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statell · 1 year
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New Chapter Posted by AwesomeEyeroll
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awesomeeyeroll · 4 years
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Fic: Ride Off Ch IX
Thanks everyone for your wonderful feedback and so here you go! Another chapter. Its a long one, I hope you don’t mind and I will try very hard not to go back into hibernation for another six months.
I’ve made a decision to move this fic into the modern day and will be spending time over the next few weeks editing previous chapters on A03 to bring them in line with this. 
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After a lot of thought and some encouragement from Geillis who also had plans to go to Deauville to meet up with Armand on his home turf, Claire agreed to meet up with Jamie for the final weekend. Roping Louise in as well, the three decided to make an event of it and after hiring a car set off for the ferry early on Friday morning.
Jamie had been there since the previous Monday and had had an excellent tournament. There was much talk that his handicap might be raised and much to Dougal MacKenzie’s chagrin, talk about how well Leoch might do next year without their current captain. Most of this meant very little to Claire who was deliberately doing her best to keep herself out of the politics of the Polo scene. Having experienced for herself the less enjoyable side of it, and lacking Geillis rhinoceros hide like ability to not let things get to her, she’d come to the decision that staying out of things as much as she could was the path that would best lead to robust mental health and emotional well being. So far it was working. She had been to a couple of small events with Jamie since he spent the weekend in London with her, usually sitting behind dark glasses in the stands. When the matches finished Jamie would whisk her away to the Ridge where they would spend their nights making love under the low beams of his bedroom ceiling, gently hacking ponies through the country and sitting in his garden as the sun set drinking pimms and drinking in each other. 
As a result she had some reservations about the weekend. She couldn’t wait to see Jamie, she had been sustained by text messages from him and the odd phone call here and there and was dying to see him in person, but also was not looking forward to a big Polo event where she would once again find herself a fish out of water. Leoch had made it to the final on Saturday afternoon and as a result all eyes would be on Jamie. On her. She briefly wondered if she should have packed a bigger sun hat.
She was interrupted my Geillis grinding the gears “I dinna know what any fucker would want to drive a manual when ye can just drive an automatic” as the bumped their way onto the ferry.
Once the car was parked, after a brief trip back below decks to check that Geillis had in fact put the handbrake on, they converged on the bar where it was deemed that both Louise and Claire deserved a gin and tonic for risking life and limb in a car driven by Geillis. Geillis in response muttered darkly under her breath about ‘ungrateful bitches’ before sauntering off to buy some duty free and returning twenty minutes later festooned with bags and in much better humour. 
“Right then, what are going to do this weekend? Obviously, we’ll go to the match tomorrow. We have to watch Claire’s viking win the cup, and on Sunday night we’ll go to that snooty bitch’s Good Riddance party. What else?” Claire had agreed to meet up with Jamie that evening, so Geillis was taking Louise clubbing with Armand and some of his team mates. 
“Claire, shall we meet you for breakfast at the hotel? I assume you and Jamie will be ..” Louise made a very un-Louise like noise which left neither Geillis, Claire nor the three middle aged women at the next table in no doubt as to what Louise was getting at. Claire reddened slightly.
“I don’t know. We have plans for dinner but Jamie will have a very early start to get the horses ready in advance since he has to attend the lunch after the third place match.”
“Sure Claire, I’ve seen you two.” was Louise’s retort.
“Aye,” pitched in Geillis, “and I live upstairs from ye and it’s been very hot and the windows have been open all summer. So I have definitely heard ye”
Claire reached out and swatted both Louise and Geillis good naturedly. “It’s not my fault. I mean, what was it you called him the first time I went out with him? ‘An unholy god of fuck’? Well turns out you were *not* wrong” Both Louise and Geillis hooted at this unexpected crassness from Claire. Geillis raised her glass of mineral water and the other two met her in the toast. “Here’s to getting some.” They all took a drink.
Jamie, despite the outward success, had had a trying week. Dougal had become more and more cantankerous as the week progressed and was a serious liability to Leoch’s chances in the final. His rancour was aimed largely at Jamie and his grievances across the week had ranged from Jamie’s lack of loyalty to his family for leaving Leoch, back to Jamie’s perceived usurping of Dougal’s place as leader of the team via his ungrateful nature and then round to the perfidious and deceitful nature which definitely came from his Fraser blood. Jamie was largely stoic in the face of this knowing that Dougal was deliberately trying to goad him and get him to lose his temper. Jamie’s temper was long, and when he did lose it it was spectacular, but a showdown with his uncle was not what he needed right now despite his heavy provocation. Jamie’s other problem this week had been Geneva. He had hoped that the knowledge that she was being packed off to Kentucky might have given her something else to think about but it only seemed to have made her more determined. The damn woman seemed to be everywhere. Jamie had taken to working his horses in the evenings when most others were at parties to try and avoid her after she started to come down to the stables to help with the Helwater horses, but she still hung around the pony lines, attempting to make conversation, exchange hot glances and touching him for far too long when she wanted to make a point. At this point, Jamie was counting down the days until Geneva headed off. He was doing nothing at all to encourage her, in fact he was resistant to the point of rudeness often walking away from her mid sentence. This hadn’t worked either as the loss of face in front of her friends was not something she was willing to allow. Jamie found himself mysteriously seated beside her at every lunch and reception he went to. So he simply stopped going.  Jamie was tired from it all. He just wanted Claire. He normally enjoyed Deauville immensely, the polo was serious, the partying was hard and the whole week had something of an end of term feel to it. But this year all he could see was what was missing. He stilled loved to Polo but the rest seemed to have lost its vibrancy. On Wednesday when he knew he didn’t have a match until Thursday afternoon he had been sorely tempted to get a lift back to London with Fineas Anderson, who was driving back to stable some new ponies before returning the following afternoon. He got as far as messaging Claire who revealed she was on a double shift in order to be able to make it that weekend. He had ignored the pleas of his teammates and fellow players who were keen to make the most of the late start the next day andt paint the town red and instead headed to his room, hoping sleep would ease the longing and bring her arrival nearer.
On Friday he paced the yard unable to sit still. Rupert who was sitting on an upturned bucket in the shade of a tree looking slightly green after rather too much fun the night before, chuckled. “Lad, ye’ll have worn a hole in the floor if ya dinna stop yer pacing. It’s making me seasick watching ye go back and forth like that. And will ya put that bloody phone down” he yelled as Jamie checked his phone for what might have been the fortieth or four hundreth time in the last hour. “It will make a wee noise if ye get a message or a call. They are verra clever like that.” Jamie raised a middle finger at Rupert who laughed.  “Ah, to be young and in love, eh laddie.” Jamie’s middle finger was joined the one on his other hand and Rupert chuckled again. “It could be a lot worse ye know” And with that Rupert pulled the brim of his hat over his eyes and leaning back against the tree closed his eyes.
Attempting to pull himself together, he went back to the stable office intending to spend an hour double checking the horses for the final. He had not been sat down five minutes when a shadow fell across the desk as someone entered. Looking up exasperated at the interruption, he found himself face to face with Dougal. Sitting up to his full height he leaned back in his chair and waited. However, for once it seemed like Dougal was in a magnanimous mood. “What ye doing nephew? Going over the horses? Perhaps ye want a hand?” Jamie’s scepticism must have shown on his face because Dougal continued. “I know we’re no seeing eye to eye right now. But believe I want to win tomorrow. Believe I need to play out o’ma boots. If only to shut those bastards up who are saying that Leoch willna be anything without ye. I have my pride, boy.” Jamie nodded at this and gestured to the seat in front of him. 
After what was a surprisingly enjoyable hour of arguing the pros and cons of which horse, for which rider in which chukka, plus a list of contingencies in case of injury or bad weather (lighter, faster ponies suited the play in Deauville better but if it rained heavier more steady animals be more suitable), he and Dougal had it all straight, His uncle stood to leave and turned before he left, shaking Jamie by the hand and nodding as he went. Just as Jamie was marvelling at what had occurred, his phone beeped and a message saying that Claire was about thirty minutes away from the hotel flashed up on his screen. All else forgotten he headed to the hotel and to Claire. 
Claire was, in fact, already at the hotel but was determined to shower and glam herself up before she met Jamie. She couldn’t compete on the glamour stakes with the women of the Polo set and their massive bank accounts and nor was she especially interested in trying, but what she did want was to not feel like she was completely on the back foot. In one of her very few breaks from work this week, Claire had done something she hadn’t done in years. She’d gone on a shopping spree. She stood wrapped in a towel, appraising her new purchases. Eventually she opted for a pair of blue jeans with brown boots and a soft fawn jersey. The effect of the soft colours warmed her skin and with a dash of mascara and Hitchhike lipstick (her most trusty friend), she felt she achieved the aim of looking like she hadn’t made too much of an effort (even though she had), without looking like she had been dragged through a hedge backwards. A quick spray of scent and she checked her phone to see where Jamie was. He had messaged to say he had just arrived at the hotel and was taking a shower and he would meet her in the lobby. Waving goodbye to a giggling Louise and Geillis who were both about to embark on a disco nap given their plans included hitting up most of the local night spots and she was out of the door and headed for the lift.
When she entered the lift she was alone but when it stopped at the next floor down a group of young women joined her. Whilst many of them wore jeans and sweaters just like her, there was an air about them that exuded money, breeding and extreme self confidence. These were girls that had never worried about a thing in their lives. All of a sudden one of them spoke.
“Oh my goodness, its Claire isn’t it? We met at Ascot? You were with Jamie Fraser?” At this the other girls who had been paying very little notice  to Claire and a lot of attention to their Instagram accounts, gave Claire their full attention.
“Yes, yes, that’s me. Chessie isn’t it? Yes, I do remember you. How are you?” Whilst Claire’s reply was airily enough delivered, she could feel the tension in her own jaw. Chessie went to speak again but another girl, a petite girl with big blue eyes and a waterfall of dark blonde hair beat her to it.
“Are you here with Jamie? Did he bring you?” Claire wasn’t sure which she found more disconcerting, the girls incredulous tone or her lack of tact.
“Um, I came with friends.” She stammered, “But I am sure Jamie and I will be catching up whilst I am here.” She managed to pull herself together in time to deliver the last part of this, infusing a great deal of innuendo into the sentence. She was saved from further interrogation by the lift arriving at the lobby level and the doors opening. Jamie was leaning against the wall opposite, looking like a model from Town and Country, and Claire couldn’t hide the smirk that crossed her face at the sound of the very audible gasp from the group behind her. The chuntering increased as Jamie spotted her, smiled the kind of smile that made people weak at the knees and moved towards her pulling her into his arms and kissing her on the mouth. Jamie ignored the group as they passed, being shepherded by a slightly apologetic looking Chessie, many of them continuing to turn and look at them in a highly obvious manner. Claire gave Jamie a look and raised an eyebrow and he smiled at her slightly before offering her an arm.
“Well I managed about 35 minutes between arrival and my first run in with your fan club. It might be a record.”
“Well hopefully we’ll manage an hour next time” Was Jamie’s response but Claire could sense and edge to his tone.
“I’m sorry, Jamie. I shouldn’t be so brittle about these things. I know it’s not your fault and here I am, taking things out on you. I’m sorry. Please just ignore me. I’ve averaged 5 hours sleep a night this week in order to be able to swing the time off.”
“Yer fine Claire, I’ve had a trying week myself and I know how it is to feel a wee bit on edge” Jamie led Claire down a side street into a quaint little boulangerie. “We’re going to have coffee and pastries and proper catch up. I discovered this place back when I was a lad and I have been comin’ here ever since. I’ve never told anyone about it though, Sassenach, so ye have to promise me ye’ll keep it to yourself”
Claire felt absurdly touched that he would share this with her. A moment of intimacy in the seemingly unimportant, a place he loved that he gifted to her. 
Over buttery confections and black coffee, they talked. Claire shared her weak, confessing her sadness over a patient she lost. Jamie shared his, telling her all about Dougal’s misbehavior but only touching on Geneva. He wanted to be honest with Claire but also did not want to allow Geneva any more space in their relationship that she had already taken up. 
“So between all the hiding I’ve been doin’ I dinna think I’ve ever been so sober at Deauville”. He laughed. 
“Maybe that’s why you have hit ‘miraculous, almost otherworldly form’” Claire teased him, quoting from an article Geillis had shared with her about the semi final match.
“Aye, I’m sure it did no harm anyway” Jamie laughed again and the sound was like music to Claire’s ears. He reached forward and tucked a curl behind her ear and as innocent as the gesture had been, she felt it in her groin. Looking at Jamie, she stood suddenly, pulling him up with her. “Let’s go Jamie Fraser, I think we have some catching up to do.”
Several blissful hours later, Claire and Jamie lay and several feet of scented bathwater. Now as Jamie lay, the water soothing his aches and pains, with Claire lying against his chest her hands stroking his forearms, he didn’t think he’d ever known such peace. From below they could hear the noise of the street coming to life for the evening, cars, the occasional shout of laughter but here, he was somewhere else entirely. He moved Claire’s hair to one side and kissed her softly on the back of her neck, relishing the goosebumps that ran across her skin despite the heat of the water. 
“Steady, now. I don’t want to be blamed for sapping all your energy if you don’t win tomorrow” Claire laughed quietly. 
“Aye, I suppose after this afternoon I need to be careful. If I’m not, I will be a mere shell of a man by morning. Ye vixen wi’ yer insatiable demands of me.” Claire turned her head slightly and kissed him gently on the mouth.
“You know if you do need your rest I can go back to my room. I mean it. I won’t be offended, if you err.” Claire trailed off here. She’d spent many a night with him before a match but she knew that this one mattered. It was his last big tournament with Leoch and she knew he felt it was his responsibility to the rest of the team he was leaving, men, who with the exception of Dougal were both friends and kin, to win this for them. With them.
“No Mo Nighean Donne, I want ye here by my side tonight. I want to wake wi’ ye in my arms and when i have to get up whilst its still dark I want to kiss ye as you sleep before I leave to do the horses. 
Claire hummed in acquiescence and settled back into the water. There was no where else she wanted to be right now.
She roused slightly as Jamie left early the next morning. He whispered in her ear for her to enjoy her lie in and that he would see her at the match later. She reached out and pulled him back to her for a soft slow kiss. She felt him chuckle against her lips as she descended back into slumber.
She awoke several hours later and stretched. She enjoyed feeling the little aches in her body that were the artefacts of 18 hours in bed with Jamie Fraser. She briefly worried that maybe she *had* tired him out when he should have been resting, but realistically the whole thing had been too perfect for her to regret. But now she had to face his reality again. She sighed reaching for her phone. 
She scrolled through the group chat she shared with Geillis and Louise - Vodka Dollies. There were a number of pictures of Louise and Geillis in a variety of night clubs, each slightly more out of focus than the last. Finally a message at 3:02am from Geillis read
“Oh so much drunk, Armyman such ass, Louly bleughs, amma need help morra, k?”
Claire fortunately spoke fleunt Geillis and managed to work out that the girls had gotten very drunk, Armand had clearly done something to upset Geillis, Louise had thrown up and the expectation was that both of them would not be in the rudest of health today. Claire fired a message back asking them to message her when they finally surfaced and was surprised to get one back almost straight away.
“Breakfast. Coffee. 100% Yes.”
Claire laughed, relieved in the extreme not to be coping with that level of headache today before climbing out of bed. 
Louise and Geillis had looked better. In fact, Claire didn’t think they could have looked much worse but she kept that information to herself in the interest of their ongoing friendship.
“Good night?” Asked Claire
“Yes” said Louise at the exact moment Geillis wailed “No.”
“Uh, oh. What happened?”
“Oh God, Claire, it was awful just awful. Armand spent the entire night flirting with some Argentinian groom that Raymondo Calvieri brought over. He was all over her. So I drank half a bottle of Grey Goose and threw an ice bucket over him.” Geillis moaned again and put her head in her hands.
Claire looked to Louise who shrugged. “Pretty much that. I had a great time. Until the tequila happened.” She shrugged again and mimed throwing up.
“What about you Claire?” The prospect of gossip from Claire seemed to reanimate Geillis who sat back up as if she as on strings.
“Aye, tell us something nice, Claire. Tell us about the lovely time ye had with the wee fox cub. I tell ya for free. Very few things in this world have surprised me more than just how soft it turns out Jamie Fraser is. For an unholy god of fuck and all”
Claire smiled as the waiter brought a coffee pot to the table and Louise and Geillis fell on it. This was followed by a large fried breakfast which everyone tucked into with gusto and absolute concentration, meaning that Claire was momentarily no longer of interest.
As the final eggs were eaten and the colour began to return to both her friends Claire was once again in the spotlight.
“It was nice. We had a lovely day.”
“Nice, lovely” spat Geillis. “When you start underselling stuff I know its a big deal. Did he tell ye he loves ye? Propose?” Gellis sat forward as she bombarded Claire with questions.
“Don’t be silly, Geil, it was just ya know, nice…”
Louise laughed and mouthed ‘nice’ at Geillis. Claire glared. “Look we had a really great night but there is nothing to tell, we had coffee and a bath and…” Claire tailed off because Geillis was now making kissing faces at her.
“I honestly don’t know why I am friends with you two sometimes”
“Aye ye do. If ye wern’t ye’d have no one to help you pick what to wear for this afternoon. Speaking of which, if I am going to make myself look presentable on top of all this hangover, we really need to get started.”
Once again, Claire had opted not to try and beat the opposition at their own game, opting for understatement. A polka dot dress with black heels. Her hair blow dried into waves courtesy of Louise who was one of the few people who had ever been able to wrangle Claire’s hair with any success. She picked up her leather jacket to sling over her shoulders as although the late summer was still warm, it had a habit of turning chilly when the breeze picked up and there was very little shelter to be found at the Polo ground. Her dress for that evening’s gala dinner hung on the back of the wardrobe door and despite her concerns that the colour might clash with the glorious reds of Jamie’s hair, both Geillis and Louise had been adamant that she should wear it. 
The ground was already heaving as Claire and her friends arrived. The runners up match had just finished and between the real polo enthusiasts who had come out to watch that game and those arriving for the luncheon and final the ground was awash. As always in polo, the dress code swung from Royal Ascot fancy to stable chic. Claire in her dress, sat, as she had hoped somewhere in the middle. She looked around for Jamie who had promised to meet the girls when they got here. Hearing her name she turned to see Jamie pushing his way through the crowds his face opening into a smile when he saw Claire. Claire for her part was once again staggered by just how beautiful he was. His height and breadth set off to perfection by his polo kit, his colouring flattered by the navy blue of the Leoch colours. 
Taking her hand, he led them back through the crowds to the Davidoff Tent which was hosting the luncheon for the two finalists and their guests. It was an exclusive event with tickets like gold dust and not even money could buy your way in. As such there was much head turning as Claire, Geillis and Louise headed towards the entrance, led by Jamie who was clearly the toast of the tournament. Geillis was chuckling loudly, clearly relishing the attention, and made a big show of hair tossing and laughing loudly and something she pretended Louise had said as they passed the pony lines where a rather wan looking Armand was sitting leaning against the boards. 
“Any signs of the girl?’ Geillis hissed 
“Nay, none lass.” It was Jamie who replied. “Turns out she wasn’t just a groom but the daughter of Argentinian number 1 and probably the greatest back in the world, Alejandro Alvaraz. He was not happy to hear that his daughter was out clubbing with a bunch ‘degenerate Frenchmen’ and was shipped off to the airport first thing this morning. She’ll be back on the Estancia within 48 hours”
Geillis gave a little nod of satisfaction and said no more.
They entered the tent and were led to the Leoch table which was already occupied by Rupert, Willie, Dougal and Collum. In addition to the men were Collum’s wife Leticia, a luscious redhead with green eyes and snaky curls, Morag, Rupert’s on/off girlfriend, a fine polo player herself whose team had been knocked out in the quarter finals and Angus Mhor, Leoch’s Polo manager, who handled the team for Collum on a day to day basis. Rupert and Willie waved enthusiastically as they had met Claire before. 
“Sae glad ye finally got here, Claire. Seems now we might be able to keep Jamie’s mind on the job” Rupert laughed and handed Claire a glass of champagne as she sat.
“ And the 8 goals I scored in the semi finals were pure fluke, aye?” Was Jamie’s measured response but he could feel the heat travelling up his face slightly.
Rupert who seemed to have designated himself social secretary made the introductions. Collum was charm itself, as was Leticia clearly both used to entertaining they excelled at small talk. Morag was drinking wildly since she wasn’t playing “I was off the drink for six weeks in the run up to this tournament and now I am making the most of it!” She told the girls conspiratorially before flagging down a passing waiter and ordering an espresso martini.
None of the players were drinking anything stronger than water and Jamie in particular seemed to be pushing his food around his plate. Claire leaned into him, taking his hand in hers.
“Nervous?” She asked quietly.
“Aye, a bit. I want to win this quite badly. And I want to win it in front of you. Its enough to have my wame dancing a small bit” Jamie leaned close to her.
“Well, Jamie Fraser, I have every confidence in you. And you know what, if you don’t win. I’ll make sure you get a decent consolation prize.” She leaned close to him as she said this and he could feel her breath tickling his ear. Turning, he touched her face gently.
“I’ll hold you to that.” and then he kissed her chastely on the lips. He lasted a mere second but made the hair rise on both their necks. They were distracted from their revelry by a bread roll hitting Jamie square in the chest and they looked away to see Willie laughing like a drain. Angus rose from the table. “If ye two lovebirds have quite finished, we have some horses to warm up and a trophy to win.”
The players stood. 
“Ok, gentlemen this is it. Let’s get out there and win this thing” As Jamie turned to leave he leant down and kissed Claire one more time.
“Ye have seats in the main stand so ye should get a good view. Morag is sat with ye, look after her, she’s a good girl, but needs some fun. Collum and Leticia will be in the sponsors area.” Kissing her again, he turned and left. It took Claire a moment to realise that she was being watched. Looking round she saw Geneva Dunsany sitting a few tables away. The nature of the luncheon meant she was sitting only with her family and the Greys rather than her usual crowd of girl friends. She stared at Claire with such contempt that Claire was a little taken aback. She hoped she wouldn’t make a scene. Claire took a deep breath and focused on the fact that Geneva would no longer be an issue in 48 hours and until then she would just ride it out. She had Louise and Geillis with her which meant she felt less exposed than she normally did at these events and the time she had spent with Jamie and his confession that he had been willing to walk away from Helwater over the issue made her feel much less insecure than the last time she had come across Geneva.
Getting ready to leave, Claire turned her back squarely on Geneva. Geillis linked arms with Morag who she had bonded with over their scottishness and the four left the tent.
The wind had picked up whilst they had been at lunch and Claire was glad of her jacket as they sat in the stands. Mere feet from the boards, with an excellent view of both field and pony lines, the atmosphere around her was electric. Geillis who loved the game even more than she loved its players was in heaven at how good their seats were and was extolling Claire’s good fortune at being so well connected now with the odd aside about how ‘that wastrel dickhead could never have swung this for me.” It appeared that Armand was a long way from forgiven. 
As the band played and each team came out onto the field for the line out, Claire could feel the low key excitement that had been building inside her stomach bubble up. She’d seen enough polo at this point to understand the game and the atmosphere at big matches was always frenetic. She found herself perched at the edge of her seat as the Umpire threw in and stayed there. The match was fast paced and in places heart stopping. Players bumped each other in ride off so hard that there were times where those close to the field could actually hear the impact of horse hitting horse. The game play was astonishingly fast and players seemed to turn horses in almost impossibly small movements. When half time came Leoch were trailing but only by one goal. Jamie had scored twice Willie and Rupert once each. Dougal for once seemed to have abandoned his usual attempts at scoring from the number 4 position and was defending their goal mouth for all he was worth, blocking at least as many goals as had been scored. 
Whilst players hydrated, checked tack and changed ponies, the spectators trod divots and soon the churned up field was an emerald sea again. When the teams came out this time they changed ends and Jamie was much closer to her and she could see the set of his jaw and the determination on his face. She discreetly crossed her fingers and held her breath as the throw in happened. They were playing six chukkas which left three to go. If they didn’t go into overtime and there was no hold up it could all be over in half an hour. Claire breathed out slowly.
Jamie struggled to catch his breath. A mistimed hit by an opposing player had sent the ball crashing into his ribs. Trying to find his breath and control a hopelessly excited Fandango, a pony who had opted to ride this chukka because of her explosive speed, he steadied both himself and his pony. After 4 chukkas they had edged into the lead 7 goals to 5 but the other team were marking the hell out of him which left him stymied and reliant on the fact that the more energy they spent marking him the less they were spending on marking Rupert and Willie who were both strong attacking players.  He cringed as the opposing number 1 hit the ball towards the Leoch goal, exhaling in relief as Dougal rode forward and blocked the shot sending it sailing down field towards Jamie. Suddenly finding space, he sped forward gaining control of the ball and whipping it down field, it all happened so quickly the opposing team’s Number 4 had no way to save it and up the flags went just as the whistle blew for the end of the chukka. 
Jamie glanced over at the stands as he rode back to the pony lines hoping to catch a glimpse of Claire. There she stood, clapping wildly and his heart swelled. He jumped off Fandango, pausing only to hand her reigns to Mrs Fitz and scratch her behind the ears. “Give her a couple of sugar lumps and brush her down. Maybe a blanket as well, she lathered up a lot out there, I dinna want her to get a chill.” Mrs Fitz nodded and led the exhausted pony away. Jamie moved down the pony lines to check on Donas. He’d been saving Donas for this moment. As the Umpire signalled for the players to return to the field he jumped on the horses back and cantered out for the final chukka.
Leoch were now in the lead 8 goals to 5 and the chukka was entering its final minutes. The opposition harassed the Leoch players for all they were worth, Dougal in particular as they attempted to drive forward and score. The crowd was on its feet and Claire was yelling her head off. Geillis and Louise were clutching each other and Morag was breathlessly watching the clock count down.
As the match entered its final 30 seconds the excitement of the crowd increased. With the possible exception of Dougal the Leoch players were well liked on the circuit and both fans and players alike were delighted at the prospect of victory. As the whistle blew a great roar went up and the stands shook slightly as everyone who wasn’t already standing rose to their feet. Claire watched Jamie as his faced filled with elation. He pulled off his helmet tossing it to the side, the red hair slicked to his head with sweat in no way marring his beauty. After hugging both Willie and Rupert, shaking hands with a laughing Dougal, Jamie jumped down from his horse and headed towards the stands. Although congratulations reached him from all sides, he was single minded in his focus, never breaking eye contact with Claire as he fought his way to her. As he got nearer she jumped down from the stands and went to him. He scooped her up into his arms spinning her round as they both laughed. Then he kissed her, long and hard and in the full view of the entire crowd, earning himself another standing ovation. 
#######
The trophy presentation was a blur. Jamie felt only elevation as he took the steps to where the President of the French Polo association stood waiting to hand them the trophy. Accepting the trophy as captain of the team he lifted it to the crowd. Claire clapped until her hands hurt. He passed it down the team who lifted it in turn to equally rapturous applause. This wasn’t Jamie’s first big win, but somehow it felt like more. Not only because it would likely be the last time he would life the trophy with this team, but to have Claire there. To have someone to truly share the moment with. To have someone there who was excited for him. Who was pleased for him for his sake and nothing more. For the first time since his father’s death he felt  true belonging. And it was all because of Claire. He caught her eye and blew her a kiss and she blew him one back. Photographers snapped furiously as Jamie came down the steps towards Claire. Reaching her he pulled her close “Thank you, Sassenach. You dinna know what it means that you are here” He whispered in her ear before pulling back and looking down at himself. “Ugh, I sorry Sassenach, I must smell like a horse.” Claire wrinkled her nose. “Maybe just a little bit.”
Three hours later Claire was dressed and ready for the Gala dinner. Collum who had found Louise and Geillis highly entertaining at lunch and managed to find them tickets as well. Claire was still unsure about the orange strapless gown she was wearing despite having spent a fairly obscene amount of money on it. Geillis was looking slinky in a black figure hugging halterneck, her hair falling over one eye and Louise wore a Navy blue with capped sleeves and a mermaid skirt. Claire was travelling with Jamie whilst the girls were going on the shuttle that was being provided by the hotel since so many of its guests were attending. Coming out of the lift into the lobby was rather like walking into an impromptu drinks party as women in gowns of all colours and men in tuxedos, mingled, drank and loudly held court as they waited. 
Looking round, Claire could see a few familiar faces. Minne Grey sailed through the lobby towards her, resplendent in grey tulle. She kissed Claire on both cheeks. 
“Darling, it’s wonderful to see you. I have to wrangle about 35 of Hal’s closest friends to the ball so I will catch up with you later.” And with that Minnie moved off again, carefully working the room as she went. She saw the other Grey’s and Dottie waved at her. Stood with the group were Lord and Lady Dunsany and their daughter Isobel. Geneva was nowhere to be seen.
Catching sight of Jamie in a group of players near the door she moved towards him. Sensing her approach, Jamie turned. After a shower and in his tux, you would never be able to tell my looking that he had spent the afternoon in punishing physical exertion. He looked cool, collected and to Claire utterly gorgeous.
“Hello Handsome.” she cooed at him as she neared. “You certainly brush up well.” She leaned forward and sniffed him in an exaggerated manner. “And barely a whiff of horse”
Jamie laughed at that. “Well no, mo nighean, I couldna be having ye embarrassed to be seen wi’ me. Goddess that ye are”
Claire ducked her head slightly at the compliment as they turned and headed to the doors. 
“Why aren’t we getting the shuttle? You’re not going to do that thing where you make me walk because its ‘only 3 miles’ ‘cos I am really not dressed for walking more than about 30 feet.”
Jamie just smiled at this and nodded to the valet who was outside the doors. Two minutes later an Aston Martin drew up at the curb and the driver stepped out and handed Jamie the keys.
“Is this yours?” Claire gasped.
“As of this afternoon. I won MVP of the tournament and this was the prize.” He opened the passenger door and gestured for her to get in. “So now I can take my lady to the ball in the manner I ken she deserves.” 
The ball was a righteous good time. The season was winding up and many players were jetting off abroad to play there or heading to the states and Argentina to buy ponies. Other players used the opportunity to schmooze up to potential new patrons. Most just got very drunk. The Leoch table was much as it had been at lunch with several satelite tables filled with guests of Collum. Dougal’s wife Moira, who hated Polo but loved parties had joined them so his mistress, Laura was sat seething at one of the outer tables where she had been relegated. Both Collum and Leticia, it turned out knew how to party and despite their genteel behaviour at lunch were in the thick of it. At midnight someone had ridden a polo pony into the ballroom where it had crapped so extensively on the expensive carpet the manager had been heard to say that he would never let another polo player through the doors again. 
As things started to wind down, Jamie and Claire wandered hand in hand into the reception area. Louise and Geillis, who after much very public grovelling on his behalf, had suspended hostilities with Armand were headed for an after party at the casino. Rupert and Willie went with them, as did Morag who had over the course of the day proved herself to be a potential fourth person in their particular crew. Jamie offered to take Claire but she could see the dark blue rings under his eyes from exhaustion and caught the odd wince, when he moved to suddenly, a left over from the ball to the ribs he had taken earlier. “Let’s just leave” was her response, nudging his nose with her own. Taking her chin in his hand he had kissed her gently is agreement.
As Jamie went off to the bathroom, Claire wandered over and sat down. Her feet were killing her, 4 inch strappy sandals looked great but didn’t feel great after 3 solid hours of dancing. Taking out her phone she flicked through the photos she had taken, pausing on a selfie of her and Jamie. Both of them were grinning like loons, her lipstick was gone and his tie was lopsided. And they both looked absolutely radiant with happiness. Smiling to herself as she made the photo her lock screen she jumped at the voice behind her. 
“You fucking bitch, you bloody fucking bitch.” She turned to see Geneva. She was swaying slightly with drink and put out a hand to catch herself on the corner of the sofa.
“Who do you think you are? Just waltzing in here” She gestured expansively with one hand and wobbled again. “Just waltzing in and taking our men. My man. MY MAN.” She pointed at herself with vigour. Claire wasn’t sure how to react given how drunk the girl was. She fought the childish temptation to give her a shove and watch her hit the deck like a pile of skittles and looked around for someone who might be able to come and take her off of her hands. 
At that moment Jamie set off across the room. He stopped short when he saw Geneva looming over Claire and gesturing wildly. He exhaled strongly out of his nose. He was mightily sick of Geneva and was regretting every benefit of the doubt he had ever given her. He set off across the room with purpose and whilst Claire who was at this point turned to face Geneva didn’t see his approach, Geneva did.
“You, you, you fucking bastard” she yelled over Claire’s head, up swung back round. At this point people were turning to see what was going. “Who do you think you are? Everyone knows you Jamie Fraser. You’re a two date wonder. What the fucking fuck is this one still doing here?”
Jamie was very still and whilst he could see as clearly as Claire that Geneva was hammered he cared much less about it. 
“This, Geneva, is the woman I love, that is who she is. She is the woman that came here this weekend because there is no other person in the entire world, nay universe, that I would rather have here. She is ‘still around’” he made sarcastic air quotes which was such an uncharacteristic gesture that if Claire hadn’t still been caught up in the part where he has said he loved loved she might have actually laughed. “Because she is the most amazing fucking woman I ever met. She is selfless, and caring and puts others first. She is intelligent and accomplished and driven. She is quite frankly magnificent and wake up every day thanking god that she evens deins to give me the time of day. Does that answer your question?” Jamie’s blood was up and Claire could tell. Whilst he had not raised his voice once, the affect of Geneva was the same as if he had shouted it in her face. She had flinched at every word and as he came to the end her entire face crumpled and she began sobbing, at that moment John Grey had just come out of the ballroom. Sensing what had happened he scooped up the sobbing, drunk Geneva and with a ‘tell me about it later’ look at Jamie carried her away.
The crowd drifted away and Jamie and Claire were left looking at each other. 
“So” said Claire the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. “What you said…”
“That I love ye? Aye Sassenach. I love ye”
Claire face split into a huge grin. “Then let’s get out of here and you can prove it to me.”
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gotham-ruaidh · 5 years
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2 - modern Glasgow (since I know a lot of this was written non chronologically)
ask questions about any fic!
2: What scene did you first put down?
Hi @awesomeeyeroll!
The first Modern Glasgow scene I ever wrote - though I didn’t realize it was Modern Glasgow at the time - was the first chapter I ever posted, where Jamie and Claire get into an argument at a club.
This story was published on November 6, 2015 (!!)
It was inspired by a disastrous outing I had had with a friend, her then-boyfriend, and then-boyfriend’s friend, on Halloween 2015. Let’s just say that I was miserable the whole time, got hit on by weird men, took the subway in the wrong direction when I left, and finally made it home at 7 AM. You have to understand, I’m normally in bed at 10 or 10:30 PM.
So the next day I was thinking, wow that was such an odd experience, being at a club. And I remembered how I’d seen some *epic* arguments between costumed couples that night.
So I got to thinking - what if a modern-day Jamie and Claire went to a club, and got into an argument?
Remember that when I published this story, there were just about *zero* modern AU stories. Just think about that.
So it was a big risk for me to write a modern story. I didn’t know if I could do it justice.
And then I had so much fun writing a modern Jamie and Claire, that I wrote another story...then another story...and then I lost patience trying to fit them all in chronologically. And Modern Glasgow was born.
And still going strong, 103 (!!!) chapters later!
Thanks for your great question!
Love,
Gothie
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Category List: Famous Claire/Jamie
Fandom, please enjoy this collection of fics featuring Jamie and/or Claire as famous people! 
After The Tide by @holdhertightandsayhername​
In 2000, Claire and Jamie starred in the same movie and fell in love, but life got in the way. Ten years later, they meet again at an award show in L.A.
Bluegrass by @dopescotlandwarrior
Claire Beauchamp is a veterinarian with a unique ability that opens doors to the horse racing elite. Together with her trusted assistant Dusty, it is initiation by fire when they walk into a crime in progress with estimated damages of twenty million dollars and prison for the owner of Highland Brothers Farms, James Fraser.
Conversations in the Dark by @thistlesandherbs
Heartthrob actor, Jamie Fraser, is at a crossroads in his life. The demands of his career are playing havoc with his personal life. He wants out of the Hollywood lifestyle, while still maintaining a home in the United States, as he ponders his acting career. He is drawn to the mountains of Seattle, which are so reminiscent of his home in Scotland, and when he’s presented with a unique opportunity in the wine industry, he is convinced that Seattle must become his primary home. In the process of purchasing property to build a home, he meets potential neighbor, Claire Beauchamp, a widowed university lecturer, who captivates and intrigues him and makes him re-evaluate some important decisions. Complicating his ability to chart his own course is his manager and uncle, the irascible Dougal MacKenzie. Will Dougal’s drinking habits and loose lips trigger chaos and heartbreak?
Gold Dust Woman by balfey
Elizabeth.
That’s who she was when she was on stage. Fearless and nearly possessed by the lyrics she sang to crowds all over the world. Free. She couldn’t explain the thrill it brought her. It was like a rebirth. She was the biggest rockstar of her generation, travelling all over the world and making art.
But that was all a facade.
Offstage, Elizabeth turned back into plain Claire Beauchamp. Wrapped in silence and insecurities. Wrapped in her solitude, her only solace in a world of pretend.
When her world finally goes crumbling down, she flees to the Highlands to heal more than a broken heart.
I’ll Find the Music in You by gjwandkids
Claire and Jamie are musicians that meet prior to WWII.
Off The Cuff by balfey
Claire Beauchamp is the most respected and feared person in the fashion industry, running one of the most prolific publishing empire with a hand of steel.
Her public life is a success — her personal life, not so much.
One evening in Paris, she is looking for a little bit of fun when her path crosses the one of a certain red-haired Scot and everything she knows is turned upside down.
Is a second chance at love exactly what she needs?
Ride Off by @awesomeeyeroll
Jamie is living the jet set life of an international high goal polo player when he meets Claire.
Something to Believe In by CatrinWrites 
World renowned chef Claire Beauchamp settled in the small, but wealthy, foodie city that is Santa Fe, NM, upon the birth of her daughter, determined to give her a normal life. Jamie Fraser is the heir to, and distiller for, a famous Scottish whisky and gin producer, and is bound for Santa Fe for a lucrative business deal. When their business interests collide, and bring up some unfinished business, the two manage to turn each other’s worlds upside down.
Librarian Note: you will need an AO3 account to read this story.
Starting Over by melodyheart
Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp, a promising surgeon with a bright future, is engaged to a successful and handsome Chief Consultant of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Frank Randall. Her closest friends, Geillis Duncan and Joe Abernathy, are not convinced that Frank is the man for her because of his controlling attitude. Claire has her own doubts already, and more confusion ensues when she crosses path with her long time crush, James Fraser.
James Fraser was Scotland's Rugby Union best ever centre player until a back injury ended his career. Devastated with the turn of events and undecided what to do with his life, he turns to alcohol to numb his depression. After meeting Claire briefly in Lallybroch, he thought he would never see her again until one day, she literally drops from the sky and into his arms.
Stay by @kkruml
Modern AU, Claire is a doctor who stumbles upon a musician- a tall, redheaded Scot with a knack for the lasses.
We Live For Love by @gotham-ruaidh
Jamie Fraser and Claire Beauchamp, guitarist and singer, work toward rock and roll stardom in 1981 New York City. 
As always, if there are any fics in this category that we’ve missed, please let us know so that we can update. Happy Reading!
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Hi, do you know what brand/make Cait's sunglasses from the game are? I know she's worn them before but can't find anything. Thanks so much 😃
Still on the hunt for those glasses, watch this space :) 
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suzglobegrrl-blog · 7 years
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Will need some behind the scene snaps like these for S3 in SA to get us to Sept. (Of course these were leaked by Starz PR just to keep us interested--Sam & Cait are so obliging! Lol.) Btw: Sam & Cait, not Jamie & Claire
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thesketchingwitch · 7 years
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-haunted- 
Or should that be hunted? 
Jamie at Culloden
Reblogging this quick sketch I did really late last night, after some photo edits I made this morning.
I really really like both these effects : with the first one it looks like we are viewing him through the mist of gun/cannon fire and the second one just amplifies the intensity!
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by AwesomeEyeroll
Claire is sent to the Highland to escape the horrors of the French Revolution, but do greater terrors await?
Words: 1404, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English
Series: Part 1 of Highland Gothic
Fandoms: Outlander Series - Diana Gabaldon, Outlander (TV), Outlander & Related Fandoms
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Categories: F/M
Characters: Claire Beauchamp, Jamie Fraser, Dougal MacKenzie, Colum MacKenzie, Leticia Mackenzie, Laoghaire MacKenzie, Rupert MacKenzie, Angus Mhor, Lambert Beauchamp, Frank Randall, Murtagh Fraser
Relationships: Claire Beauchamp/Jamie Fraser
Additional Tags: Eighteenth Century, AU, gothic horror
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joannclelia · 5 years
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Happy valentine’s day to ALL the fic writers in this fandom! Thanks for sharing your amazing talents and responding when I message ❤️ I wish I could express my appreciation more eloquently!!! @notevenjokingfic @kalendraashtar @missclairebelle @awesomeeyeroll @ladyviolethummingbird @bonnie-wee-swordsman @balfeheughlywed @betweensceneswriter @claryclark @gotham-ruaidh @imagineclaireandjamie @jack-andthestalk ***sorry if I left you off the list I love you ALLLLLLLLLLL
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themusicsweetly · 6 years
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Which outlander accounts are your favourites?
Hey there Anon! Thanks for dropping by.
There are SO MANY great Outlander blogs out there. This fandom is really, really blessed to have so many talented, funny, lovely people - graphic editors, writers, and sharers alike.
I know there are several that I won’t cover with this list, but should be on here. So here are a few anyway, in no particular order…
Outlander Graphic Creators
@jemscorner | @lulu-tan79 | @sassenach4life | @caitbalfes | @nighean–donn | @jamesandclairefraser | @scotsmanandsassenach 
Caitriona Balfe Fan Blogs
@balfyoddlyeager | @fuckyeahclairebeauchamp | @caitrionabalfefashion
Outlander Fanfic Writers
@imagineclaireandjamie | @notevenjokingfic | @bonnie-wee-swordsman | @whiskynottea |@awesomeeyeroll | @gotham-ruaidh | @curlsgetdemgurls | @futurelounging | @thatsoccercoach
Outlander Content Blogs
@ciamarathathu | @chrismosstree | @omgturtlesoup | @denise-alwaysuselove | @outlanderamerica | @twosidestomylife | @betweenthescenes | @cb4tb | @outoftheheartsabundance | @olfanpcb-jcandsc | @gastairfad | @youmissher-terribly | @saint-hildegard-of-bingen
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awesomeeyeroll · 4 years
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Fic: Ride Off Ch VIII
Yes, believe it or not I have in fact, updated this fic. I hope you enjoy it.
For those who haven’t read the rest (or can’t remeber what happened last because its been 467 years since the last chapter you can find the rest of the story, along with my other work, here
---------------------------------------
Claire never made it to the Ham Club to watch Jamie. Her two night shifts turned into four after her colleague got food poisoning. Jamie was heading straight from Ham, back to the Ridge and then heading off to Harrogate for a two day tournament first thing on Sunday morning. On Jamie’s return south, Claire was once again on nights whilst Jamie drove to Plymouth to look at a horse. 
As a result it was almost ten days after Ascot before they saw each other again and their diametrically opposing schedules meant that they had only been able to grab a few snatched telephone calls. Jamie was frantic. Whilst they had made up after their heated discussion outside the Greys’ house and had returned to London and made love, Jamie felt twitchy. The separation coming so quickly on the heels of that event and his declaration of his feelings that followed had made him feel vulnerable and unsure. As a result when he discovered Claire had a weekend off he cancelled the medium goal matches he had agreed to play in and arranged to drive down to London and spend the weekend with her. He was parked outside the hospital waiting for her and reading Polo magazine when there was a tapping at the window. Looking up he spied a vaguely familiar looking woman. It took him a moment to place her before he realised she was the redhead from the bar and Claire’s friend. He rolled down the window.
“Well, if its no the wee fox cub” The redhead said archly before holding out her hand to him. “Geillis. I know we’ve met before but we’ve never been introduced”
“Jamie” He replied. “How’s Armand?” Whilst Claire might not have made it out to Ham, he knew from the other players that Geillis certainly had and that Armand was currently in the thrall of a red headed scottish lass which had led to many jokes about whether or not she was Jamie’s sister. 
“Ah, he’s verra well, thank you.” Geillis smiled enigmatically. “So I hear Claire managed to talk you into a weekend in the city?’
“Aye, I canna remember the last time I spent a full weekend in London through choice” He laughed and Geillis smiled. 
“Aye, well, I have to run, I am taking Armand to Brighton for the weekend. I hope ye and Claire have a verra good weekend.” She paused a second. “She likes ye. A lot. If ye hurt her I will kill you with a shovel.” There was another pause and Geillis shrugged. “A vague disclaimer is no one’s friend”
Jamie didn’t get a chance to reply before Geillis was off down the street. At that moment the passenger door opened and Claire climbed in. She looked tired, but to Jamie’s eyes infinitely radiant. She leaned over and kissed him briefly on the mouth before asking
“Was that Geilis?”
“Aye” 
“What did she want?”
“To tell me she was going to murder me with a shovel” Claire laughed out loud.
“Yep, that sounds like Geillis. Now can you please start this car, if I don’t get into the shower in the next half an hour I might actually cry.” 
They chatted idly as they drove and Jamie felt the knot in his stomach that he had carried since Ascot ease slightly. Claire lolled around in the passenger seat yawning vastly and dramatically which made Jamie laugh.
She visibly made an effort to pull herself together sitting up in her seat.
“So, what do you want to do since I’ve lured you to the Big Smoke? I don’t suppose you’re fussed for the usual tourist adventures? I mean given you actually play polo with Prince Charles AND have his phone number, a trip to Buckingham Palace probably isn’t that appealing to you is it?”
“Weeel, I have been once or twice already” he grinned looking at her out of the corner of his eye as he steered his car into his street. “How about we just do the kind of ‘city things’ that ye would usually do?” Despite speaking the phrase ‘city things’ in the same tone of voice that might usually be reserved for satanic worship or other such unknown quantities, Jamie liked the idea of a change of pace. They’d spent much of their short relationship trying to navigate his world and he wanted to spend some time with her in hers.
“Well…” said Claire thoughtfully. “Normally, I’d have a lie in and then head off to the cafe down the road. I’d usually meet Louise and Geillis, but we’ll maybe miss that step for now. Then I might do some shopping or something. It’s really not very exciting.”
“What you mean your glamourous life in the city isna all endless parties and snorting cocaine from bathroom window sills? Sassenach, I am shocked. Especially having met Geillis” 
Claire laughed out loud at this. “I am afraid to say, that our lives are the exact opposite of that. Though I’m sure I can think of a thing or two that will keep you entertained between now and Sunday” She waggled her eyebrows at him in a suggestive manner. 
“Aye, I have no doubt about that”
#####
Part of Claire had been worried he wouldn’t show. She knew that she had overreacted to Geneva’s digs but it was bloody hard dealing with these women everywhere she seemed to go. Jamie had been gentle and open with her. But also hurt. And whilst they had seemingly made up, the enforced separation and snatched phone calls  that followed only seemed to highlight the incredibly different world in which they inhabited. His was a life of perpetual motion, matches, horse sales, practice. She felt almost staid in her life my comparison and restless in a way that she never had before. She found herself constantly looking for something and then realising that the thing she was missing was Jamie. 
She sighed with relief when she saw his blue Range Rover parked by the pavement, and only mildly concerned to see Geillis trotting away from it. She hadn’t mentioned their argument to her or Louise and Geillis, fully loved up with the handsome Armand had her own stories to tell anyway. Getting in she had been relieved to see that Jamie looked genuinely happy to see her. She felt herself relax slightly and busied herself with pointing out various places of not much interest to Jamie on the way to her flat.
“And that’s where Geillis had to climb over a garden wall to avoid a policeman after she’d climbed up on a skip and stolen several of the letters from the front of the Odeon..”
Jamie laughed and she felt the ball of tension that she had been carrying with her unravel a little more.
When they arrived at her flat Jamie had frog marched her to her bathroom, pushed her inside, kissed her softly and then retreated, pulling the door closed behind him “Have your shower, a nighean.”
Claire was torn between the desire to have a lightning quick shower and get back to Jamie and the need to wash away the smell and the feeling of the hospital. She had done a thorough hair removal that morning in case Jamie had decided to take her in the hallway. Her disappointment that he hadn’t was tempered greatly by the relief she felt at the hot water hitting her aching muscles. When she emerged 15 minutes later she felt 5 years younger and more optimistic than she had felt in a while.
After throwing on shorts and a t-shirt, Claire wandered into the front room, her hair beginning to curl again as it dried. Jamie was sat on the floor surrounded by her extensive collection of take away menus. He raised an eyebrow at her, indicating the number of paper flyers.
“This is London, my dear boy. You can get any cuisine on Earth delivered to your door providing you are willing to wait 45 minutes to an hour”
Jamie pretended to look shocked and Claire laughed.
“Tis fierce overwhelming to a mere country lad like myself. The choice, the sophistication.” Claire laughed again.
“Seriously though, Sassenach, do ye *ever* cook?”
“Honestly? Not really, and trust me when I say the world might be a better place for it. I have maybe three things I do well and the rest well, sometimes it tastes better than it looks. If the way to your heart is through your stomach, I haven’t a chance”
Jamie reached for her hand then, and pulled her down to him. 
“Sassenach, I would eat pony nuts if it meant I could be with you” Claire smiled, running her finger down his cheek. 
“Well, I think I can do *slightly* better than that. How do you feel about Thai?”
**********
Jamie awoke early the next morning. Even on a residential street the noise of the city seemed riotous to someone who spent the majority of his time in a bedroom that’s nearest human neighbour was nearly a mile away. The midsummer sun was already half up, casting a pinkish glow across the room, from the gap in the curtains. He turned onto his back and stared at the ceiling. Much as he wanted to reach out and touch Claire, to feel the smooth warmth of her skin under his fingers he was reluctant to wake her. She’d been on nights for close to a week and the dark shadows under her eyes last night spoke of her exhaustion. He’d spent the last 10 days thinking. Whilst the last 12 hours had done much to relieve his worry that events from Ascot might still be an issue between them, he knew that it didn’t change that there was an issue. One that would become increasingly difficult to handle once he went to play for Helwater at the beginning of the new season. He knew Geneva of old and had always quite liked, her admiring her driven nature, what she wanted she always seemed to be able to achieve whether it was a successful season of eventing, a charity gala to be made a success or a polo player to be seduced. But now that drive had turned his way it seemed much less admirable and much more daunting. Geneva was driven and determined but she was also vengeful and mean. This he also knew about her. She would not stop her pursuit of him easily, because it was no longer about her wanting him. It was about her unwillingness to take the loss. And Claire could never be comfortable in a situation like that. However, he now had the faintest glimmer of hope that the situation might just improve slightly.
Although he had yet to tell Claire, Jamie had spent an hour on the telephone and another two hours in person with Lord Dunsany over the course of the last few days. Jamie had stated, that regretfully he would not be able to join Helwater in September and offered to use his extensive connections to find him another high goal pro. Later on Thursday, when still nothing had been firmly decided, Jamie’s phone had rung again.
“James, it’s Louisa here” It took Jamie a minute to realise it was Louisa Dunsany, whom he had known most of his life and was extraordinarily fond of, but to his knowledge had never once called him on the phone before now. “Louisa, how are ya?” Jamie assumed straight off that she could only be calling about his new found reluctance to join Helwater. 
“I’m very well James. Very disappointed to hear about you changing your mind about joining us? William is dreadfully het up over it and is being an absolute bear. He was *so* looking forward to you joining us.”
“Aye, well…” Jamie fumbled around. He had been boxing round the real issue all week, because regardless of the truth of the matter he didn’t feel it particularly professional or appropriate to tell the man that his eldest daughter was the reason for reneging on an agreement which had been the best part of twelve months in the making. 
.
“Oh do calm down, James.” Louisa Dunsany’s clipped accent cut across his inarticulate babble. “Anyway, on what I am sure is an entirely unrelated note,  I was just ringing to mention that Geneva is going to be spending a year in Kentucky. She wants to work on her eventing and there have been whispers that if she can focus on her training she could make the Olympics. William and I are obviously frightfully keen for that to happen and given the regretful affair with Tom Christie, we have decided that if she stays her England she simply has far too many diversions.” Louisa paused here leaving Jamie in no doubt that she knew full well just how Geneva had hoped she might distract herself. “So she will spend a year in the states. She leaves in early October. Anyway James, whilst I am sure this has makes no difference to you, I thought I might tell you are news. Geneva did always so admire your horsemanship…” Louisa let the sentence hang in the air for a moment before picking up again.
“Anyway that’s our news, so I was ringing to invite you and your lady friend to the leaving do. We’ll have it during Deauville and Geneva will fly off a week or so later.” She paused again. “I do know William has plans to ring you again later, he really is hoping you change your mind. He is convinced Helwater will be invincible with you and the Greys. Plus I imagine anything must be an improvement on playing with that appallingly crass uncle of yours.” He could practically hear her nose wrinkle in distaste. “How a man like that can have been raised in the same house and Collum and Ellen MacKenzie I have no idea. Anyhoo, James. Have to dash. See you in Deauville”
And with that there was a click and she was gone.
Jamie  had sat down at the kitchen table running his hands through his hair. Five minutes later his phone had run again and he took a phone call with William Dunsany where he had agreed to join Helwater for the next season.
Jamie smiled to himself in the half light. Maybe things would be ok after all.
****
Jamie and Claire took their time getting up that morning spending several hours reacquainting themselves with each others bodies, once they did rise however, they spent a riotous afternoon in the wine bar down the road, where they drank far too much and ate far too little and finally staggered out just as the sun was starting to set. Wandering down the street, hand in hand with her, Jamie felt young in a way he hadn’t since before his accident. In this moment, he wasn’t Jamie Fraser with a string of ponies and grooms relying on him, he was just Jamie Fraser, boyfriend of Claire, a young man who had slightly too much to drink on a Saturday walking down the street with the woman he loved. 
He turned to her, “Sassenach, how would ye feel about coming to Deauville with me?” Claire looked unsure. “I don’t know Jamie, whilst I know I can’t avoid the polo scene forever if we are going to keep seeing each other, the idea of being trapped in France with no one but the polo scene isn’t hugely appealing to me. Not right now. Its, it’s just too soon, Jamie.” She sounded sad and Jamie sighed with resignation. “Aye, mo nighean, I understand, would it change ye mind at all if I told you one of the parties would be Geneva’s leaving party? Before she heads off for a year in the States.”
Claire rounded on Jamie. “Oh My God? What happened?” 
Jamie filled Claire in on the full story as they strolled down the streets, Claire laughed out loud when he got to the bit about Louisa’s phone call.
“Subtle as a sledge hammer, I can see where Geneva gets her tact from” She pulled Jamie closer to her side as she linked her arm through his, enjoying the warmth of him in the cooling evening air.
“Aye, I think when you are as posh as Louisa you dinna actually have to have any” They both laughed at that. And Jamie put his arm around her.
“So, will ye re-consider Deauville. Just come down for the last weekend. If I am in the final ye get to witness my moment of glory…” Jamie said this with a wryness that made Claire smile “...and if I’m not I’ll take ye sightseeing then show ye off at the Dunsany’s party.”
“I’ll think about it Jamie, let me see what work is like.” Although Claire was warming to the idea, she still had doubts and was determined to think it through properly before committing herself to even a weekend of the Genevas, Arabellas, Maxies and Chessies of this world.
“Aye, just promise me you’ll do that” They had reached Claire’s front door and as Claire opened the door he drew her to him once again placing a soft kiss on her forehead. “Let’s go upstairs now, my Sassenach. Let me love ye.”
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Tumblr crushes challenge: post your own favorite blogs to spread positivity and get your amazing blogger-friends some more followers💫
Love this challenge 😍
@sassenach4life @caitbalfes @curlsgetdemgurls @a-storytoldby @gotham-ruaidh @autumnxchristmas @thebrochtuarachs @xlisaleinx @pissedoffsoka13 @itsclairefraser @dreamofspring @henricavyll @awesomeeyeroll @queenclairefrasers @nordic-sassenach @artistsassenach @andorra97 @jemscorner @queencaitriona @jamesandclairefraser @balfeheughlywed @laird-brochtuarach @heughanned @mssassenach @trixenfic @infiniteangie @l-o-t-r @samcaitaesthetic @jacklowdon 🖤
(and probably loads more that I’m forgetting) 
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Can I get some recommendations for fics with Jamie involved with horses? Working with horses? The story involving horses? I'm dying to read more fics like that. Would love a category on this if there's enough to fill it.
Hi there @geekinthefuschiahair,
We’ve got a few stories here to get you started. Fandom, please comment below with any Jamie-and-horses related fics you know of that aren’t listed below!
In My Daughter's Eyes by @let-the-dream-begin
Ride Off by @awesomeeyeroll
To Fly Without Wings by LadyChi
Triquetra by @faeriesfanficblog (please note that you will have to be logged into an AO3 account to access this fic)
West Bound by @dopescotlandwarrior
Where the Moonbeams Go by apostlespoons
Wild at Heart by @thewhitelady
Happy Reading!
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New Year Get To Know Me
Thanks for the tag, @walkinginland ❤️😊
Nicknames: son calls me Mom, hubby calls me babe, my Mom used to call me Er the Bear 😂
Zodiac: Aquarius
Height: 4’11″
Time: 9:44 PM AZ TIME
Favourite band/artist: Seether
Song stuck in my head: Bohemian Rhap, my son knows every word and we sing it all the time
Last thing I googled: When was peanut butter invented, and if you’d like to know, it was in 1895, so Bree would have to wait another 120-some years for a PBJ sandwich 😂
Other blogs: I have a couple others on here but they are ghost blogs (kinda like ghost towns because they’re abandoned) 😂
Do I get asks?: Sometimes but it’s pretty rare
Why did I choose this username: I am a brown-haired lass (well not really anymore, I color my hair red)
Following: Close to 700 I think
Average amount of sleep: It varies, I try to go to bed early during the week but honestly that just consists of me staring at my phone for a hour or two before my eyes cross 😂
What I’m wearing: sweatpants and a sweatshirt, comfy house clothes 😂
Dream job: Working on that... hubby and I have a woodworking business which is mostly a hobby but we want to turn it into a legit home business.
Dream trip: Probably predicatable but the Scottish Highlands. I want to buy a castle and haunt it 😂 maybe disappear in to some standing stones, I dunno.
Fave food: 🌮
Play any instruments: I played the drums for a few years
Hair colour: Naturally it’s very dark brown with a lot of grey streaks but I color it red violet. I’ve had grey hair since I was a teenager, I was hoping I would be an x-man but no such luck 😂
Languages you speak: English mostly... also fluent in sarcasm and swearing 😂 I’ve picked up some Yiddish too because I am a Jew 😂
Random fact: I can do the Elvis lip curl, which I always thought was funny, and probably something everyone could do if they tried 😂 but my hubby is impressed because he can’t do it 😂
Describe yourself as aesthetic things: hoodies, boots and Starbucks 😂 starry skies, puppies and kittens, ghost stories, haunted places, pumpkins and hay rides, old books, mountains, old houses...
Tagging @flashinthepanobsessions, @awesomeeyeroll, @tara-58, @sassenach4life, @balfeheughlywed, @mariaae and whomever else would like to participate 😊
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suzglobegrrl-blog · 7 years
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Happy Sunday! In honor of all the Sam Cait goodness, here are my two finished watercolors for S1 & S2. I hope you enjoy them--Let me know! I'm tagging a few of my few followers so these have a chance to be seen. Send me a note!
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fallinwitstyle · 5 years
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I was tagged by @moirabartons!! Thank you! :)
Rules: Answer all the questions, tag however many people as you want. Maybe add a question if you want! It’s that simple, friends.
How did you come up with your blog name
I’ve always loved the phrase from Toy Story “This isn’t flying, its falling with style!” and I thought it would make a cool url.
Why did you make your blog
I saw that tumblr was a place where fans congregated and I needed something like that. I originally joined for glee. 
How long have you had it?
8 and a half years....
How many followers do you have?
967
What do you share/post about most?
It’s always a hodgepodge of what my current fandoms are, which change very quickly. Right now its usually a mixture of: Star Wars, Outlander, Doctor Who is always consistent, Harry Potter, Marvel,  cute animals, broadway stuff. 
What do you share/post the about the least?
I try to never share hate posts. I try to stay away from politics for the most part (you’ll notice I’ve reblogged a few things recently because omg I’ve had enough of HIM and what he’s doing to this country right now). 
What do you think your followers think of you?
Well I hope they like me....and I bless all almost 1,000 of you for staying with me for the last 8 years even though I’ve changed fandoms a million times. 
I’m tagging @moghraidhjamie @uminotenshi @harley-quinnss @elphaba-in-the-tardis @ladyjehane @awesomeeyeroll
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