A/N: After a long wait, here's a continuation :-)

Chapter 3

Ezra gave a small smile in thanks to Vin while faced away from the rest of the seven, letting the warmth that washed through him at the sign of friendship from the tracker bolster him against Nathan's comments. He tried to convince himself Nathan didn't say such things to be malicious and was simply misunderstood, but that never lessened the sting the dislike in the black man's words produced.

"Indeed not, Mistah Jackson" he replied quietly, oblivious to the frowns that crossed several faces behind him at the resigned nature of his reply.

Balancing his load while opening the swinging doors for his friend, Vin frowned back at the table they'd left, nodding slightly to Buck and Chris as he noticed JD frowning thoughtfully after Ezra. The youngest of the seven was often overlooked due to his age and lack of experience, but Vin knew it wasn't only years that gave a person wisdom and insight.

"C'mon Ez, I gotta say thanks to Missus Potter for t'night's dinner" Vin grinned as they left the saloon for the streets.

Ezra smiled as they met Gloria at her door, the street fires and candle light making it easy to distinguish the satisfied smile on his friend's face. He was always glad for Vin's company, as the least judgemental of the seven, Ezra felt more at ease with the quiet man than many would assume. Until Buck's actions tonight, Vin was the only one of the seven Ezra felt assured would help him if he needed, knowing his status as a gambler and drifter at times greatly influenced the others' treatment of him, though he had often wished it would not. Still, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride, he reminded himself.

Sensing the tumultuous thoughts of his friend, Vin thanked Gloria for the dinner, and followed her inside, greeting the children who were almost ready for bed as he placed the dishes on the kitchen table. He watched as Ezra slipped some hard candies for the children onto the plate, twisted in brown paper, reminding them they were for the morrow, not right before bedtime, and thanking them happily for the help they 'graciously provided' their mother, praising them liberally. The former bounty hunter wondered how anyone could mistake Ez as a crook after they'd seen his way with children or animals, frowning mentally as he recalled Nathan had been privileged to see both on many occasions since the Seminole village incident. He resolved to talk to Buck before he finished for the night, to find out what had brought such a protective change out in the former ranger.

The men finished their goodnights to the small family and crossed back over the street to re-enter the saloon together. Vin noted the barmaid glance over to Ezra and nod, smiling as she turned away from the bar to pick up a small pot and cups. What was she doing now?

Ezra smiled as he saw the barmaid head over to the table with the elegant tea service, knowing his sweet, hot beverage rested inside. In return for helping with the bookwork for the saloon, he had taught her how to brew proper tea, and entrusted her with his tea service, gifted to him by one of the few people to have been truly kind to him, so that she may provide him with hot tea before he retired each night, knowing he didn't have the facilities in his own room to prepare it himself. Rarely did he take his tea with the other seven, given how late he often retired to bed, but tonight he was in no state to play cards, and no mood to drink alone, either. He only hoped the others would not belittle his choice in beverage, or make fun at 'further proof' of his status as a 'dandy'.

JD grinned as he saw the tea service. It looked very similar to one his mama used to have in their quarters, and his heart lightened as he remembered talking to his mother each night before they went to bed over steaming cups of tea, enchanted by the patterns the steam made as it curled above the cup and crept out of the spout. He knew it could only belong to Ezra, and was surprised to see there were extra cups on the service, hoping it meant the southerner would share in the treat.

"Hey Ezra, can I have some?" he asked as soon as the older man arrived at the table, bouncing in his seat before the returned pair even had a chance to sit down, "it's been such a long time, since before I came west, when Mama was still around" the younger man trailed off, happiness at the memories the teas set evoked mingling with his sadness at the loss of his mother, the only family he'd known.

Ezra smiled softly at the young Bostonian, "I would be most pleased to share my bounty with you, Mr Dunne" the man replied, glad that JD had eased things.

Buck smiled at his surrogate younger brother for the way he accepted Ezra, glad that he was fitting in with his new plan to embrace Ez more, however unwittingly. The kindness JD showed often was a welcome sight to the man, more so now because of the light it brought to the southerner's eyes.

"Reckon I might join you Hoss, if that's ok" Buck added, nodding to the cups on the caddy, "been a while, but I remember how nice that stuff tastes with cream and sugar."

Ezra smiled in relief as no one made any derogatory comments, though he hesitated at looking toward Nathan or Josiah. He'd seen Chris share tea with Mrs Travis on more than one occasion, and felt comfortable he wouldn't face any harshness from the oft taciturn man.

"The more the merrier, Mr- Buck" Ezra corrected as Buck raised a brow at the younger man, resisting the blush he could feel rising. It seemed he was still off his game this evening. He only prayed his mother did not make her return until he had retired for the night.

The girl waited until Ezra nodded before serving the men, eyeing the still silent Jackson and Sanchez with a little unease for her friend. Not many folk bothered to get to know women like herself, well, aside from Buck, but the ladies man was a different kind altogether. Ezra had offered simple, warm friendship and a helping hand, with no further expectations behind his actions.

"Thank you kindly" Ezra said with a soft smile for the bar tender. He had struck a fond friendship with the young woman early in his arrival, learning she was waiting for her intended to return from what was hoped to be a profitable cattle drive so they would have enough funds to marry and settle down.

Ezra set about adding both cream and sugar to his cup, indicating with his spoon that his fellow lawmen should do the same. "Help yourself, gentlemen," he stated, nodding to the cups that had been placed in front of each man, including Josiah and Nathan.

Nathan frowned curiously at the tea set before casting a considering eye upon the southern man before him. He'd seen finery before, in his and other master's homes, and he knew the tea service before him was of as fine a quality as anything he'd seen, and wondered where on earth a drifter like Ezra had come upon it. Setting the issue aside, he nodded to the gambler in thanks, adding "Nice of you Ezra, to share this with us all. I know Missus Potter don't stock much in the way of tea, must've cost a pretty penny to order," unable to resist his curiosity on that front at least.

Ezra cocked a brow at the black man's unexpected statement. "No matter, Mistah Jackson, as I have ensured that my personal preferences for such things are ordered on a monthly basis, and forwarded to me here at Missus Potter's store from my own supplier, something I have done for several years now, regardless of my location" he replied, hoping to stave off any further questions of the kind and dipping his head down to enjoy the beverage before him, letting its heat and sweetness soothe him.

Several sets of eyes considered the gambling man thoughtfully at the statement, wondering what else they didn't know.

Notes:

I'm alive! I know, it's been ages, and I have several fics unfinished- Mag 7 was simply the first to come back to me, writing-wise. Others, I've got bits written but feel the need to go over things again before posting anything.

Feel free to review and comment on what you'd like to see, or what you did/didn't like. I have a fondness for the Magnificent Seven show, and will always wish that it had had more luck in when it was made.