Here are the responses to the June 16, 2003 Challenge.
Father's Day challenge. Now, we only have two fathers mentioned in the series — Nathan and Josiah's fathers. Also, Father's Day was not an established day until after the turn of the century. This would not allow for an Old West entry, sooooo...
Let's have two options this week.
Number One: Father's Day-let's try a story of how the day is celebrated. We have a lot of AU's with one or more of the guys as kids, or having kids, even having found their Dads. Let's see what you can come up with.
Number Two: (this is offered by LA) Start a drabble with these SEVEN words (and they do not count as part of the hundred) 'It was a dark and stormy night...'
Disclaimer: This lot are still more KT's than mine...
Universe: RNLI AU
I know this is really outside the rules of this particular challenge, but as soon as Father's Day was mentioned, this sprung straight to mind - because yes, on slow days in the office, I really *have* played this...
So please forgive me for bending the rules??
The two young women sitting on the rocky shoreline watched the lifeboat crew working on their off-duty chores.
"The blonde - definitely."
"No, the one with the long hair."
"The tall one with the dark hair..."
"No. He's got a tache!"
"Exactly!"
"The one in the designer jeans is gorgeous, too." She sighed. "It's no good, I can't choose."
"It's a toughie, I'll give you that."
"Choose from them?" She sighed again, then groaned. "All those great genes? It'll take me all day!"
"You've got to! That's the game! Pick a father for your children from the men you can see."
~The End~
Disclaimer: Same as always
She watched the big, work roughened hands gently push the blanket away from the tiny face.
The wee boy trembled with a yawn, his little, starfish hand clamped onto his Daddy's index finger.
She raised her eyes to the man who'd done nothing but worry for the last nine months.
"Chris?" concern coloured her voice. "What's wrong?"
He shook his head unable to answer for the lump in his throat, his eyes filled with tears.
Then in a whisper, "I never thought I'd get the chance to feel this way again."
"Thank you Mary"
Smiling tearfully, "Happy Father's Day Chris."
Disclaimer: Same as always
WARNING: This may be too strong for this venue, my apologies ahead of time to anyone this may upset.
Two men sat huddled together for warmth against the unrelenting rain and the six inches of Denang River flooding their cage.
"Sergeant! Stay with me now."
"What is it LT?"
"Do you know what day it is?"
"Sunday?"
"Father's Day," Lieutenant Ashton Standish smiled, "My son celebrated his 5th birthday two weeks ago."
Sergeant Martin Tanner misted over, "My Vin turned one last month, I ain't even seen him yet." Gasping from pneumonia, "LT, if I don't make it, will you look him up? Let him know I loved him."
"On the condition you do the same for me Sergeant."
Here's my little drabble. I wasn't going to do one this week and I apologize in advance for this one. Not just the spelling and the grammatical errors, but it's just... Well... Like they say, stuff happens and this one just happened.
Staring down he remembered the day he first found out. His heart had beat wildly full of both happiness and fear. Was he ready to be a father? This wasn't exactly planned. Yet this was his child that was to be born in just a few months. His heart had swelled with fatherly pride.
Still looking down his eyes drew back from the past and to the cold hard reality of the tiny stone cross. That vision was not to be and neither was his Father's Day.
His love child.
His lost child.
His secret child.
And the tears came.
Buck jumped out of the truck. He heard gun shots. He ran around the corner of the house to see a very drunk Chris sitting on the porch wearing only his jeans with a mostly empty bottle of whisky beside him.
Chris sat trying to aim with shaky hands at the empty bottle in front of the tree.
"Hey, Chris." Buck said softly.
"Go 'way." Chris swung around gun now pointing in the direction of Buck.
Buck slowly reached out and taking the gun from the trembling man sat beside him.
"You know what day this is?"
"Yeah, I do."
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc, etc
Universe: ATF AU
"Buck, what are you doing there?"
"Making a card, ain't that what you said we was t' do?"
"Isn't not ain't. I said make a card for Father's Day, do you think your father wants a card with pink flowers on it?"
"D' no. It ain't ... isn't for him anyways, it's for Ma."
"No dear it's Father's Day, Mother's day is over."
"I know I made her a card then too."
"Doesn't your dad want a card?"
"D'no, don't care."
"Oh... oh well in that case it's a lovely card. What are you going to write inside it?"
"-Thank You-."
The End
Universe: Old West
I know that this is late... and more than 100 words - but this idea for a Father's day story popped up today and I had to write it - thanks to my buddy/muse/co-conspriator wingbow - this is unbetaed...
She knew she was getting close to her quarry... not because of any real evidence, but after being on this trail for so long she had developed a kind of sense of when she was close... and lately she was feeling like she was getting closer and closer.
He was close.
The end of her long hunt was near.
Chris and Vin sat on the boardwalk drinking coffee. It was a slow week, the warm weather causing most sensible folks to take it a bit easy. Not that most of the settlers in the outlying areas had much of a chance to relax. There were crops to plant and fences to mend and animals to tend to, but here, in town, things moved a little slower.
It was getting close to noon, when Chris noticed Vin sitting up and looking down the street, his attention riveted on something that Larabee couldn't discern. But the trackers senses always seemed to be just that little bit sharper than most.
As far as Chris could see there was nothing unusual going on anywhere in the small town, just the usual mix of cowhands, farmhands, wagons laden with supplies for the outlying homesteads and assorted travelers, afoot and on horseback.
Suddenly the lean man beside him began to laugh.
"What the hell is so funny, Tanner?" Chris demanded, utterly at a loss as to why his normally quiet and placid friend was suddenly snickering so hard that he was teetering dangerously in his chair.
Then it happened. The buckskin clad man actually did fall off the chair and onto his rear end on the dusty boards... still giggling uncontrollably.
Chris took another look down the street, and still not seeing anything remotely humerous he turned to Vin and offered his hand.
"Can I help you up?"
Vin simply nodded and reached for the proffered hand.
It took three tries before he was on his feet, suddenly sobering... or at least trying to contain the giggles that still threatened to escape.
Chris was about to comment on the state of Vin's sanity when a voice called to them from the street.
"Excuse me..."
Chris turned to see a large wagon that seemed to be overflowing with children.
At his nod the placid woman sitting on the wagon continued.
"We're looking for Buck Wilmington... the folks over in Eagle Bend said that he was living around here."
While she spoke three more, older children arrived on horses, and Vin collapsed back onto his chair in renewed laughter.
Damn it... Tanner, Chris thought, What the hell is so funny...
"Yes, Maam," Chris replied, wondering what this woman could want with Buck... then he looked at the wagon, and the children, and saw what Vin had seen, suddenly he began to smile... then laugh.
"Hey, Buck." Chris called into the saloon between chuckles. "You need to come out here."
"Sure thing, pard." Buck called out from inside. He finished his beer, winked at Inez and headed out through the batwing doors and came face to face with Patience and a hoard of children.
"Holy mother of God!" he gasped as he recgonized his old flame. She was sitting in a wagon surrounded by children... tall, lanky, brown haired, blue-eyed children.
He was vaguely aware of the sound of laughter coming from behind him as several of the younger children ran towards him.
"Daddy... daddy... daddy!"
His mouth was agape, his tongue tied.
Patience climbed out of the wagon and approached carrying one of the younger children. "I've been looking for you for a long time, Buck Wilmington, and everywhere I went there were women who were looking for you too. And some of them decided to send you their regards..." She indicated the surrounding brood.
"I want you to meet our son, Buck Jr." she indicated the oldest boy who was sitting atop a sturdy bay, his upper lip sporting a sparse growth of hair. "And Bucklin Alfred Jones," she nodded to the next horse where a pre-teen sat astride a gangly roan, "and...Bucklin Leroy Franklin, Bucklin Clarence McGinty, Johanna Bucklin Falley, Charlotte Bucklin Hill, Buck Joshua Thompson....."
By the fourth Bucklin, both Vin and Chris were rolling on the boardwalk howling with laughter, joined soon by Ezra, Josiah, Nathan and JD as they came out to see what the commotion was all about. By the time she reached the seventeenth, and youngest, half the town was in attendence... every single one of them in awe at the sight of Buck standing there surrounded by a crowd of children who all bore a distinct resembalence to the tall regulator. Two of the younger boys had wrapped their arms around his thighs and were holding on as if he might vanish if they loosened their grasp. Bucklin Elron Whitley looked up from his spot, thumb in mouth, his adoreing eyes fastened on the tall man that the others had named daddy, he had never had a daddy... until today.
Patience went on to explain that by the time Buck Jr. had reached seven years old, her 5'6' redheaded husband realized that his son... wasn't. And being a pillar of the community, he had no choice but to cast the unfaithful wife and her love child out of his home. And, despite the fact that he had left the area many years before, Patience was, indeed a patient woman and decided to follow the trail that her former lover had taken across the country in hopes of finding a home for herself and their son. The other children had accumulated as she met the other women who he had "visited" along the way... many of them sending their own unwanted children along in an effort to save their own marriages.
Now they were here ready to settle down with dad.
And dad was right here, bigger than life... and about to faint right on the boardwalk in front of the entire team and all of Four Corners when a voice sounded behind him.
"Well, Daddy... you'd better invite your family in for lunch." Inez suggested, barely containing her amusement at the big man's prediciment.
Vin and Chris watched as the crowd of little Bucklins and Bucklinettes headed inside and both wondered who was gonna end up with the bill for lunch. Finally Vin turned to his friend and smiled..." Looks like Patience's trail of diapers has finally ended."
"Yeah," Chris replied..." and Buck's has just begun."
the end... or just the beginning
Universe: ATF
Note: This is the core of an idea for a fic I have. Yes, I know...
He sat before the gravestone, silent tears falling down his face. He knew Chris had been here earlier. They both came every Fatherıs Day, only Chris didnıt know about Buckıs trip. It was something Buck would never be able to tell Chris; a secret that would die with him.
"Hey, Adam," he said, his voice choked with tears. He reached out a hand and brushed the lettering. "Miss ya buddy. I know you're happy and safe with your ma." He swallowed the lump in his throat. "I suppose ya know too that I'm your pa and I love you, son."
Universe: Little Britches ATF
Chris looked at the sleeping form of his son, Vin. He had been dreading Father's Day as he did every year. This year he had been afraid of the day. He was afraid he would miss Adam as he had every year and that that pain would keep him from appreciating Vin as his new son deserved to be treated.
A smile appeared on Chris' face. He shouldn't have underestimated Vin. Vin had found some old snapshots of Chris and Adam and combined them with snapshots of he and Vin in an album dedicated "To The Best Father In The World."
Universe: Brothers Larabee
As he rode out across the land, Vin felt his confusion increase. His whole life he had been able to ignore Father's Day. After all, he didn't have a father.
This year, though, he knew Lincoln Larabee to be his father and didn't know how to feel about it.
Buck, Nathan and Chris had that sad look in their eyes like they got every holiday, even JD and Josiah seemed affected. Vin was just confused. He felt nothing toward the man who had sired him except anger and disgust. What kind of man abandons his child? Not a father.
Universe: Little Britches Star Trek
With Vin's help, JD had overridden the code on Buck's door and carefully picked his way across the room. He had replicated a breakfast after he got into the room and was now carrying it to the man sleeping on the rumpled bed.
Setting the tray down, he called, "Buck?" Not receiving a response, he called again, only louder.
When this failed to garner a response, he climbed up on the bed and lightly tapped Buck's face while he called his name. He was eventually rewarded with blue slits.
"What is it, JD?" Buck asked.
"Happy Father's Day!" he exclaimed.
Universe: ATF
Josiah looked across the room, scanning his coworkers. His gaze rested a few seconds longer on the dark head of JD. An arrow of guilt assaulted him along with one of pride.
This Sunday was Father's Day, a day that had been bittersweet for him for years. This year would be the first since JD joined the team. Of course, no one knew; no one but Hannah. He had thought about telling the boy, but did he even have that right. If Laurie hadn't told JD, what right did he have? No, he decided, he would remain silent.
Universe: ATF
Nathan stared at the phone. He knew the number, but something held him back. Today was father's day and he had intended to call his father to try and mend the breech between them. Still his hand hovered over the instrument, frozen.
As he sat there, he thought about his new family, Team Seven. These thoughts brought to mind Chris. Nathan's mind recalled the sadness Chris tried to hide whenever someone mentioned Father's Day. He also recalled the quiet words spoken for his ears alone, "Make it right while you have a chance."
Decision made, Nathan picked up the phone.
Universe: Little Britches ATF
Ezra watched the two boys chase around the yard after their respective fathers. A smile played across his lips. Vin and JD had changed all of their lives, perhaps Ezra's most of all. Somehow he had allowed the boys into his heart and discovered that he enjoyed spending time with them.
This love for his nephews had started other thoughts in the Southerner's mind, thoughts he'd been denying. Watching the boys, Buck and Chris today on Father's Day had forced him to admit the truth to himself. He was ready to be a father himself and that thought terrified him.
Universe: Lost Lambs AU
"But Buck and Chris aren't our fathers." JD frowned at the two older boys.
"While that is essentially accurate, JD, they are raising us and performed the duties that a father would perform. I believe we should honor them on this day for the responsibilities they have taken on in the name of family."
Vin nodded vigorously. He wanted to thank the man that had taken him in.
JD also nodded. "What can we do?"
"What do they both like?" Vin questioned.
Ezra simply smiled.
Chris and Buck smiled widely at the lopsided cake and three flour covered young boys.
Universe: ATF AU
JD had laughed as the men opened the cards he had left on their desks early that morning. The young ATF agent had picked up Father's Day cards for his teammates. They were fun cards, individually selected for each man that he looked on as surrogate fathers. They had enjoyed a good laugh and gone back to work.
,p>But he should have known better.Returning from lunch, he learned that being the 'kid' had its drawbacks. He discovered his desk littered with 'gifts' from his teammates-toy cars, ball glove, diapers, and a baby book complete with pictures of the team.
Universe: Old West
Nathan walked into the graveyard and stopped at the plain wooden cross that marked his father's grave. He sat down and made himself comfortable.
"You know, Daddy, as little time as we had together, I'm glad ya 's around. And finding ya after all them yearswell, I'm just glad that we had the chance to get to know each other better."
The healer sat quietly, watching the sun set behind the horizon. His mind wandered through the memories, old and new. Standing, he looked once more at the crude wooden cross, he said, "I love ya, Daddy. I miss ya."
It was a dark and stormy night:
So much like the one he spent in a place like this once before, Not alone.
Long, silky brown hair; a soft blue dress with weskit; beautiful eyes; a laughing smile; a long, hungry kiss... and then... the night, and the rain, wetting hair, lips, bodies, melding their souls to each other... forever.
The rain wouldn't stop tonight any more than he could stop remembering...
One bite of the spitted rabbit, then into his lonely bedroll... to toss, and feel the heat he had felt in that place so like this...
No sleep this night either... his body hungered... his soul cried out for Charlotte.
Disclaimer: The Magnificent Seven and its characters are the property of MGM, Trilogy Entertainment, the Mirisch Corporation, and the Hallmark Channel.
It was a dark and stormy night.
As thunder rumbled in the distance, Chris was drawn to the windows that overlooked the city. Standing motionless, he gazed out into the darkness, a worried frown on his face.
"Chris?"
Chris whirled quickly at the sound of Buck's voice. "Vin?" he asked hopefully.
Buck nodded. "Just called. He's on his way back, safe and sound."
Chris closed his eyes in relief. "Thank god."
"Yeah."
As Buck left the office, Chris was drawn back to the windows that overlooked the city. Standing motionless, he gazed out into the darkness, but this time, he wore an elated smile on his face.
~end~
Universe: Old West
It was a dark and stormy night.
The preacher was restless, the torment of his soul mirroring the angry rumbling of the heavens. He used his anger to try drive his demons away; tonight, it seemed the higher power was attempting the same. A large crack of thunder that rattled the windows in the old church finally drove him from his bed.
He stood in the doorway and looked out over the town, along with the dark swirling mass that encompassed it. Above, flashes of light chased each other across the ink-black sky. Occasionally a jagged finger would streak toward the ground, like a whip striking out at a hapless victim. The crack of the thunder would follow, then the eerie howl of the wind, as if the world was in pain; a pain he recognized, a fellow soul in torment.
As the night gave way to day, the thunder faded, the winds quieted. Across the sky a pallet of color erupted in shades of red, pink, orange and gold. The gentled breeze carried the fresh scent of peace.
Josiah breathed in the clean air and felt refreshed. The world's soul had been cleansed once more.
Universe: Vengeance
It was a dark and stormy night.
Larabee squinted through the blowing rain across the storm tossed deck of Vengeance. For about the hundredth time in the last four hours, he once again wished they could have reached safe harbor before the storm caught up with them. Now, just like his crew, he prayed they would survive the gale with minimal damage.
The brilliant flash of fire across the sky highlighted the figure standing at the wheel. Stunned, Larabee could only stare at the ship's Master. Vin's hair, loose from it's cord, whipped around his face. His billowing shirt was torn open down the chest, flapping in the relentless wind. Yet as the stinging spray of rain and sea beat upon the venerable bodyÖhe was smiling.
It was nature's children wrestling for supremacy and enjoying the game.
Disclaimer: This lot are still more KT's than mine...
Universe: RNLI AU
'"It was a dark and stormy night..."
"No, no, NO!" Ezra thumped the table in frustration, his head falling into his hands, groaning.
From the village hall stage, Buck squinted at him, affronted. "What's wrong now?"
Ignoring muffled giggles from Nathan and Vin behind him, Ezra marched up on stage. Striking a dramatic pose, he took a deep breath...
Suddenly, the door burst open and Chris stood there. "Maroon's gone up!"
As one, the lifeboat crew members forgot the play rehearsal and headed for the door.
"Er, Ezra?" Chris's voice came from the rainswept darkness outside, "You might want to take the dress off before we go..."
~The End~
Disclaimer: Same as always
Universe: Old West
It was a dark and stormy night... the lone rider pulled up in front of the jailhouse.
"Howdy Marshall," greeted the deputy in the warm, well lit interior. "Didn't expect ya back on a night like this."
JD Dunne, Sheriff then territorial Marshall for more'n 20 years, poured himself a cup of the stiff brew atop the stove.
"It's nearing Casey's time, I ain't missed one yet, not about to start now. Any business?"
"None. What's this one gonna be, another boy?"
"Girl."
"Ya ain't been wrong yet, how many's that now?"
"Eight," Hat pulled low the veteran lawman headed back out into the storm and home.
Disclaimer: Same as always
Universe: Old West
Sequel to last week's drabble Brother Winchester.
It was a dark and stormy night... the wagon cover shook from the storm.
Two men sat huddled inside, sharing the little bread and few apples the Preacher had.
The Negro sat ill at ease, unsure of this white man's intentions.
"Look me in the face brother, and tell me what's on your mind."
"You..., you lied to the Massa about me, sir."
"I didn't lie..., according to the laws of God and civilized men, no man can own another. I would have used brother Winchester to help him see the light."
A clap of thunder, eyes raised heavenward, "Glad to hear you agree with me lord."
Disclaimer: Same as always
Universe: Little Britches
It was a dark and stormy night... Inez snuggled close to his side. "Midnight thunder and lightning storms are for making love to Senor Buck," she purred into his ear. Her tongue darted out touching his ear, sending shivers down his side... "Ohhh Inezz, I just knew ya was a wildcat!"
"Oww!" Buck opened his eyes to find a frightened JD poking his ear.
"Buck, I'm scared can I sleeps with you?"
"Huh?" Lifting the covers, "Sure JD..."
"Mornin' Papa Buck, JD was tellin' us how storms make you dream o' wildcats."
"I'll just bet," Larabee's eyes glared at him over the rim of his coffee cup.
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc, etc
Universe: RNLI AU
It was a dark and stormy night. Like a car on some mad water covered roller coater, the lifeboat St Nicholas rode up the sheer face of another mountainous wave and then plunged down the other. Spray lashed the deck, white foam cascaded off the prow as the brave little craft battled her way across the bay, in the teeth of the storm.
"This... gentlemen — as not how I envisaged spending my Christmas Eve," Ezra complained, a white-knuckle grip on a handrail.
"Ahh come on Ez we can't disappoint the kids on the island. Right Santa?" Vin reminded.
"Right!" Josiah Sanchez confirmed, pulling on his beard.
The End
Universe: Runaways
It was a dark and stormy night, Vin sat outside the jail and watched the streets. Most people had gone to bed hours ago, but a few trail-hands were still in the saloons spending their money.
He felt the presence behind him and knew it was Chris. The boy hadn't said a word, but Vin always knew when Chris was nearby. He knew that JD had Buck.
Turning his head, he stopped the rocking chair and opened his arms for Chris. The normally hesitant boy nearly leapt into Vin's lap as another crack of thunder rolled across the sky. Wrapping his arms around the boy, Vin smiled.
Universe: Luck of the Draw
It was a dark and stormy night; the perfect weather to compliment the chaos of the week. He thought about his team, his friends, his brothers and shook his head. A smile tugged at his lips at the thought of brothers. JD, Ezra and Vin were all Maude Standish's sons. That went explained why they were all trouble magnets.
The smile disappeared as he thought about the raw emotional wounds his brothers were suffering, especially Vin. Chris had initially wanted to take out his anger on Ezra, but didn't; Ezra was carrying enough guilt and pain. He hoped this wouldn't tear his family apart.
Universe: Little Britches
It was a dark and stormy night as Josiah tried to get comfortable in his bed. He let out a sigh. No one was to blame for his current discomfort but himself. When the skies had clouded over, the boys had asked him to tell them scary stories. Josiah had thought back to his own youth and started relating stories from all over.
It hadn't seemed to affect the boys too much as they settled in to sleep, but at the first crack of thunder, Josiah had found himself book-ended by two small bodies seeking comfort. Now he was struggling to find a comfortable position to sleep.
Universe: Texas
It was a dark and stormy night. The storms had been raging since dinner, spoiling the large gathering they'd set up at the ranch. Rocking in the chair by the large picture window, he wrapped his arms a little tighter around Adam.
Rain, Sarah, Nettie and Casey were in the city for a "girl's weekend" and his six friends had gone out to make sure everything was closed up and secured. This type of storm could do a lot of damage.
"Uncle Nathan," Adam asked, his voice quiet.
"What Adam?"
"Will everyone be ok?"
A smile graced Nathanıs face. "Everyone will be fine."
Universe: ATF
It was a dark and stormy night. Buck felt exhaustion in every muscle in his body. The rain had gotten so intense he felt it too dangerous to drive so he'd pulled into the diner until the rain eased.
He sat sipping his coffee while he waited for his food. He saw the headlights of a bus pull in and wondered who would be coming in. He didn't have long to wait as people began pouring in.
As he witnessed each person come in, his eyes grew wider in surprise as a smile lit his face. "Thank you, God," he whispered, eyeing the beauty pageant contestants.
Universe: Old West
It was a dark and stormy night. Ezra sat in the mouth of the cave he'd chosen for protection and watched as the lightning split the sky over and over. Each flash, however, paled against the stunning revelation he'd had. He'd been riding with six other men for about six weeks. He'd thought to spend the requisite time in town and move on.
Now, alone, in a cave, all he could think was how much he'd rather be with his friends. That word had stunned the conman to the core of his being. He, Ezra Standish, loner, conman, a man who needed no one, had friends.
Universe: ATF
Warning: This one is a PG — a little suggestive.
It was a dark and stormy night. The electricity that crackled through the air hadn't prevented his exhausted body from falling into a well-deserved sleep, but not before he had expended energy of his own.
As the storm had moved closer, a particularly loud crack of thunder shook the apartment. The sound of jingling glass had awoken JD from his sleep. Scanning the room nothing seemed out of place. He glanced out the window and saw nothing but black.
As the sound of rain pounding against the window lulled him back to sleep, he pulled Casey closer, spooning himself around her warm body.
It was a dark and stormy night a flash of lightening, a boom, windows shake. A mustached man falls from bed, sweat pours off his face.
Lights go out. The storm roars, the rain falls. Someone is running, someone is crying.
"Papa?"
"Right here, son."
"Where papa? Where are ya?"
"Under the bed JD."
"What ya doing under there?"
"Just making sure I got all the dust bunnies."
"Buck, Buck where are ya. You ok pard?"
"Well it was close at first but I'm pretty sure I got em' all this time, Chris. Pesky little critters dust bunnies are, JD."
It was a dark and stormy night a flash of lightening a loud boom two little boys huddled together under the covers.
"I's scared Vin."
"It's gonna be ok, JD."
And then another BOOM and the sound of running feet can be heard.
"Papa, Paaaaapa...² one small voice yelled. As a small body flew into the man's arms.
While another small body landed on top of the man in black.
"Hey, dad... you ok."
"Thanks for checking on me Vin. Ya, know I was a little scared but now that you're here I'm good."
"I'm glad... dad, I love you."
Universe: Old West
'It was a dark and stormy night...' that found Chris sitting on the small porch of his small home. He watched the lightening streak across the skies and listened to the thunder roll over the landscape. The cheroot glowed as he sucked on it. He remembered sitting, holding his son as they had watched the heavenly display. Adam was only two years old.
It was a bittersweet memory that until recently would have him heading to a saloon to drown in a bottle of rotgut whiskey. The support of six other men now gave him the strength to relish the memories he had once run from.
Universe: Old West
'It was a dark and stormy night...' as Vin Tanner rode away from town. After being stuck in town for weeks, he felt he couldn't breath. When Josiah relieved him at the jail, the Texan had saddled up, saying that he would be back in a week.
He had no idea where he was going. Aimlessly he headed off, heedless of the weather. He had been wet before and the thunder was something to wonder at, not fear.
A smile pulled at his lips as he topped the hill overlooking Larabee's spread. He could see the gunslinger sitting on the porch and he headed down the hill.
Universe: Old West
'It was a dark and stormy night...' as Buck and JD patrolled the town. As the lightening flashed, Buck held up a hand and pointed down the alley. JD nodded and they started down the alley, quietly.
"What you boys doing?"
The two men spun around, their hands reaching for their guns. Facing the three guns of the town protectors, they quickly changed their minds and raised their hands.
"We wasn't robbing the bank. Honest. We... we..."
"...thought we smelled smoke."
Buck nodded as JD motioned them down the alley and toward the jailhouse.
Locking the cell, the two peacekeepers made themselves comfortable as the thunder rolled overhead.
Universe: Old West
'It was a dark and stormy night...' as Josiah knelt at the altar. The lightening flashes illuminated the interior of the small church. He raised his eyes to glance out the window behind the pulpit as the thunder shook the small structure.
"Lord, you truly put on a wondrous show. I'm here to thank you for the rain that washed our small community clean of dust today."
He paused as the thunder clapped again. "I don't think that I have thanked you for the blessings that you have bestowed on me. The six men that you put in my path... well, I just wanted to say thanks. Amen."
Universe: ATF
It was a dark and stormy night...
The thunder rolled across the land almost drowning out the sound of gunfire. Emerald eyes look at the assembled intruders in stunned disbelief.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MINDS?"
Ezra shakes his fist at his teammates. "Whatever possessed you deranged lunatics to attempt such a thing?"
Josiah brushes his fingers over the bullet hole in the wall of Ezra's condo. "Brother Chris, you are very lucky Ezra has such good reflexes." Chris just nods after a shaky breath.
"Okay boys, new rule. We never try to give anyone on this team any type of surprise party ever again. Ezra you owe me a new hat."
DISCLAIMERS: Concepts and characters are not mine
AU: my own: set in 79 Anno Domini, Roman Empire, specifically the household of Gaia Mary Cannae, widow of Valerius Stephanus Travius
It was a dark and stormy night, fit weather for Mary's thunderous mood. "Bring him!"
Shoved onto his bleeding knees, the "disciplined" slave's fierce eyesdared to glare into Dame Mary's. "I may have cost you 100,000 sesterces, Lady; you'll never own my heart. Please bargain with me. In exchange for the freedom of my six comrades, I will swear not to attempt another escape."
"Nicely done, Ezraius; your six fellow gladiators will be given manumission."
Blue eyes sparkled. She'd be rid of the gladiator, wolfshead, healer, house-slave, heretic and former lover.
Well worth the loss, to keep Ezraius chained.
DISCLAIMERS: The characters of The Magnificent Seven belong to CBS, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment Group, and The Mirisch Corp. Original characters belong to me.
NOTES: Thanks to K. Poffenberger and S. Berry for creating the Little Britches AU. Thanks to Mog for the ATF universe.
Universe: Little Britches ATF
'It was a dark and stormy night'
Vin curled up under the blanket next to JD, both pairs of eyes opened wide as Ezra continued the spooky tale. He hid his grin as the boys continued to stare at him in awe and just a touch of fear.
When he finished entertaining them, Ezra helped the boys change out of their Halloween costumes and into pajamas. Glasses of milk were consumed, along with one cookie each, and then the two tired children were tucked into bed with a kiss to the forehead.
He really shouldn't have been surprised when two small boys later joined him in bed.
It was a dark and stormy night...
Josiah laughed, looking out the window at the rain pelting down. I guess the line fits, even if it is a cliche.
From the other desk, Nathan asked, "Just what are you finding so amusing?"
Josiah gestured outside, "All this just reminded me of that line of text that goes; 'It was a dark and stormy night'. Don't know why, but it just did."
Nathan shook his head, his lips curling up into a smile. "A dark and stormy night. Sounds like something you begin telling old ghost stories with."