wrote this from a dream I had. Sorry if this disturbs people. Read the tags to make sure your'e going to survive. I promise a cute kid will warm your hearts... I'm fairly confident. You're welcome.

Something was different about the residential gambler of Four Corners. His friends noticed first. It was subtle hints that were covered up quickly or a quick disappearance. No one paid too much attention to this other than Ezra being his unusual self.

Chris was the only one who connected all the pieces.

Since their time as peace keepers was finally over and they were allowed to leave if they wanted to. For a time, some of them did. Buck went off to visit some girls from neighboring towns. Josiah went on a spiritual trip for a couple of months. Nathan stayed in Seminole with Raine. Vin just left to wander around and be free.

To everyone's surprise, Ezra stayed at Four Corners. The gambler had been itching to leave as soon as possible just a few months earlier. As soon as they were dismissed he said that he was going to wait a little.

Chris had stayed to rebuild his cabin which turned into a bigger project. Vin and Josiah had both come back from their different trips and joined in building a large ranch house. The idea was for the seven of them to have a place to come back to whenever they wanted to. Everyone liked the idea and contributed to the project.

The blonde had been taking a break in the saloon before heading back out. Ezra had been sitting with him at the seven's table. His food had remained untouched and so did his fine whiskey. The gambler just stared at the food and looked ready to puke.

"Feeling aright there Ezra? The food ain't gonna bite you."

"I think I'm just going to go retire for the day." Ezra murmured and pushed his food to Chris before getting up.

The dish had literally Ezra's favorite things to eat on it.

Chris waited a couple minutes after Ezra had disappeared upstairs where his room was before following.

He was about to knock on the door but heard sounds of Ezra throwing up and coughing.

The door flew open as the blonde thought there was something seriously wrong with one of his men.

Ezra looked up in surprise.

"Mister Larabee?"

"If you ain't feeling well I can get Nathan to look you over."

Both men knew how Ezra was going to respond, but he had to at least suggest it with the possibility Ezra would see reason.

"I'm perfectly fine mister Larabee. Just something bad I ate earlier."

Chris noticed the way Ezra grip his stomach as if he was ready to hurl again. Instead of pointing it out he just gripped the doorknob as he closed it.

"You can talk to me if you need anything. We're all here for you."

"And I am grateful for your support, but it's completely under control."

A couple stranger behaviors happened since then. Ezra would get heated over the smallest thing and start an argument. He actually rose his voice to their youngest member when he tried to tell one of his horrible jokes. Ezra ran a hand through his hair and it actually looked like there were tears forming before he said he needed air and walked outside.

"Is Ez acting a little different to you guys?" JD asked once the said man was gone.

"Probably got another letter from his mother. That woman can drive anyone crazy." Nathan shook his head.

"Still Ez doesn't show that much emotion. He's acting pretty out of character." Vin observed.

A day after that Ezra left town without word of where he was going.

Ezra stopped his horse outside the convent hoping that they would be able to help him. Despite what Chris had said, he didn't think his problem fell under something the others could help him with.

The pains in his stomach had grown worse. His appetite had almost completely changed. Didn't like drinking or smoking. Feeling sick and throwing up. The growth of his midsection though he didn't eat more than usual.

A nun opened the gate and he took off his hat in respect.

"'cuse me sister but I really could use some help."

"Men are not allowed in here." She told him, ready to close the door again.

"I know." He said as he kept the door from being closed in his face, "Maybe you could make an exception."

It was completely humiliating showing his growing belly that stretched his clothes.

The nun said a prayer under her breath and nodded. She stepped back and Ezra was allowed admittance.

The rest of the seven had figured that Ezra had finally left to find a more profitable town. Only JD had voiced that Ezra wouldn't have left without saying something to at least one of them about his plans.

Chris played around with his glass. The amber liquid sloshed about inside before he finally sat it down.

Buck watched his old friend with interest. He hadn't said much on the topic of Ezra leaving. Part of him wondered if the two had a fight and Ezra finally decided to leave.

"You got any information to share with us Chris?" he asked finally.

"Not until it's been confirmed." Chris murmured and got up. He pulled his hat on and walked out of the saloon, leaving his friends perplexed and a full shot glass in his spot.

"Do you think Chris got whatever Ez has?" JD frowned.

It took a couple of hours to find the convent where Ezra was seeking refuge in. Chris had explained to the head nun that answered the door that he was looking for a friend who was expecting. He also added in a lower voice that his friend was male.

The nun looked him over and after making him leave his weapons at the door allowed him inside.

Ezra heard a knock at his door and he opened his eyes. He had hardly gotten any sleep the past few nights. His head was swimming with questions. Why him? What did he do to deserve this? This couldn't be normal right?

When he saw Chris' blonde hair he sat up slowly in terror. He didn't want any of the men to know what was happening to him in case they thought of him differently afterwards.

Chris approached the man slowly, his spurs jingling as he walked. He sat in the chair next to the bed and took an account of the gambler's appearance.

He had circles under his eyes and his hair was spiked in every direction from probably pulling at it. His chin had stubble from not shaving that day. His clothes weren't his own. The night shirt was big to provide room for his growing midsection.

"Mister Larabee. Please—" Ezra really didn't have anything he could say. He was just tired and scared. He didn't know what was going on right now.

"When's the last time you actually slept?" the blonde asked, not going directly to the point which was new.

"I sleep for a couple hours during the day. I feel exhausted but I just want to move."

"Sarah didn't like staying in bed when she was pregnant with Adam." Chris murmured.

"You knew?" Ezra asked in disbelief.

"I noticed the signs. You did the same thing she did when she was a couple weeks to a couple months pregnant."

A tear rolled down Ezra's cheek. "I don't know what to do. I'm actually scared." The last part was said with a chuckle to throw off some of the truth in the words.

"I can take you back to the ranch. When you're ready we can tell the others. I'm sure none of them will think differently." Ezra looked a little hesitant, "We're all family after all."

The gambler mulled over it for about a minute while Chris sat there patiently for a response.

"I'll go."

Chris nodded.

Chris, with Vin's permission to use his wagon, transported Ezra to Larabee's ranch. The room that was to be Ezra's had been furnished already with the bed made up. The blonde helped the other man in bed before going into the kitchen to get water. A few minutes later he returned with a pitcher and a tin cup.

"Place looks nice." Ezra sighed.

"Well we have your high expectations to live up to." Chris said as he handed Ezra a cup of water.

"You do fine work already mister Larabee."

Ezra had reach his second trimester and was bedridden now. He had trouble sleeping the bed although nice was lacking something.

Sighing, he laid on his side and waited for sleep to find him. Chris knocked on the door and peeked his head inside.

"You good for the rest of the night?"

"I wish I had something for my stomach to rest on. A pillow of sorts."

Chris stepped into the room and closed the door.

"Move over if you can."

Ezra did a little squirm to make room.

Chris stretched himself along the edge of the bed.

"My wife used to use me as a body pillow of sorts whenever she had trouble sleeping. I know I may not be your first option, but we can give it a shot."

Ezra was too exhausted to reject a possible solution to his insomnia. His head rested against Chris' shoulder and tossed a lazy limb across the man's chest. Ten minutes later Ezra was lightly snoring.

Chris read a book on the nightstand that Ezra had been reading. It was on child birth.

It kind of brought a smile, thinking of the gambler preparing for the nearing birth of his child.

A couple of days passed with the same easy routine. The rest of the seven having been told weeks' prior, show up to offer suggestions of food he could eat that weren't bad for the baby. Chris and Vin worked outside with Josiah and Ezra would sit outdoors watching them.

He mostly wrote in a little book which he didn't let anyone else see.

JD rode in with Buck

The youngster popped a squat next to Ezra.

"Whatcha writing?"

"Names." Ezra said distractedly.

"Have you figured out how you ended up being the one pregnant? I mean were you with a guy or is a girl able to get a guy pregnant?"

Buck swatted JD on the back of the head, "Enough with the insensitive questions that are too personal for him to be telling anyone."

"It's alright mister Wilmington. I too have been wondering how this has all come to pass." Ezra played with the pencil in his hand.

"Still can a guy get pregnant? I mean what if the baby confuses me for Casey and I end up with a baby coming out of me." JD asked.

Buck and Ezra couldn't help laughing at that.

"It's not funny!" JD barked.

"Have you figured out a name yet?" Vin asked, taking a break from chopping wood.

"I'm thinking Henry or Theodore."

"So it's a boy then?"

"I mean I assume it would be a boy. I don't have any strong girl names just yet. None that I like."

"When it comes does that mean we'll be uncles to it?" JD asked excitedly.

"I think you'd be considered the cousin or something else. You're a little too young to be an uncle." Buck mused.

JD pushed Buck.

It was the ninth month of Ezra's pregnancy. Everyone was getting excited for the young one to arrive. Ezra on the other hand had mixed feelings. He had been reading about child birth for the past three months and as far as he was able to conclude. He was in for a lot of pain before the baby came.

Nathan and Josiah had gone into town for a while. They would return in another hour.

Chris and Vin were outside. Chris was working on finishing the last of the chairs he had been working on for the house. Buck and JD were moving a table that had been painted the day before that needed to be aired out before being brought indoors.

They were just putting the table down when they heard Ezra walk in. He was propping himself up against the doorframe.

"Ez, you scared me." JD gasped as he nearly jumped.

"Get Chris." Ezra slurred his words. He was breathing hard and was sweating really bad.

"What?"

"Larabee. Get Lara—agghh!" Ezra screamed as he felt water start dripping down his trousers.

"Jesus!" Buck pushed JD towards the door, "JD go get Chris and then ride and have Nathan come as quick as possible. The baby is ready to come."

JD stood there for a second before dashing out the door.

Buck helped Ezra back into bed.

Ezra was grunting in pain as the contractions started.

Chris came into the room with Vin. The younger man stood back against the wall while Chris tried to tell Ezra what was happening.

"Mister Larabee. I have read twenty books from cover to—agh!" he winced and threw his head back against the pillow.

"Reading about it doesn't tell you much Ezra. Just hold my hand. You can squeeze it as hard as you need to."

Ezra grabbed Chris' hand tightly and his knuckles became white with the pressure. Chris used Ezra's pocket watch to count the minutes between contractions.

Every few minutes Ezra would push himself up and screamed. His grip was crushing Chris' hand but the blonde didn't care.

"Where's Nathan?" Ezra moaned.

"He's coming."

When Nathan came Buck had already heated up a thing of boiling water. Chris had stepped out while the healer started preparing for the baby.

The contractions were less than a minute now and Ezra was screaming nonstop. Vin and Buck had replaced Chris in holding the pregnant man's hands.

"Push Ezra. Come on. You need to keep pushing." Nathan instructed.

"I can't!" Ezra threw his head back, eyes watering with tears, "This is unnatural."

"I just need you to keep trying."

Ezra kept going but he felt like he was getting nowhere.

Vin had been putting on a good face, but his hand was sore.

"Chris." Ezra breathed out, "I need him." The man had had experiences with being a midwife.

Vin willingly volunteered to leave and Buck followed. Chris came in and took up his position again.

"Mister Larabee." Ezra grimaced in pain. "I need—"

"I know Ezra. And we need you to breathe and push with everything you got."

Chris coached Ezra throw the pain and together they breathed out loud before Ezra squeezed Chris' hand and pushed.

A couple minutes that felt like an eternity had a screaming baby coming out into the world.

Ezra laid his head down immediately from exhaustion while Nathan cleaned him up. Chris wiped the blood off the little one in his arms. It was definitely smaller than Adam and had powerful lungs like a Standish.

He smiled down at the frail thing and walked over to where Ezra was watching him with tired eyes.

"She's beautiful." He said as he gently handed the baby over.

"She." Ezra repeated as he held his daughter against his chest.

A smiled broke across his face and even tears. Chris patted him on the shoulder and sat near him. Looking down at the little thing as it laid eyes on her father? Mother? Both? That would have to be sorted out later.

The others were allowed in when Ezra was all cleaned up down below. Everyone had a chance to hold the new addition to their family. Chris stayed by Ezra's side while the parent looked ready to have an emotional break down. The guy literally did something no man has ever been recorded doing.

"So what are you going to name her?" Vin brought up the question again.

"Henriette? Henrietta? Maybe Theodora?" JD suggested.

The others all let out a groan.

"What?"

"This is why the mother always chooses. Except for the name Eudora." Buck shook his head at that name.

"I think I like Rose." Ezra said as he held his daughter once again.

"Suits her." Chris smiled down at the small bundle.

"Don't worry Ez, we'll be here for you every small step of the way." Vin grinned.

Nods all around confirmed everyone's support.

"We are incredibly grateful to you all." Ezra smiled.

To everyone's pleasure Rose agreed in her father's statement by adding in her own little squeals. The men all chuckled.

"Now how about we let Ezra rest. He's had quite the year." Nathan said as he began shooing people out the room.

Chris was the only one who lingered behind by Ezra's request.

Taking the baby so that Ezra could settle back down in the sheets, Ezra made his request.

"Mister Larabee. You as well as the others know of my lack of a good upbringing. I don't want that for Rose."

"Ezra, you're not your mother."

"Please. Please will you be in her life? I know from mister Wilmington that you were a great father to Adam. I see you've already begun to be attached to Rose. I really could use your help raising her. You have more experience than the rest of the others."

Chris nodded to Ezra's request before saying he would. He was proud to be named Rosie Standish's godfather. He didn't know what Ezra saw in him that made him think he was capable, but he'd do his best to help the little family. They were all family after all. The seven of them— eight now.

A/N: Obvious question: How did Ezra get pregnant? I'm telling you I have weird dreams and it never covered that part. So if you want to make some stuff up. Be my guest. :)