#niece is called Mackenzie and we call

[minawritesfanfic]

David Rosen x Gn!Reader

A Better Version

Word Count: 2,544

Summary: You attend your cousins wedding and find yourself in the presence of David Rosen. Despite the wedding being over and having no cases that coincide, you and David continue to meet under the guise of ‘getting along as in-laws’.

Prologue

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆

I stood at the open bar, drowning out the festive cheers and music. Weddings were lovely and all but when you’re single and the cousin of a wannabe matchmaker and bride, wedding festivities are just the beginning of what you’ll experience that day.

My cousin Mackenzie had even given me a plus one just so I’d bring a date despite her limiting the guest list to long-term partners only, but she knew me well enough that even if she paid someone to be my plus one I’d wriggle my way out of it and show up alone. Speaking of the devil, I took a gentle sip of my drink to avoid her gaze. I could feel her eyes drilling holes into the back of my head, I certainly knew better than to meet her gaze right now. Thankfully all this wedding hoopla had her plenty distracted and I could down as much free alcohol as I pleased. Though I was surprised to hear my name, for a moment I thought it was Kenzie but when they called my name again I could more distinctly hear the familiar and silky voice call me.

“Well, well, well. Fancy seeing you here,” I turned glancing over my shoulder, setting my martini glass down on the counter. To my surprise, I found the one and only United States Attorney General, David Rosen. I grinned, raising my eyebrow slightly in confusion.

“Yet here I am, but why are you?” I quipped back facing him more directly as I leaned back against the bar.

“Well considering this is my brother’s wedding, it would be odd if i wasn’t here. Hell, I wouldn’t miss this for the world, why are you here?” He asked, waving the bartender over for a drink of his own.

“Guess that makes us in-laws, somehow? The bride is my cousin. Anyways this is really fucking weird, so I’m going to continue getting drunk before Kenzie comes over here to set me up with one of your brothers’ friends or something.” I sighed into my drink, swishing the rich blue liquid in my glass, and took a slow long sip, enjoying the sweet flavour and slight tang with a satisfied sigh.

“What a small world we live in huh, this is definitely going to complicate my home and work life.” He joked taking a brief sip from the old-fashioned he ordered, I let out a laugh and set my glass down.

“It most certainly will, imagine explaining to your sister-in-law that you had to arrest and prosecute their favourite cousin. Fast track path to never meeting your future nieces and nephews,” I jeered with a snort.

“Hopefully that won’t have to be the case if that band of delinquents you work with stay in line with the law so I won't have to.” I scoffed as a lopsided grin grew on his face as he stared down at me, I noticed that his eyes no longer held that glazed-over and slightly irritated gaze. Rather now he looked at me with a gentle aloof yet still unreadable gaze.

His entire aura had changed honestly, normally he radiated tenacity, poise, and complete utter fucking arrogance. He’s also always had a clean, rigid, but impeccable sense of style too. A style that was especially evident now, his appearance remained clean but more gentle and calm. He wore pale green pants that matched his jacket, a white collared shirt, and a lavender tie that matched my outfit oddly enough. We both turned around upon hearing a chipper voice from behind, that called out my name.

“I see you did all the hard work for me, hi Davy, we’re both really glad you came,” Kenzie said with a bright smile on her face as she hugged David, her reception dress moving fluidly as she did so.

“Kenzie you did not, I practically work with him.” I hissed, folding my arms and glaring at her which she ignored as she rolled her eyes.

“Great so you already know each other, that’s why I picked him. Isn’t it cute, two lawyers defending the law side by side? It’s like a fairy tale romance, plus…” She leaned into me whispering in my ear, “I see how you’re checking him out and that dopey grin on your face, you can’t tell me you at least don’t think he’s charming.” I scoffed rolling my eyes and looking over at David who leaned against the counter with an amused and slightly confused grin on his face.

“Kenzie can’t we just celebrate your wedding and not play matchmaker? I quite enjoy the single life and don’t need you to keep setting me up. Especially when we conflict with each other at work.”

“Not so sorry to intrude but what is this about?” David butted in still looking quite amused.

“Davy, I told you that I had someone I wanted to introduce to you. I knew there was a possibility of you knowing each other, hadn’t expected you to so this is great. You two have fun chatting on this blind date, I have a reception to host.” She finished with a squeal and practically skipped away, I turned back around and signaled the bartender for another drink since mine now sat empty.

“I’m sorry about that, she’s been trying to set me up for years now. ‘Are you never going to have kids?' she asks, ‘We’ll never get to go on double dates!’ she whines. I’ll make sure she leaves you alone about this, I’m sorry for bringing you her nonsense.” I rambled on as I grabbed the freshly served drink I picked it up and ate the mint it came with.

“I don’t quite mind the idea of a blind date though, already blurring the lines between work and home. What's one step further?” I looked away from my drink at him, frankly startled by his words, seeing how flustered I was he continued, “I’m saying I want to continue this blind date set up with you. You aren’t half bad and I dare say I’m not either.”

“I... okay Woah woah woah, can we take a step back? I don’t even, what?”

“It’s a simple yes or no, is this a date or no?”

“No? Wait, yes, I mean yes. I’m just wow, speechless to say the least. This day just got way more interesting, okay so how do we go about this date then? I doubt you're much of a dancer,” I stammered slowly, regaining my composure as I gestured to the lively dance floor bustling with people.

“I may not like it but that doesn't mean I’m not good at it. What about you, are you out dancing in the rain during your free time?”

“Don’t knock it until you try it, but since you’re not averse to dancing mind joining me on the dance floor then, Davy?” I teased setting down my drink and walking away backward from the bar towards the ballroom floor.

He smiled and set down his drink to follow me, a Frank Sinatra song played on the speakers. I fully embraced the upbeat tune, my shoes clicking on the floor as I danced loosely switching my weight from foot to foot. He joined me following my pace, despite the earlier flirting we were both still unsure of what the hell was going on. Maybe it was the almost three martini’s I’d had but I felt daring as I grabbed his hand and linked fingers with him. We stared into each other's eyes for a beat just swaying back and forth, and slowly we snaked our arms around each other.

“So do you really dance out in the rain? I could tell you were a fascinating character, what other things do you do?”

“I do, it helps clear my mind and ease my tension. I also enjoy puzzles, and especially hand-making things. Whether it be food, crafts, or renovating my kitchen all on my own. Though I can’t bake much, my pies are superb. What about you?” He looked up with his lips slightly parted as he thought of an answer, the outer edges of his eyes crinkling as he did.

“I read quite a bit mostly sociology and theorize about it, I also do the occasional crossword puzzle with my morning cup of coffee.” I bit back a laugh as he raised a curious eyebrow at me.

“That’s exactly what I would’ve expected you to say, let me guess your go-to coffee choice is a red eye?” He rolled his eyes as a cheeky grin played on my face.

“Close but wrong, it’s an Americano.”

“How bland, I’m more of a Cappuccino person. I’ll never know how you all drink something so unsweetened and lifeless.”

“That’s what creamer and caramel drizzle are for, besides I’d prefer not to have an upset stomach from the gallons of milk you likely have poured in with a teaspoon of coffee.”

“Oh! I see how it is, that creamy texture and sweet taste is worth it though, sorry to hear your delicate stomach can’t handle a wee bit of milk.” We both laughed and a comfortable silence fell over us as we still danced entangled in each other.

Eventually, we moved away from the dance floor and sat at an unoccupied table drinking, eating, and chatting away. David was surprisingly quite fun to talk to and good at carrying conversations and was overall a lot more interesting than I’d first thought. He had a German Shepard named Lorelai, he was a homebody, and he wholly preferred chance meetings way more than he did using the up-and-coming online dating websites. It felt like mere minutes had passed when the wedding had come to an end and it was time to head home, though I wasn’t quite ready to end our date just yet.

We stood side by side outside the castle Kenzie chose as a venue's gates waiting for our rides, I leaned against him with my head resting on his shoulder. The Virginian breeze rustled my clothes and my hair, and the chatter of the other guests waiting for their rides floated around us. I tuned most of it out as all of the guests mindlessly rambled about whatever boring drama was going on in their lives, something about who slept with whose wife this time. Considering such a topic was an annoyingly large portion of what I deal with at work, I felt exhausted from only partially listening. I sat my head up and looked over at David, a dreamy look cast over his sunken face.

“Hey David, what do you say we do something fun? Wedding food is nice, but I’d kill for a burger right now.”

“With some curly fries and a shake, now you’ve got me hungry. I can’t imagine there’s anywhere open this late,” he said checking his watch.

“You’d be surprised, there’s this place close to my hotel that is open 24 hours. I didn’t get to try their burgers but the shakes are spectacular, so are you in?” I asked turning to face him fully as a taxi pulled up in front of us, he looked from me to the taxi as he thought.

“I’m in as long, just don’t you steal any of my fries.” He said opening the taxi door, then turned back to me.

“How gentlemanly of you Davy,” I teased again with a smile before getting in.

★ ✮ ★

“So after seeing her in that aquarium I made it my dream to become a mermaid, I even took swim lessons, practiced breath control, and learned different tricks with a tail on for years! If I didn’t fall in love with the law, we’d be meeting behind the glass wall of an aquarium.” I babbled on occasionally pausing due to my fits of giggles, David laughed along with me as I reminisced.

"Well, I must say, I'm relieved you didn't become a mermaid. Regardless of how funny it would have been to see you frolicking through the water with seashells and a tail, I much prefer seeing you in a courtroom advocating for your client. I do find it pretty admirable that you put so much passion into pursuing your dream, who knows though, maybe one day you could incorporate your love of the ocean into your legal career, somehow?"

“I wish, can’t even begin to think of how I would do that. What about you though, what's your wildest dream?” I rolled my head to face him, we both sat on the floor resting our heads on the base of the bed, an empty bottle of wine and a takeaway box of fries squished between us.

“Hmm, I don’t know. I was never really sure what I wanted to do or be, it’s honestly still crazy that I even have the job I do now. Law came out of nowhere and it just worked, I was this close to being a real estate agent.” He said with a soft but hearty laugh, his eyes were droopy as he stared up at the ceiling he yawned into his hand before looking over at me.

“Oh wow, Mr. Rosen the real estate agent, I’d let you sell me an overpriced house any time.” I laughed weakly, it was already three in the morning and it was obvious we were both exhausted. “David, would you like to sleep over?”

“Hmm, oh wow I hadn’t realized it was so late. If you would have me, I’d love to. Though I do wish I had something better to sleep in.” He sighed as he rose to his feet and extended a hand to help me up. I accepted his hand and rose.

“I doubt I have any for you to wear, just sleep naked,” I said with a yawn as I stumbled to the closet found my suitcase, and grabbed the pajamas that sat unworn, I just heard him hum in response behind me.

My pajamas weren’t anything special, just my favourite oversized shirt and biker shorts. I carefully took off my clothes and hung them in the closet, then I put on my pajamas. As I stepped away from the closet I found Rosen on the couch with the pathetic blanket they decorate the end of the bed with.

“I was assuming you’d join me on the bed, but who knows maybe this ‘comfortable’ couch and ‘warm’ blanket make for the best sleep,” I said as I stood over him with a hand on my hip.

“Well, I wouldn’t assume since this isn’t my hotel and with how drunk we are this seemed like the best option to avoid awkwardness at work.”

“I’m assuming you’d join me because we’re drunk, which is mostly my fault so the least I could do is offer you a nice bed to sleep in. Besides, if you don’t make it awkward, I won’t make it awkward. Now come on.” I grabbed a hold of his hands and pulled him up, dragging him to the bed with me.

We climbed into the bed and found comfort on our respective sides, I laid on my stomach and rested my head inwards. David had his back to me, I could see that his back was freckled lightly in the same way his face was. I just smiled and closed my eyes, finally getting my long-deserved beauty rest.

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆

#David Rosen x reader #David Rosen #x reader #reader insert #scandal #wedding #wine and fries #fluff

[firesoulstuff]

💫 Captain Canary please?

(This whole song gave me Captain Canary vibes!)

"Don't be sorry for callin' me up out of the blue, I was just thinking 'bout you."

Thinking 'Bout You, By: Dustin Lynch, Mackenzie Porter

"So I ran into Laurel the other day." Len mentions as he passes Sara another beer, his heart hurting just a touch as he does so because they just announced last call, which means this night of catching up is almost over. "Congratulations."

Sara smiles and tips the bottle to her lips. "Thank you." She says, then she starts to laugh. "You should have seen the look on Ally's face when she told me she was going to be a big sister."

Leonard smiles, and not just because of how bright Sara is smiling. No, it's the fact that they haven't talked much about her family all night, that he hasn't seen her since that summer Laurel got married and she'd brought him to the wedding as her date. Yet she hadn't felt the need to clarify who 'Ally' is; she trusted he knows it's her niece.

And he does know, because Lisa hangs out with Ray who is friends with Oliver, and Sara knows that through that distant grapevine he pays enough attention to know who Ally is.

"Thanks for coming out with me." Sara says all of a sudden, a twinkle in her eye. "Sorry I kind of just dropped in."

He grins, "I'll admit, you had some impeccable timing."

"Why is that?"

He laughs around a sip of beer. "What can I say? I saw your sister for the first time in three years, not a surprise I was thinking about you."

She smirks, and the bar around them is loud with music and conversation. It's a good crowd tonight, which normally isn't his scene but it's been ok. She's had a rough couple of months by the sound of it, she'd needed the crowd, and admittedly he doesn't mind a crowd when his feelings are as muddled as they are.

He takes another, long, sip of his beer and she does the same.

"What do you say we finish these quick and get out of here?" He suggests before he can talk himself out of it. "Take a walk down to the lake?"

There's a mischief in her eye, clearly she remembers the last time they were down at the lake.

"Sounds good."

And she tips back half her beer.

#captain canary #fic writing

[absolutelynotmate-archive]

23 for the ask thingy?!

23 - what is your relationship with your siblings?

very interesting question anon thank u. i am one of five, three older, one younger. they are: katarina (34) - katie katie katie what to say about katie. katie and I are very close, as close as I think you can be with a sibling you have a fifteen year age gap with. I am a lot like her, we are both very messy and very loud and speak our minds. Katie is married with two kids, my niece and nephew who are in fact both closer in age to me than she is. elizabeth (32) - lizzie is the mf golden child. password child, good at school, good at sports, and such a good human it's actually infuriating. growing up she was the coolest person to ever walk the face of the earth and i modeled my entire personality after her, but nothing more than sports. she played a sport, u best bet i was playing it too. lizzie just got married and i am patiently waiting for her and her perfect husband to have some perfect babies. she is the ballsiest woman i know (once called off her wedding) and i want to be her when i grow up. andrew (...19/30) - andrew is my big brother <3 he suffered from a lot of neuro issues and wound up paralyzed on one side of his body when i was a toddler. he unfortunately passed away when he was nineteen from complications w/ his health issues. he was the strongest person i have ever met and i admire him more and more as i get older. everytime i complain about anything i think about him and things fall into perspective. mackenzie (19) - u already know me silly! camille (14) - i am probably closest with cami, just because of our ages and the fact that we live together. i mean, my brother died when i was eleven and my sisters moved out of the house when i was in elementary school so it's kind of process of elimination lol. cami is also the person i have the least in common with--she is shy and reserved and polite--all things i am not, and likes to keep to herself. i have gotten her into f1 though so who knows what the future holds for us?

#mack's ask game #night 2

[okbutluke]

I think luke might be training with @mackfit I’m not sure tho

#no shade just funny #it's not even him that's always like @mackfit #it's the Mack guy #except obv for his Insta #anyway it's weird my #niece is called Mackenzie and we call #her Mack sometimes #imagine a 5 y/old training giant luke #they'd end up colouring in after like 20 minutes

[reddie-as-ill-ever-be]

Some underrated YA novels that are actually good and you should read right now

-Asylum by Madeline Roux

A boy named Dan goes to college at a school called Brookline, which used to be an insane asylum. He makes two friends, Abby and Jordan and together they try to figure out all the creepy secrets about the place, relating it an old warden who has the same name as our main character, Daniel Crawford

It’s a trilogy (Titles: Asylum, Sanctum and Catacomb), has three novellas (The Scarlets, The Bone Artists and The Warden) and a prequel (Escape From Asylum)

It’s really well written, creepy (horror but not terrifying) and we get five main queer characters: Jordan, Cal, Ricky, Kay and Fallon and one minor one: Martin

I recommend starting in canonical order (not the order of release), so: Escape From Asylum, Asylum, Sanctum and Catacomb and then the Novellas: The Scarlets, The Bone Artists and The Warden

-The Jewel by Amy Ewing (The Lone City series)

After the royalty starts dying out, they start using surrogates to bear children who can control things called auguries which control the how the baby looks and it’s personality. Our main character, Violet is a surrogate who gets auctioned off to the Duchess of the lake. Soon she realises she doesn’t like being treated like an expendable object and wants to get out of the jewel. She meets a boy named Ash who is a companion (basically a boyfriend for hire) to the Duchess’s niece. They fall in love and have to get out together

Trilogy (Titles: The Jewel, The White Rose and The Black Key) and two novellas that are only available as ebooks (Garnet’s Story and The House of the Stone)

It’s super good but the main romance is a little insta-lovey. Even though it takes place over a couple of moths, the chapters are so close together it doesn’t feel that way, but it’s not that bad. The lore of the surrogates is also super interesting and Raven and Garnet are the best and most interesting characters by far 

-Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oaks

A origin story of the queen of hearts and how she became the way she was portrayed in Alice in Wonderland

Trilogy: Queen of Hearts, Blood of Wonderland, War of the Cards

Super good, I loved the plot twist of why she was written that way, I didn't love Wordley’s twist, I thought it was kinda dumb but whatever. The other plot twists, especially the Cheshire one was really good

-The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (The Monatgue siblings series)

We follow Monty, Percy and Felicity as they go touring around Europe. The plan is that they travel for a year, Percy goes to law school in Holland, Felicity goes to finishing school and Monty goes back home to run the estate but boy do things go wrong after Monty steals an innocent looking puzzle box, only to find that it’s not so innocent, all while dealing with his sister’s eye rolls and sassy remarks and his massive crush on his best friend Percy

Trilogy (The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, The Ladies Guide to Petticoats and Piracy and The Nobleman’s Guide to Shipwrecks and Scandal) and one novella (The Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky)

Probably one of my favourite books of all time. Queer (and it has pirates, what could be better?) Historical romance, just so good and so well written

-Girls With Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young

Trilogy (Girls With Sharp Sticks, Girls With Razor Hearts and Girls With Rebel Souls)

About a bunch of girl who are in a private academy and being trained to be perfect. But soon they realise the indoctrination they’re undergoing and fight back to escape the academy

The theme of sexism is a little heavy handed, the book sort of shoves it into your face that that is the theme but apart from that, very enjoyable. There’s a queer side ship too which I appreciated. The main romance is cute too if a little uninteresting since there’s hardly any drama, it’s just “I like you,” “I like you too,” “Cool let’s date” and I’m okay with that

-Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

About a girl, Amy that gets to Oz in a tornado and it put to the mission of killing Dorothy Gale who came back after the original plot of the wizard of oz, crowned herself as leader and fucked up the place

Series (Dorothy Must Die, The Wicked Will Rise, Yellow Brick War, The End of Oz) and nine novellas (No Place Like Oz, The Witch Must Burn, Order of the Wicked, Ruler of Beasts, Heart of Tin, The Straw King, The Wizard Returns, Dark Side of the Rainbow and The Queen of Oz)

Super creative premise, I think. The book was fun and I loved all the rebellion planning. Dorothy was a great villain and a great character 

#ya books #young adult #young adult books #book recommendations #asylum series #the lone city #queen of hearts #madeleine roux #amy ewig #colleen oaks #girls with sharp sticks #suzanne young #dorothy must die #danielle paige #the gentleman's guide to vice and virtue #mackenzi lee #ya book recommendations #ya reads #book recs

[adsosfraser]

The Stone’s Toll - Chapter Nine

Read on AO3

Jamie woke that morning, to his wife tangled around him. The singular thing driving him was between his legs. He kissed her neck and tugged at her skin with a sharp sting. Claire stirred and smiled up at him. Gathering her bottom lip between his teeth, his hands meandered down her shoulders, to the slope of her breasts, to her abdomen, and finally lifted the plump piece of flesh that he loved so much. 

 “Is this real? Are you real?” 

 “Would I do this if I was only a dream Sassenach?” He pinched the backside of her arse and grinned. She yelped in response and swatted his fingers away from the now stinging flesh. 

“You’re real.” She smiled and placed her palms on either side of his jaw. 

 “I’ll prove just how real enough I am lass.” He smirked and moved his hands away from her backside, further down to cup between her legs. 

 “Jamie. Stop.” Claire panted out. 

 “Have I hurt ye, Claire?” He immediately pulled away, hovering over her and softly brushing her sides. 

 “No, but there are some things I need to tell you… before we’re intimate.” 

 “Is this about Frank?”

 “What? No! Why on earth would you be thinking about him?” 

 “Well did ye?-” 

 “Once. But I didn’t encourage it.” Her lips tightened into a line. “This isn’t what I wanted to talk about Jamie.” 

 Before he could eek out a livid response, Claire jumped out of the bed towards the corner of the room. Pulling out a small silver box inside her leather bag, she plucked out a dome-shaped cup. She had two more tucked away in the small metal tin. Her hands then grabbed purchase of a small vial within her medicine bag. The objects flew onto the bed and she plopped down next to Jamie. 

 “This,” she pointed to the vial, “is a concoction of fennel and posies.”

 Jamie had grabbed the odd rubber cup and rolled it between his fingers. Claire swatted it out of his hands a little annoyed at her husband’s dirty fingernails; she would have to clean it again. 

 “And this,” she waved the small cup in front of his eyes, “is a diaphragm. Some call it a ‘womb veil’. These are all forms of birth control.” 

 “Birth… control?” He rolled out the syllables in his last word. 

 “Yes, preventative measures to avoid pregnancy.” 

 “Christ, ye would kill a bairn!” He immediately regretted his words as his wife recoiled and her eyes betrayed the hurt inside of her. 

 “No, because there would be none in the first place. It stops the sperm- seed from ever even getting into a woman to create the baby in the first place.” 

 “But surely God-” He spoke more softly. 

 “Would want me to use it.” Tears pricked at her eyes. “Jamie I’m not… I’m not ready.” Jamie shifted to hold his wife closer as the atmosphere changed from playful to sombre. “I couldn’t go through that again to not have my baby in my arms. I truly think it would kill me, it almost did.” 

 His heart softened at her admission and he knew he would do whatever would make her safe and happy, even if it meant a life of celibacy. But he hoped to God it would never come to that.

 “I dinna want ye to bear another child. I wouldna risk your loss Sassenach.” Jamie carefully pulled a curl away from her eye. “Not for a dozen bairns. We’ve Fergus and our nephew and nieces- weans enough. And our two beautiful lasses are wi’ God. So,” he paused to blink away the moisture in his eyes and swallow down the tightness of his throat, “if this wee diaphragm,” he rolled the word around his tongue, ”and posy is what’ll help ye I’ll gladly pick it fer you every day if that’s your wish.” 

 He picked up the diaphragm from her hands again, inspecting it more closely. “How does this wee thing work?” 

 “Well, I place it inside me so it covers my cervix, it should rest comfortably against my pubic bone.” 

 “Ye put that… inside ye?” He was completely disturbed by the thought. 

 “It’s not like there hasn’t been anything in there before, and I’d dare say it was even larger than that ‘wee thing’.” She grabbed a healthy hold of him to emphasise her point. 

 “Aye, that it is.” He looked down with pride and she rolled her eyes at him, but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips. 

 “I’ll have to take the herbs one more week, to be safe. Can you wait for me?” 

 “I’d wait forever if it came to it, fer ye Sassenach, always.” 

 “Well, and we can always do other things.” She flipped Jamie to his back and her head travelled down his body to the curls nestled atop his pubic bone. “So long as you don’t, ‘spill your seed’ inside of me. Well inside my-” 

 He expressed his agreement with a loud grunt. 

 Six days later, Jamie was practically jumping in his skin with anticipation. He had gone back to the cave, much to Claire’s dismay. Instructing her to stay at Lallybroch, he wasn’t surprised when her head of curls popped into the shadows of the fire in his small sanctuary. He was very attentive, eager to make sure she kept up her steady intake of fennel and posy. They spent most of the days cuddling together and ignoring anyone else but themselves when he wasn’t out hunting for food. Most of the food was sent off to Lallybroch through Fergus. She didn’t want to admit it, but they were both avoiding their family’s disorderly presence and unanswerable questions. Fergus stopped by frequently and Claire was glad of the company while Jamie was off. Claire spoke to both Jamie and Fergus about her many childhood adventures; those stories were safe from the fresh pang of loss she had endured. But Jamie finally put his foot down on the final night when Claire got a crick in her neck and returned her back, but her wee hands gripped him hard into their bed. There would be no returning to the cave. 

 Claire wrapped a shawl around her and tiptoed to the window. The sunrise was almost over, bringing with it an unusually bright and cloudless day. She peeked down across the courtyard, and her blood turned cold. Jamie was pulling up his breeks over his sark. Without hesitation, Claire shoved Jamie into the small wooden closet of the Laird’s room and quickly pulled the laces of her skirt and bodice. Not a moment later, the door banged open to the sight of a pock-marked redcoat. His eyes scanned the room and landed on the closet. 

 “Where is he?” 

 Claire played dumb, not willing to speak to reveal that her accent would be the same as his. That would raise even more questions that she couldn’t possibly answer. The only thing she could think of at that moment was to play into the delicacy of her gender and faint into his arms. With an overdramatic flare of the back of her hand to her forehead, she slumped onto the floor. 

 Her prone position reminded her of another stiff surface. A cold metal sheet, uncaring hands, and a pressure in circles on her temples. Panic squeezed her throat and veins.

 “Captain! This woman needs assistance up here!” 

 But it was Jenny who appeared at the door, not the Captain. 

 She gathered Claire onto her lap as best as she could being so far along in her pregnancy. “Oh no! My puir cousin! Ye see she had a great fall one day. The tragedy took her speech and now she has spells such as these all the time. I’m heart sorry ye had to see that Corporal…?” Claire relaxed into the familiar arms, so different from the ones that had restrained her.

 “Lieutenant Wilson.” He puffed out his chest.

 “Weel, Lieutenant, as ye can see my cousin Mistress Malcolm has taken up residence in this room recently. Bless her soul, the accident that stole her speech took her husband as well.” 

 The redcoat placed his tricorn over his heart and bowed his head. “Terribly sorry madame. Thank you for your cooperation.” 

 “O’ course, now away wi’ ye, we must prepare yer meal.” 

 Jenny was panting and gripped Claire’s hand when the soldier whipped out of sight. Liquid seeped down her skirts and to the stone floor below. “Jenny-” 

 “We must tend to the redcoats first.” 

 “No. Jenny. You’re only eight months along. We need to see to you immediately.”  

 “The Lieutenant-” 

 “Can go hang. Ian and Mrs. Crook will see to them.” 

 Jamie slipped out undetected down to the root cellar.

 Jenny cursed, screamed and paced around her room. The midwife was impossible, refusing to sanitise properly before touching Jenny and Claire finally kicked her out. No woman like that would be touching her sister nor her future niece or nephew. Jenny slumped into the bed with Claire’s help when her labouring was over. Caitlin Maisri Murray was impossibly tiny when she met the world. No screams wrenched through her tiny lungs and Claire was immediately pressing the child to her thigh. Her forefinger and middle finger pushed into her chest and she breathed into the limp body. Finally, her chest heaved two minutes later, and her loud banshee shrieks filled the room. Her niece was a fighter. With her help, she would weather her first days, which would soon turn into thousands. 

 She had taken up massaging the baby girl to soothe her traumatised muscles from the hard birth. Claire cradled her niece’s turned head carefully in her hand and propped her stomach on her legs. Her hands began to deftly massage the exhausted baby’s back, legs, and arms, and once she was finished she gave a small peck to her wee nose. She still had a lot of growing to do to recover, but Claire was certain she would become a scraggly and loose-toothed toddler and a beautiful teenager before growing into the mature young woman she could envision her as now. Opening her bright eyes, moisture gathered at the corner of her aunt’s eyes in reaction to the brilliant colour. They were so like Jamie’s, and she knew not all babies kept their original colour, but she hoped. Would her daughters’ eyes have looked like this?

  The men had all dispersed for drinks in the Great Room downstairs and Claire brought Ian over to the side to share the great news. She signalled with her hands to keep up the pretence of her muteness but whispered quietly with nearly closed lips as well to Ian. The Captain, Claire presumed, sauntered over to her and held out a paper. Laird MacKenzie sprawled across the material in an adolescent scrawl. 

 “A letter for your Mistress. We thank you for your hospitality and wish her congratulations.” Claire nodded and tucked the paper into the pocket beneath her skirts. 

 It was dark, the middle of night, and Jamie snuck back in when the redcoats mounted their horses. He fell asleep immediately tucked into his wife. She grabbed the small grey tin from within her leather bag and pulled out the diaphragm. She adjusted it inside her until it laid comfortably and sighed. It had been days since her return, filled with distress and sickness, panic and dismay, and the events of the past few months had come crashing down upon her once again. She needed her husband. Crawling over him, he woke from his slumber. He grinned up at her and slowly came back to reality. 

 “Thanks to yer quick-thinking Sassenach, not only was my life saved but my wee niece and all in Lallybroch.” 

 “You saved my life James Fraser, on more accounts than one. I thought it might be fair for me to return the favour.” Claire smirked and rolled their bodies so she straddled him. “And not only that, I want to protect you forever Jamie. To see you safe until we’re old and grey, with an army of grand nephews and nieces, and the grandchildren Fergus will bless us with, to surround us. You can’t get rid of me ever again.” She softly kissed his forehead, along his cheeks, the tip of his nose, and slowly brushed her lips against his eager ones.

 “Och, Sassenach. Stuck with ye for life? I can think of worse.” He stared back at his wife with mischief in his eyes and adjusted his body so they were both on their sides.

 Claire rolled her eyes as she lightly slapped his arm. She leaned even closer to him, which seemed impossible with their skin flushed up together already. Her thumb trailed a line across his bottom lip and she replaced it with her own mouth. 

 “Make love to your wife.” She whispered, obstructed by his lips but he heard her like his life depended on the very cadence of her voice. Claire let go of his lips to kiss the spot behind his ear that made him squirm. “Make love to me Jamie.” 

 Their lovemaking was frantic, both seemingly clawed to possess every inch of skin.

 When they laid dazed on their backs, recovering from their post-coital bliss, Jamie lightly pressed his fingers onto the fading burns on her stomach and traced up to the two identical circles on her temples. Her hand found the healing scar on his thigh and she stroked over the raised skin. She looked at the large gash across her husband's thigh, still red with the newness of the injury. 

 “How?” 

 “Culloden.” He gritted out. “How?” 

 Her hands guided his towards her stomach. “The stones.” Now, her temples. “Boston.” 

 She didn’t want to discuss it any further, just as he was reluctant to share the details of that dreary morning on the moor. She neglected the scar on her breast and he didn’t push any further for her to speak on it. Would he feel ashamed of her truth? Of course, he wouldn’t, but she did. It was difficult for her to think back on. Speaking on it would make it true, so she kept those memories locked tight in her brain. Maybe, with more time she could heal, and she would share everything with him completely like they once had been. 

 “Boston?” 

 “Danvers State Hospital to be specific. Or as some call it- will call it the State Lunatic Hospital at Danvers. Frank put me there when I-“ 

 “Frank did this to you?” Jamie’s teeth clenched in anger and Claire could feel the heat radiating from his skin onto hers. “If he were here, I’d fight him fer ye Sassenach. I should ha’ never sent ye to him.” 

 “You couldn’t possibly have known. You were doing what you thought best, with the information we had at the time.” 

 “What is it, that left these scars on your puir heid?” 

 “They’ll fade. Soon there won’t even be a scar, I’m sure.”

 “I dinna care about how they look on ye Sassenach, I care that ye went through pain to have them, I would ha’ gladly taken it myself.” His eyes were glossy as he implored her. “Now tell me.” 

 “In the asylum, they had these new treatments, electric shock therapy. They place these two rubber circles wrapped in like socks or something attached to a headband on your temples, and send volts of electricity through your brain. Like harnessing lightning right to your head.” His grip tightened, appalled at his wife’s description. “My mind was hazy for days, I couldn’t do much but stare listlessly at walls. I saw Fergus then, on the first night following the treatment, though I’m not sure he saw me.” 

 “He yelled out fer ye, almost at the same time every week.” 

 “Oh.” It felt better to know those nights he was truly there. “I was in there for little over a month, so I only had to endure it two times- wait no three, I think. I was a lot luckier than others, who were prisoners there for years on end. I shiver to think what that would have been like, a prisoner to your own mind and unable to say no to your jailer, or even saying no but them being apathetic towards your plight.” 

 “Fer all ye speak o’ the future, it doesna seem much better than now.” 

 “It’s true, some people use their innovations for evil then, that’s why the war I was in started. Evil exists in any time, in any place.” 

 “Weel I’m glad yer here in my arms, away from those mad bastards, and I know I can be there to fight anyone who wishes ye ill.” Her thigh began rubbing between his. 

 “I am too Jamie. So much.” 

 Laird and Lady clung tight to each other in their bed, in their home knowing they would have to leave tomorrow.

#outlander fanfiction #adsofraser writing #jamie x claire #jamie fraser #claire beauchamp #claire fraser #fergus fraser #canon divergence #craigh na dun #outlander fanfic

[prettyinlimegreenboots]

The Perfect Morning

You have been asking for it loud and clearly so I decided to write the Sprace baby you’ve all been waiting for. This is part of the “Life in the ER'' Series but a rare moment that doesn’t take place in the hospital. There are curse words and mentions of a hospital/working in a hospital. As always, feedback would be wonderful and would make me very happy. And if you have anything you’d like to see happen in the series, just let me know - I’m always looking for new situations to put our favorite characters into!

April 17, 2021

The house was quiet when he woke. It hadn’t been that quiet in almost six months and his first thoughts were holy shit. The second was questioning the time. He rolled over and looked at the green numbers of the clock - 7:34.

Running a hand over his face, he sighed before letting the hand flop to the other side of the bed. Empty. Cold. Sitting up, he blinked a couple of times, allowing his eyes to scan the room.

“Spottie?” He called, pushing himself off the bed and heading towards the room across the hall.

Pushing open the door, he was surprised to see it was empty. The dark wooden crib they had spent hours debating about sat across from the door, a light blanket thrown over the side. A mint green onesie was haphazardly thrown near the hamper and a stuffed elephant was nearby but otherwise nothing was out of place.

Continuing on his journey, he headed towards the living room thinking his husband and young child could be there but he came up empty once more. The dog was even missing which caused him to pause in his hunt.

At that moment, he fell in love with his husband a bit more. Here it was a rare morning that Spot didn’t have an early morning shift at the hospital; yet he had gotten up, taken care of their child and puppy so he could sleep in a bit.

Their lives were flipped upside down with the adoption of their daughter. It had been a period of adjustment for all of them, especially for their puppy, Sassie. From the moment they brought their little girl home, life had completely changed for the good. The two of them had always been a great team; however, they didn’t know how good of a team they would be until the doctor handed them Mackenzie Jayne Higgins-Conlon and wished them congratulations.

Pouring himself a cup of coffee, Race grinned putting in creamer before heading out to their front porch. He shouldn’t be surprised Spot would do this - it’s just him and his little ways of showing love. Taking a seat, he took a sip of his coffee as he waited for the rest of his family to return from whatever adventure they had gone on.

Relaxing into the chair, he sighed, listening to the birds chirp in the trees as he held the warm mug in his hands. Just as he went to kick his feet up, Sassie came bounding up the stairs, with her leash dragging behind her. Putting his mug on the table, he bent over and rubbed his hands up and down her sides, wishing her a good morning.

“Where’s dad, Sass?” He asked, looking down the street for him. What he saw caught him off guard.

Spot was pushing the jogging stroller that Jack and Kat had gotten them as a shower gift, shirtless, hair pushed back by a headband and sunglasses over his eyes. Race took a moment to publically ogle his husband, appreciating the physique that Spot effortlessly maintained. Race was careful not to let his jaw drop at how utterly gorgeous his husband was. There were very few times he could unabashedly stare at his husband and he was going to take full advantage of it.

Unclipping Sassie’s leash, he opened the front door for her to go inside before he bounded down the stairs to where Kenzie and Spot were. Race couldn’t help but catcall and whistle as he came closer to the two. “Hey good lookin.”

Grinning, Spot looked up from where he was unclipping Mack. “Hey yourself.”

“Have I mentioned how utterly gorgeous you are lately?” Race saunted closer to his husband and daughter with a shit eating grin on his face.

Spot adjusted Mack in his arms before throwing his head back and laughing. “Right now I’m a sweaty mess but thanks for the compliment. I wanted to give you a chance to sleep in since you’ve been taking night duty.”

“Sweaty mess or not, you’re hot. Own that. And thanks, I appreciate it.” Race leaned over and kissed him. “Did little miss enjoy the run?”

Spot kissed him back before handing Mack over to him. He leaned down to grab something out of the bottom of the stroller before giving Race a bright smile. “She was fussy when we first started but seemed to settle down as I got into a rhythm. I did about a 45 minutes run. We ran through town, picked up breakfast before heading back.”

“You’re my hero.” Race said, walking back up the stairs to the front porch. “Do you want a cup of coffee or water?”

Spot waved him off. “I’m going to take a quick shower. Do you need anything before I do that?”

“Nah, we'll just hang out here. If she wants, send Sassie out here.” Race pressed a kiss to Kenzie’s forehead. “Come back out when you’re done.”

Spot dropped kisses to both Race and Mack’s foreheads before slipping into the house, only to open the door again to let Sassie out.

Settling Mack with her back against his chest, Race relaxed in the chair, listening to Mack babble to herself. “Did you have fun with daddy this morning, Kenzie?”

She tried to adjust herself to see Race. He picked her up so she was standing on his legs as she continued her babble. Race continued his conversation with her as she tried to put her fingers in his mouth. He playfully ate them as she dissolved into baby giggles. They continued that game until she caught sight of her puppy.

Soon she was leaning forward to try to pet Sassie. Putting her on the porch floor, she babbled to and crawled over Sassie as the dog watched her young sister protectively.

He heard the door open and close just as he took the last sip of his coffee. He smiled gratefully at Spot as he spied the cups of coffee in his hands. Spot handing him one with a smirk. “Thanks. Feeling better?”

“Much less grimly and sweaty.” Spot took a seat, watching Sassie and Kenzie with a proud smile. “What’s the plan for the day?”

Race shrugged. “As far as I know, there are no plans. Jack and Kat mentioned getting together but nothing was ever put into place.”

“If they don’t reach out, I’m all in favor of a lazy day. We haven’t had one of those in a while so that’s my vote.” Spot said, stretching his legs out in front of him as he reached out and laced his fingers with Race’s.

Race nodded, squeezing their hands. “If I haven’t mentioned it lately, I’m proud of the life we’ve built. Perfect husband, perfect daughter and dog. Jobs we both love and great friends and family.”

“Sap.” Spot was quick to tease him but squeezed his hand. “I love our life too. Love you Racer.”

“Love you too Spottie.” Race leaned over and kissed him. “What did you bring for breakfast?”

Spot chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s always food with you.”

“Not always.” Raising his eyebrows up and down suggestively, Race smirked. “But I’m hungry for food right now.”

Spot pushed himself off the chair before sauntering into the house and returning with the white bag from earlier. “I got a couple of different things - didn’t know what you would be in the mood for.”

“Thanks snookums.” Race opened the bag, pulling out a cinnamon twist donut before taking a bit. “When do you work next?”

“Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday this week.” Spot drug through the bag taking out a donut. “Plums is working Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday with me so it’ll be a good couple of shifts.”

“Kenzie in daycare Wednesday and Friday?” Race inquired trying to keep the schedule fight.

Spot nodded. “Yea. You’ve got what seven weeks left of the school year?”

“I think. Days are starting to blend together.” Race sighed. “I’m just ready for summer.”

“We’ll have to figure out what we’re going to do. I have a couple of weeks of vacation that need to be used up before September.” Spot gave him a look. “Maybe we can head to the mountains or a beach. She’ll love the water.”

Race nodded. “Maybe Kat, Jack, Al, and Finchie would want to do something, at least for a few days.”

“That’ll be fun. We know how much Kenz loves Addie.” Spot grinned, thinking about the trouble the two would eventually get up to, as the two were only 4 months apart.

Race groaned. “No talking about the two of them growing up. They’re 5 and 9 months old and that’s all my poor heart can take.”

“Calm down papa bear. She’s still our little girl and Addie is still our little niece.” Spot squeezed his hand. “But I do love your idea of making it a family affair. Maybe momma and Smalls would want in.”

Race relaxed in his chair, thinking about all the adventures they would have ahead of them. With Spot and Kenzie by his side, he was content and happy. A thought popped into his head as a sly grin crossed his lips. “So, uh, Spottie . . . wanna tell me how you’re such a ripped dad?”

Spot threw his head back laughing before reaching over and shoving Race’s shoulder. “I could but you wouldn’t be able to keep up with me.”

“Is that a challenge?” Race raised an eyebrow in a warning.

Spot snorted loudly. “Race you complain when you have to walk to the mailbox to get the mail - no way you’re running 45 minutes with me.”

“I can kick your ass boxing.” Race gave him a look as Spot sighed. “Want me to reserve the ring for next weekend?”

Picking up Kenzie, Spot gave him a look. “Sure and we can see who’s king of the ring. You’ll always reign supreme running circles around me but I might be able to take you in the ring.”

“Keep up with the trash talk . . . we’ll see who’s still standing and who will get the bragging rights.” Spot gave him a knowing look.

Race held out his hand as Spot interlocked his hand with Race’s with a grin. “You’re on.”

He watched Spot tickle their daughter’s belly as a shrill laugh escaped her mouth. She pushed at his hands as he looked down on her fondly. “Hey Spottie?”

“Yea Race?” Spot looked up from their daughter with a smile on his face.

“If I haven’t said it, you’re a really good dad. I love watching you two interact.” Race said as a fond smile crossed his face.

Spot leaned over and kissed Race. “You’re a really good papa with her. We make a pretty good team, huh?”

Race nodded, reaching over and tickling Kenzie’s stomach as the girl looked at her dads with a gummy smile. In Race’s book, there was no better place he’d rather be than on their front porch with his husband and daughter.

So what did you think? Feedback would be wonderful. If there's something specific you want to see in this verse, feel free to send me a message.

#Sprace #Spot Conlon #Racetrack Higgins #Baby Sprace #Life in the ER Newsies Series

[isitgintimeyet]

Just a Friend

Hope you enjoy the next chapter of this story. Thanks to you all for reading this. You comments are lovely to read.

Thanks to @wickedgoodbooks for the beta

Previous

AO3

Chapter 5: From Facebook to Friends

When I was a little girl, Uncle Lamb would sometimes take me into university with him. I would creep into the lecture theatre and sit at the back watching him as he enthused about Phoenician trade routes, or long gone military strategies. I didn’t really understand what he was talking about, but I loved it anyway. The passion he had for his subject matter thrilled me.

And once the lecture was over, I would join him in his office and we would squeeze together in an old armchair, drinking hot, sweet tea while he tried to explain the principles of a three thousand year old civilisation in words a seven year old would understand.

The armchair is now in my office at the hospital. It looks more than a bit incongruous amongst the standard NHS furniture. The rich green velvet fabric has faded to a shabby eau de nil colour and years of shuffling bottoms have left a large depression in the seat cushion. But I won’t have it reupholstered. I love it as it is. It’s a great reminder of my wonderful uncle. I sit in it and somehow it comforts me, like a soothing hug.

**********************

I glance at the clock as I walk into my office, paper cup of hot, sweet tea in hand, and head straight for Lamb’s chair. Gratefully, I sink into its depths and take a tentative sip of the steaming liquid before closing my eyes for a moment. The surgery was long; much longer than anticipated—having taken all morning and most of the afternoon, in fact. It had also been far more complicated—my original plans for keyhole surgery had to be changed, but, eventually, we completed the operation successfully. I’m always proud of my theatre team, but never more so than in situations like this.

And now, after hours of concentration, I feel in need of some light relief. I can go home, have a wonderfully reviving shower and then what? I know that Dougal is taking Geillis out for a meal tonight, so she’s not available. Mary and Anna are both working nights this week, so no joy there. Other friends live too far away for an impromptu midweek activity.  I could go to the gym. I should go to the gym. Or… more likely, I’ll go home, have cheese on toast, a glass of wine and watch ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ for the fifteenth time instead.

I reach for my phone to check for messages.  A notification for a Facebook friend request appears on my screen. I very rarely get new friend requests—other than the odd random gentleman hoping, I presume, to make some sort of connection. I always delete immediately.

And, yes, the request is from a gentleman—one Jamie Fraser. The profile picture is definitely Samsonite Jamie, even wearing the Scotland rugby shirt I fingered whilst foraging through his suitcase. I click accept. Why not? I don’t think I have anything too embarrassing on my posts. In fact, I don’t use it very often at all.

Neither, it seems, does Mr. Fraser. His cover photo shows a very youthful bunch of Scottish rugby supporters and his recent timeline seems to comprise mostly of being tagged in photos by Laoghaire Mackenzie. Is it my imagination, or does he have a resigned look on his face on each of their ‘selfies’?

My tea is cool enough to drink now without scalding my tongue. I put my phone down and take a large gulp whilst considering tomorrow’s workload. My job is a series of highs and lows. Today, for example, started as routine, slumped to a worrying low, before peaking at a very relieved high. Tomorrow appears to be an easier day, certainly—a review of patients’ case notes in the morning followed by an outpatient clinic in the afternoon. All follow up patients, and all doing well as far as I know, so tomorrow is shaping up to be a very good day.

I open up my phone again. Facebook messenger is encouraging me to ‘say hi to your new Facebook friend.’  Without thinking, I send a little waving hand emoji to Samsonite Jamie.

I have no sooner put the phone down than it pings. Waving hand returned. I smile. What are we… thirteen years old? Next I’ll be asking him out for an Irn Bru and a bag of chips.

Ping again.  

You owe me…

Shit! The stain on his t-shirt, no doubt. I watch the dots on the screen. Perhaps he’s calculating the cost of a dry cleaner, or a new t-shirt.

You promised me an ice cream.

You up for buying one for me tonight?

I hesitate for a moment. I hope Jamie doesn’t think I’m after him or anything like that. I mean, he’s not really my type. As I’ve said before, I’ve always been attracted to academic, cerebral kind of men like Uncle Lamb, rather than Viking marauders.

And I’ve never subscribed to the idea that men and women can’t be friends. One of my closest friends at university was a man—Joe Abernathy.  If it wasn't for the fact that he is currently three thousand miles away, working in Boston, I would be arranging platonic ice cream outings with him.

So, deciding I have nothing to lose, I type my response.

If you can get to the kiosk by 6:30, it should still be open

A brief pause, then the response.

Great. See you there?

****************

Even at a distance, I recognise him sitting at a table next to the kiosk. No white t-shirt today, it looks like some sort of check lumberjack shirt. I breathe a sigh of relief. Not what I would call ‘first date’ clothing. Which is handy, seeing as I’m wearing ripped jeans and an oversized Aran jumper. I’m clean, presentable and fresh-smelling but definitely not dressed to impress.

He stands up when he sees me and greets me formally with a handshake. His hands are warm and dry—no nervous, sweaty palms here, which is another good sign. His shirt is blue, red and cream flannel and actually quite hideous.

“I hope this ice cream lives up tae ma expectations,” he says with the merest hint of challenge.

I crane my neck and look him straight in the eye. “No doubt at all. Cherry bakewell, is it? Double cone?”

“Aye. With a flake too. Compensation, ye ken.”

He stands aside to allow me to make the purchases. Before accepting the cone, he picks up half a dozen or so paper napkins and stuffs them in the pocket of his jeans.

“I’m prepared fer ye now. Do yer worst, Ms Beauchamp.”

I ignore his clear inference and follow him to a nearby bench.

“I can manage to eat and walk at the same time, you know,” I say in mock indignation.

“Hm,” he replies. “All the evidence sae far suggests the contrary. I need proof afore I believe it.”

There’s a moment of silence as we both focus on our ice creams. I lick neatly all the way around, trying to prevent any rogue drips trickling down the cone. Jamie pulls the flake from his cone and consumes it in two mouthfuls. He looks at me and laughs.

“Caught me. I’m a bit of a bugger fer chocolate,” he mumbles before swallowing.

“Right,” he continues, much more clearly now. “I suggest we get all the boring stuff out of the way. Ye ken, name, age, family, job, blah, blah blah. I’ll go first, if ye like.”

I nod my agreement.

“Sae, I’m James or Jamie Fraser. I’m thirty years old. Since our last conversation I am most definitely single. I live in Glasgow, obviously, but grew up on a farm near Inverness. My parents still run the farm. I have one sister, Jenny, who’s married tae Ian, my childhood friend. I have one nephew—a grand little lad known as Wee Jamie and a wee baby niece, Maggie . And I dinna think it’ll be long afore they’re joined by others. They all live here in Glasgow. My job, weel, I have a business—FraserFood—recipe boxes delivered tae yer door.”

“Oh, yes, I’ve heard of that. ‘From farm to fork.” That’s you, is it?”

He smiles proudly. “Aye, it’s me and ma family. Looks like ma marketing manager is doing a fine job, then.”

“Oh, forgot tae say, after the blah blah, ye have tae tell one confession. Only a wee one, mind.” He takes a large mouthful of his ice cream.

I purse my lips. “Really, and what if I’ve nothing to confess?”

Jamie snorts with laughter and does a funny sort of blink, screwing up his face and closing both eyes. Is he trying to wink? If so, he’s failing miserably. I try to look angelic and sin free. Judging by the look of scepticism on his face, It doesn’t seem to be working.

“Sae, my confession is, dah-dah-daaaah,” he does a fake fanfare, trying to build suspense. “I wanted tae be yer friend on Facebook because I wanted tae see if there were any photos of ye in Barcelona, with all yer...er… accessories.”

I feel myself redden. I’ve just remembered catching Geillis on Facebook the other day at work and I’m pretty sure I know what’s coming next.

“Verra interesting… in particular, the one with ye and six penis shot glasses. How d’ye manage tae get two of them in yer mouth at the same time?”

I inwardly curse Geillis and her desire to live her life through social media.

“Excuse me,” I reply somewhat primly. “I don’t think we’re at the Q and A stage yet.”

“So,” I continue in a lighter tone. “Me. Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp. I’m thirty two and I’m a paediatric  orthopaedic surgeon, here at the children’s hospital. I love my job so much, I can’t begin to tell you. As of two weeks ago, I am thankfully single. I was born in Oxford and moved up here when I was twelve, when my Uncle Lamb became a professor at the university. He brought me up, you know. Raised me when my parents died in a car accident... I… er...I was four at the time.”

I can feel Jamie looking at me, but I can’t raise my eyes. Telling people about my parents never gets any easier, no matter how many times I say those words. I concentrate on picking bits of wafer off my cone and throwing them to the ducks loitering nearby, waiting for some sort of treat.

“So it always was just my uncle and me.” I carry on talking. “Then he died… seven...seven years ago…” I can hear my voice start to crack as I fight back tears. A hand creeps into my vision and I gratefully accept the proffered paper napkin and wipe my face.

“Och, lass.” He says softly.

I clear my throat. “I'm sorry. We were having a nice conversation and then there I go, getting all teary. It’s just, well, we were a team, Uncle Lamb and I… the two musketeers. He was my hero.”

Blowing my nose in a most unladylike way, I toss the napkin into the neighbouring bin.

“And that’s pretty much me. As for a confession, well… I suppose it’s kind of one.”

He raises one eyebrow quizzically, making a better job of that than the whole winking lark, I think.

"Ok, well,  when I had your case, I tried to ring before I emailed you. I called the number in your case… twice. A woman answered and told me I had the wrong number—"

"Laoghaire."

"I know that now. But she obviously knew how to get onto your phone."

"Why did ye no' tell me?" He smiles as he says this. It's not a reprimand.

"I would have but you seemed to be coming to a conclusion anyway. No need to add more fuel to the fire."

"Happen ye're right."

He notices me shivering and gets to his feet. “Aye, there’s a bit of a chill. Fancy a wee walk tae warm up and we can carry on wi’ round two. It’s a quick fire round.”

I stand up and we move away from the pond. The ducks have already lost interest in us since they realise that we’ve nothing more to offer them. It’s pretty quiet in the park now, the cooler evening air seems to have kept people at home. The gravel crunching loudly under the soles of our shoes, I glance down and notice Jamie’s doing a sort of awkward stuttering movement with his feet. He’s clearly trying to match his stride pattern to mine. Which isn’t easy when his must be a good few inches longer than mine. Nice, considerate gesture, though.

“Sae, quick fire questions and answers. Ye can go first,” he says generously.

It only takes me a moment to think of a question that I have been wondering about ever since I explored the contents of his suitcase.

“What were you doing in Barcelona? I mean the contents of your case weren’t really fun-weekend-away stuff.”

“Nah, ye’re right. It wasna a holiday—flying visit only. I was there on business—talking tae a food wholesale company. Serrano ham, chorizo, saffron, that kind of thing,” he explains, a look of excitement on his face. “We’re expanding our range, starting with Spanish influenced recipes. A full three courses ready tae prepare, plus wine delivered straight tae yer door. Dinner party FraserFood style.”

He can’t stop smiling as he talks about these plans. And his hands move animatedly as he continues to elaborate on his new venture. His business is obviously his passion. Maybe that’s why he hasn’t got the desire for a relationship with a girlfriend—FraserFood seems to be his one love. No girl could compete.

He stops talking for a moment. “And here I am, boring ye.”

I shake my head. “Not at all, it’s really interesting.” I don’t have to lie. It’s the truth. My mouth is watering at his description of albondigas and flavoursome chicken and chorizo with cannellini beans. I’m ready to sign up for this delivery service any time.

“Sae, ma turn tae ask a question. Tell me, d’ye like this shirt?”

I try to stifle a laugh. The question is so unexpected and the shirt so awful. Trying to be diplomatic, I search for the right words, evading the actual question. “I’ve only seen you in white tops before, no colours.”

He sighs. “Ye’ve only seen me twice afore... anyway I dinna think ye need tae say any more. I ken ye’re being polite, but ye’re a terrible liar. I can tell by yer face ye dinna like this shirt. Laoghaire hated it, always made me change it. I did wonder if that was jes’ her being difficult. But apparently no’.”

“Sorry, I didn’t want to be rude.”

“Ye dinna need tae apologise, Claire. Being honest is a good thing, is it no’? And friends should always tell each other the truth. And that’s what I think we’re going tae be, Claire— friends. D’ye no’ agree?”

I crane my neck  and look Jamie straight in the eye. “Yes, I do… friends.”

#outlander fanfiction #outlander fanfic #Just a Friend #Jamie Fraser #Claire Beauchamp #Chapter 5

[emofairyprincessofarkansas]

Since I'm not currently writing (taking a break, see my other post), I thought I'd share some fic ideas I had and ended up not writing.

1. Pioneer - Dean Winchester/OC/Gabriel

OC was Sam and Dean's adopted sister. She's in love in Dean, but goes missing after Dean's 'death'. Along the way, she meets Gabriel and falls in love with him. It was meant to be multiple books spanning multiple seasons.

2. Madison Worthington-Hummel - OC / OC

Madison is the adopted sister of Kurt Hummel (are you sensing a theme in these stories?). She's very insecure about herself and has a temper. Her parents died in a place crash when she was younger, so the Hummels took her in. She has an older brother that refused to take care of her, so she resents him for it. She started off with one love interest, which turned into a love triangle, and then finally she ended up with the other love interest (but stayed friends with the first one).

3. Double Trouble - Fred Weasley/OC, George Weasley/OC

This story was about two friends named Claire Sites and Annie Duchess. They represented me (Claire) and my (former) best friend (Annie). We'd been using this alias' since the days of Quizilla. They met the Weasley twins on the first train ride to Hogwarts. Claire was promiscious and everyone called her the Gryffin-whore, even though she only ever slept with Fred. Fred and Claire had been together since at least their 3rd year. Annie and George were another story. They were still navigating their relationship. Annie was meant to fall pregnant with George's baby before they graduation, but we never got that far in the story.

4. Falling for a Vampire - Oliver Wood/OC

So this was a vampire AU and a blatant ripoff of Twilight. I was obsessed and thought it would be funny to basically make fun of it.

5. Once Upon a Stormy October Night - Harry Potter/OC

Anastasia Black-Lupin is the daughter of Sirius Black and was at the Potter's the night they were killed. Remus Lupin was entrusted to care and raise Anya while Sirius was in Azkaban. She always knew that Harry was her godbrother, but she was also close with her cousin Draco. She was sorted in Gryffindor and eventually went on to be Snape's assistant. It was supposed to span years 1-7 and into Deathly Hallows. I still have the excerpts, so maybe it'll be finished one day.

6. July Lullaby - Draco Malfoy/OC

There wasn't just one Potter child, there were two. The night Voldemort tried to kill Harry, he took Mackenzie and trusted her to his right-hand man Severus Snape, hoping to use the second Potter child as a weapon one day. He renamed her Rosalie and kept her a secret. Only Lucius Malfoy knew who Rosalie truly was. Rosalie and Draco grew up best friends and slowly became more. There were lots of twists and turns and I nearly finished this fic.

7. Every Girl Like Me - BBC Sherlock Holmes/OC

Olivia Lestrade is Lestrade's niece. She and Sherlock met and hit it off immediately. She's the only one not to be offended by how he talks or acts. Sherlock would never say it out loud, but Olivia is his soulmate. She just gets him.

8. Caged Birds Don't Sing

Lirilla is the second daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel. She's best friends with Legolas Greenleaf. She runs away from Lothlorien when her parents start talking about marriage, to her best friend of all people. She meets Aragorn and eventually joins the Fellowship of the Ring. She and Legolas have to navigate their relationship, while trying to get the Hobbits to Mordor.

9. I have several Twilight fanfictions that never panned out, but this post is long enough.

I hope you've enjoyed this little dive into my history of writing fanfiction and some of my abandoned ideas. I would happily answer any questions you have!

[boyneriver-fraser]

How ‘bout that early release of Episode 1 The Fiery Cross? Spoilers, shmoilers. Pfft… what’s a 75-hour Tumblr embargo* when you’re accustomed to a 25-hour one?

After much whining, Season 5 finally arrived chez moi. What did I think?

Cold Open: Gave me chills, despite having seen it during promo. Murtz. In a kilt. Walking across a grassy field. Wind blowing through his hair. Reassuring a bereaved child. What’s not to love?

Theme Song: Missed (Mrs. Bear McCreary) Raya Yarbrough’s solo, but the choral version is already growing on me.

Opening Credits: Quietly thrilled to see Producer Caitriona Balfe, Producer Sam Heughan, and look forward to seeing their influence mid-season forward. (Remember, they received the new gigs after S5 production was well underway.)

Wedding Preparation: Beautiful dress with so many details to highlight the Scottish heritage the bride only recently discovered. So many sweet moments between Claire and Brianna and between Jamie and Brianna. “Je suis prest.” Da, your daughter’s a Fraser.

The (New) Wedding: The Frasers of the Ridge are here! (Chills 2) Loved the callback to S1E7 The Wedding — Jamie and Brianna’s walk through the doorway into the sunlight. Thought the juxtapositions were poignant — A reluctant bride in a dark church, hesitatingly saying her vows. A joyous bride in the great outdoors, eagerly saying hers. A small group of men, a tavern hostess, a prostitute, and no family-of-the-bride as guests. A huge gathering of friends and tenants of all genders and ages, and the bride’s parents, son, brother, sister-in-law, nephew, niece, great-aunt… and great-godfather, who managed to catch a glimpse from afar, as guests.

Fraser-MacKenzie Kids: Germain and Jemmy and Joanie, oh my! And Fergus and Marsali’s privately celebrating Félicité “in utero” was a lovely moment. (For anyone confused about number of the babies, Lizzie looked after Jemmy during the wedding ceremony, while Marsali held Joanie on her knee.)

“Some Shakespeare, anyone?”: Really, Lord John? 🤦🏻‍♀️

L is for the way you look at me: If you’ve never had someone pick up a guitar and sing a love song just for you… well, let’s just say Murtz wasn’t the first man to steal my heart. Rik Rankin truly has a lovely singing voice, and I will dearly miss Roger’s when… well… you know. Sigh.

Favourite Line: “I’ve got more on my mind than kissin’ and what have you, Mr. Fraser, Sir.” (Josiah Beardsley) What have you… 😂

Jocasta Cameron: Snob? Sly? Slut? All of the above?

Black Jack The Sequel: What is it with these corrupt redcoats? Governor Tryon annoys me more with each scene.

Hair Tics: I’m confident me ol’ pal @saint-hildegard-of-bingen​ is unable to count the number of times I’ve referred to myself as a heretic while talking to her, something I never did prior to reading the Outlander series, particularly The Fiery Cross. 😎

The Kilt: Oh, the kilt! (Chills 3) And the callback to S2E9 Je Suis Prest with the song Moch Sa Mhadainn. Powerful Scottish stuff.

Lighting Of The Cross: (Chills 4) I loved it and I’m not sorry. Highland chieftains set fire to a cross to call their men to arms. Period. Jamie lit his cross 90-something years before someone bastardized the long-held Scottish tradition.

Stand By My Hand: (Chills 5) So. Many. Feels. Loved the callback to S1E4 The Gathering. Isaiah Morton’s** realizing Roger didn’t quite get Jamie’s invitation, and teaching by doing, made me smile. Jamie’s being impressed Roger didn’t need to “Repeat what I say” made me smile more. Jamie’s looking to Brianna for confirmation before accepting Roger’s pledge made me tear up. Marsali’s pride at Fergus’s pledging his fealty — and at her not having to prompt Jamie to recognize Fergus’s worth — released those tears. The rest of the men’s lining up to more Moch Sa Mhadainn sealed the deal. Favourite scene, hands down.

Ghoistidh: Jamie’s knowing he’ll abandon Tryon eventually to fight alongside Washington, conflicting with Murtagh’s need to lead the Regulators and antagonize Tryon now, breaks my heart. And don’t get me started on Jamie’s releasing Murtz from his decades-old vow. 😭

Forewarning: If Murtz dies as a Regulator, and if Jamie is directly involved in his death, I will be inconsolable… about losing TV-Murtagh. Real Life Murtagh™ is safe, at home with me. 

Sadly Absent: Young Ian. I really missed Ian. And Rollo. (Which is more than I can say for Lizzie. She looked at Josiah Beardsley on the big house verandah the same way she looked at Young Ian on the Cape Fear boat.) Hurry home…

Reality Bites: Too clean? Too modern? Too fancy? Too funny. Three of the four main characters touched a rock and instantaneously travelled 200 years. One of them three stinkin’ times. Reality left the building at 37:41 of the first episode. (Well, Frank saw a ghost at 24:20, but who wants to talk about Frank?) Embrace the fiction…

Closing Credits: Reports of Ronald D. Moore’s executive-producer death have been greatly exaggerated. Like the author’s, we see his name in big, bold font immediately before and after the episode. **I recognized Isaiah Morton by John Quincy Myers’ “Come on, Morton, time waits for no man” during the drinking game (if you didn’t catch him there, Isaiah was the first man to pledge fealty to Jamie), but I can’t put faces to book-familiar names Murdina & Arch Bug, Margaret Chisholm, Duncan Innes, or Ronnie Sinclair. Could you? 🤔

Get your act together, Starz, and offer your app to the rest of the world. *On W Network in Canada I’m able to start watching Outlander 25 hours after Starz app users in the USA and Puerto Rico start watching it. Of course when you change your cable package without subscribing to W Network and discover your thinking it’s available for free preview in February is a mistake, 75 hours extends to 85 hours, minimum, what with having to wait till morning to call to subscribe. Blah blah blah. 🧀 🧀 🧀 to accompany the whine.

Note: If you choose to read my recap/review(s), and think, “Of course she’s all positive and happy about the show; she wouldn’t say shite if her mooth was full of it,” you’re sadly mistaken. Few things come more naturally to me than being negative and critical. I grew up in an environment where, if you have nothing nice to say, you make sure everyone can hear it. I wrestle with the ghost of that environment every time I open my mouth. I refuse to let it haunt my blog. #TV #Fiction #Fun

__________

Gifs: @mclintocks​ (1 & 2), @thewanderingace​ (3)

#Outlander #Personal #Review #TFC #S5E1 The Fiery Cross #Claire Fraser #Jamie Fraser #Brianna MacKenzie #Roger MacKenzie #Fergus Claudel Fraser #Marsali Fraser #Jocasta Cameron #Ulysses #Too Much Of Frank #Murcasta shmurcasta 🙄 #Slut #190 #021820

#Outlander #Personal #Review #TFC #S5E1 The Fiery Cross #Claire Fraser #Jamie Fraser #Brianna MacKenzie #Roger MacKenzie #Fergus Claudel Fraser #Marsali Fraser #Jocasta Cameron #Ulysses #Too Much Of Frank #Murcasta shmurcasta 🙄 #190 #021820

[yinyangswings]

Single Parent AU

So I was kind of inspired by @musicfeedsmysoul12 headcanon of the Havenfall is for Lover’s MC being a single mother. As I also like that AU I decided to give it a go. I tried to keep it as different as I could to musicfeedsmysoul12‘s which is here.

It’s a bit long so I’m placing them in the Read Below

Mackenzie

The kid is a 9 year old non-binary kid who has a minor seizure condition. Their parents' whereabouts are unknown. They were taken in and adopted by MC. They love MC and her family for taking them in, though sometimes they wonder if they’re a burden for MC.

It is later discovered that their parents are part of Code Black, but abandoned them due to their condition. They have a hard time forgiving them for that.

Mac can sense when they are going to have a seizure. If she’s nearby she’ll make sure they know to lie down. MC is super appreciative of it.

She did this even before MC knew about her being a werewolf

Mac is really nervous at first to date MC because of them. Not because she’s dating someone with a kid, she doesn’t mind that. But because she doesn’t want the kid to think that she’s taking her away from them.

Mac asks JD for advice so she doesn’t misgender them.

Hugely appreciated by them.

Beau makes off handed threats towards the kid. It doesn’t end well.

Not even the Beast is amused by that. And she doesn’t even like the kid.

They and Mackenzie bond over comic books. Mac is so pleased to have another person to geek out on comics with.

Do they cosplay? Hell yeah!!!

While both MC and Mac are good parents, Mac is definitely the stricter one of the two. Though she’s not as good as MC is against the puppy-dog eyes.

Especially when the triplets and them use it against her in the future.

Mac’s parents absolutely love them. They are their first grandchild. Doesn’t matter if they aren’t biologically related. GRANDCHILD.

Annabelle loves the kid and is a protective older sister.

No one messes with them. No. One.

Damien is protective of them too, though he shows it more in a ‘I’m annoyed older brother’ kind of way.

He may act annoyed to have them following him around, especially if Annabelle is nearby, but threaten them and there is one angry werewolf glaring and growling at whoever is dumb enough to do it.

They call her Mom in the middle of the third season. They get the biggest hug from Mac, to the point they don’t think Mac is going to let go anytime soon.

That protectiveness is ten-fold after that. No one gets close to that kid without Mac knowing.

When Grace comes back, she tries to bring them to Code Black, but they vehemently refuse. They’re already where they want to be and are home. They are even more adamant about it when they find out their bio parents are a part of the Code Black.

This does cause a bit of tension because they don’t know what their parents are capable of, and whether or not they’ve unintentionally endangered the entire town. And they’re terrified that MC and Mac will leave them eventually because of their condition.

Mac is quick to reject that idea, and says as far as she’s concerned, they’re part of her family. Her pack. They aren’t going anywhere.

Elmer gets used to seeing them coming into the station while MC is working, bringing dinner for Mac, because their mom worries.

He finds it extremely cute and he usually chats with them if they wind up waiting for Mac

They are super excited when they find out MC is having kids. And they’ll be the best big sibling. Granted they did not take into account the werewolf genes. Seriously, they are the oldest of the siblings and still the shortest. They are not amused.

They are perfectly fine with getting bitten and becoming a werewolf. This is their pack, of course they want to be fully a part of it. They don’t know how the whole medical condition would play into it though, so they’re waiting a little bit and researching.

Diego

The kid is a 10 month old little girl that looks exactly like MC. She’s the result of a one-night stand for MC and the father doesn’t want anything to do with her. He’ll pay child support and that’s about it (and even that is like pulling teeth).

Grace insists she’s the favorite aunt (though MC likes to point out she’s the only aunt).

Diego is her doctor, though she does have a pediatric doctor to go to. His necklace is a favorite thing to latch onto by the curious 10 month old. And she has quite the grip.

She also really likes his sunglasses. It’s only after Diego is revealed to be a vampire to MC that he lets her actually hold onto them. Now they are almost always covered in baby drool.

Diego takes longer to accept being with MC because he worries about endangering MC and her daughter, but the 10 month old is apparently just as stubborn as her mother and really likes Diego and makes her opinions known.

MC found it adorable and hilarious the first time she made him hold her where it wasn’t a check-up. He looked like a deer caught in headlights.

Dada is her first word, directed at Diego. The vampire basically breaks down when she says that.

Because Diego doesn’t need to sleep, he tends to be the one who gets to her first if she wakes up at night.

He sings lullabies to her in Spanish.

Once he finds out (through Victor) that MC has a daughter, Antonio makes it very clear to Victor and the other lackies to stay away from the infant. It’s not like she can protect herself and he wouldn’t go that low to get revenge on Diego.

Grace has a really hard time trusting her niece alone with Diego after she returns. Diego understands it, but it doesn’t make it any less painful.

Her crying for him from Grace’s arms does not make it easier either. MC sneaks her out for some ‘daddy time’ with Diego, something both of them enjoy.

There is a temporary truce when she gets a really bad fever and MC convinces Grace to let Diego check on her. She’s not thrilled, but her love for her niece overrides her distrust of vampires.

Dracula begins to have an interest in the girl when he’s looking for and locates Diego. She looks so much like a woman who had managed to escape his clutches centuries ago.

This terrifies Diego. He debates leaving them to protect MC and her, though he realizes quickly that Dracula will try and take her whether he’s there or not if he decides she’s worth his time.

Dracula makes comments about making her a future bride when she’s older which pisses Diego off and terrifies him.

When they’re on the run from Dracula, they run into her biological father. He makes several choice comments to MC about their daughter, implying that it’s likely the little girl isn’t even his to start off with. Diego gets really, really angry at that.

Dracula uses her as bait against Diego and MC.

She likes Eva a lot. First meeting with Antonio after everything that had happened in season 1-2, she pukes on him.

And Diego laughs about it every chance he remembers.

MC struggles a lot with not drinking her daughter's blood right after she becomes a vampire.

It terrifies her with the very idea of accidentally killing her daughter for her blood. Diego is vigilant and ensures the two aren’t alone together after MC is transformed for a little while.

Playing ‘doctor’ with Diego when she’s a little older, which means Diego has to endure being wrapped up like a mummy with toilet paper. MC finds it adorable.

Spike is rather protective of her and incredibly patient with her for being a hellhound.

They are both adorable together and heart attack inducing when Spike occasionally teleports with her holding onto him.

First time that happened sent both Diego and MC into hysterics.

When she’s older, she says she wants to be a doctor. No, Diego doesn’t cry.

Much...he gets choked up a bit about it.

Diego and MC agree to let her choose when she’s old enough if she wants to be changed into a vampire.

JD

The kid is a spunky 7 year old girl who was adopted by MC. MC and her mother were in a relationship but her mother died in an accident. MC took her in after the grandparents and father stated they didn’t want custody of her. The father was because he had a new family, the grandparents because their daughter died going to pick her up.

She has severe abandonment issues over this.

She hides those issues through sarcasm.

Her favorite color is pink, but she yearns to have a leather jacket like JD. She eventually gets one and it’s her favorite thing ever.

JD gives her the nickname Punky Pink, or PP for short. She does not approve of the abbreviation.

JD tries to keep everything with MC as casual as possible and tries to not be a parent. Because this is MC and she has a kid. And they are not a good parental figure. At all.

That is evident with her coming to the bowling alley after school and the amount of trouble they get both of them in.

She loves their wings. JD HAS WINGS. HOW COOL IS THAT?!

She was very, very disappointed that the books have misrepresented them.

You’re supposed to have a goat head. And cloven hooves.

Who says I don’t have the hooves?

Those boots.

She makes a report about JD for school. Thankfully it was a creative writing project so no one really suspected she was telling the truth.

It did result in a teacher conference however. JD was very amused when they found out through MC.

JD has the paper framed and keeps it in their room.

Her mother’s grandparents are complete jerks to her, and say they wished she had died instead of her mother which just breaks her. And it pisses JD off.

They make sure to let those assholes know what they think of ditching that little girl. Doesn’t even care if they get in trouble with Mac.

After that, they take her on a really long drive on their motorcycle, and they talk about people being jerks, but that doesn’t define her or them. And she has MC that loves her to death and everyone in town who loves her too.

JD is usually just called ‘JD’ by her, though this is usually met with confusion

“We need to call your guardian.”

“Well there’s Mom and JD? Which one do you want?”

“Is JD your other mom or your dad?”

“Yes.”

She doesn’t put up with misgendering bullshit and has gotten into fistfights at school for it. She doesn’t get into trouble with MC for it though and JD is very touched over it.

Hikari and Grace battle on who is the best aunt.

It does not help when Gwen joins in.

The Facestealers wind up being nightmare fuel for the seven year old, and she has to sleep curled up to MC for several days. One day she falls asleep and just clings to JD, who at first tries to get her off of them, but basically relents when she winds up having a death grip on their sleeve. Only time Razi doesn’t get annoyed and scolds JD for not doing work.

Nessie is enraged with the girl and MC getting in the way of her and JD. She attempts to kill her and MC because of her belief that both of them are taking JD from her.

Lucifer takes an interest in her and manages to talk to her once without JD or MC present. She had been out exploring when he found her. JD is not happy when they find out, because Lucifer makes sure they know he was near her and close enough to where he could touch her.

JD almost has a panic attack and gets really angry, scaring her and making her think she’s done something wrong and that they’ll leave because of it. It takes several people to convince her that that’s not the case and that they aren’t angry at her.

JD makes it very clear afterwards to their dad. He’s not allowed near her. Not now, not ever. Do not touch her, do not look at her. There will be hell to pay if he comes near her again.

She panics when JD gives up their freedom for MC. Like she’s curled up in her bedroom, crying.

Rip Van Winkle did not know who he was messing with when she fell under the spell right in front of JD. Pure burning chaos.

Razi

The kid is an eight year old girl who is deaf. She is of Asian descent. MC had been dating her father before he died in an accident when she was six. Her mother had passed away years before, and with no other direct blood relations, MC adopts her so she doesn’t become another statistic in the system. Though she can’t hear, she knows sign language and can read lips. MC and Grace learned how to do it when MC was with her father. The others in HifL learn as well.

JD learns the words that an eight year old probably shouldn’t know. They state it’s good for her to learn the colorful language too. Razi is not amused.

Because she’s deaf, Jonas’s music doesn’t affect her, which is a relief to MC and Razi. Though it does lead to a few panicked moments in later seasons, such as when Baba Yaga makes her appearance.

She ships MC and Razi so hard.

She and JD make bets on who cracks first. JD now owes her several boxes of candy.

She has a personality like Mabel Pines which is both hilarious and tiring for Razi and MC

She gets along with Razi pretty well.

She’s always trying to play matchmaker for MC

She had already been calling MC ‘Mom’ for a little bit prior to the beginning of the whole series, but started calling Razi ‘Dad’ respectfully in Season 3. No. Razi doesn’t cry. He swears he doesn’t cry.

He does. He totally does and JD has photo evidence.

JD offers to babysit her a lot so MC and Razi can have alone time. Usually they say no, but JD figures what Razi and MC don’t know/notice, won’t hurt them. They usually go around town on their motorcycle with her. They make sure she wears a helmet of course. Because safety!

Razi is terrified about Baba Yaga ever going after her. Cue him finding out who Baba Yaga is and how many times she was left alone unknowingly with the child eater.

He does not take it well to say the least.

It is revealed that her mother was a kitsune who fell in love and married a human but was later killed, and she takes after her mother in regard to a long time span. She is unable to transform into a kitsune, she will live much longer than any human, and aging will slow down once she reaches adulthood.

This is a relief to the Nassar family, especially Razi, as they won’t have to see her grow old and die, because it is something that he wouldn’t be able to handle.

Roshni and Rahim love to tease Razi with how protective he is over the girl

Roshni convinces Rahim to put fake press on tattoos on the side of the girl’s face and says she took her first tattoo like a champ just to mess with Razi. Razi nearly has a heart attack.

Roshni and Rahim are the best aunt and uncle.

She is the best big sister to Roxie. Very protective of her and is usually following her around everywhere.

Maybe not as protective as Razi is to the both of them, but dang close.

Vanessa

A two year old bio boy for MC. She had been in a relationship with him, but unfortunately he was killed by a mugging gone bad. He’s a very quiet boy, to the point where people don’t notice him until he makes a sound.

MC is really protective of him.

He is a very curious boy, and tends to wander a lot. He’s also in that phase where he tries to taste everything.

Which has Vanessa panicking because she has way too many things that are deadly that he keeps trying to put in his mouth, Oh God.

And she hasn’t really had to deal with kids, at least that young. At least not in a long time. And now she has to protect this boy and his mom. Stress galore. So she isn’t sure about this relationship

Equally MC isn’t sure about being with a woman who literally hunts mythical creatures and endangering herself and possibly MC and her kid

They do begin to bond by Vanessa introducing him to anime and manga. She keeps it completely age appropriate and he seems to enjoy it.

She pledges to protect him and MC from the Dracula brides.

Eventually she gets the hang of parenting, though she still leaves a lot of it to MC

Antonio

The kid is a ten year old boy who was adopted by MC. His parents were not good people and he was pretty much abandoned by them. He is very protective of MC and Grace and has anxiety with them possibly leaving him.

He promises Grace to look after MC, even though he’s ten and has the strength of a wet noodle.

Antonio did NOT know that MC was a guardian to a kid. Heck the kid was asleep in the back of the truck when Antonio kidnapped MC in the first place.

This complicates things quite a bit. He can’t go through with this. If he couldn’t face Eva if he used MC’s blood to resurrect her, Eva would never forgive him for orphaning a kid.

Igor becomes very interested with the boy initially, not realizing he’s adopted. If Antonio isn’t going to kill MC because he grew a conscience, the boy should be fair game.

Igor’s threat against him lessens once he realizes that the boy is not blood related to MC. Doesn’t mean he’s not below using him as bait against MC and later on Antonio. Antonio is not pleased.

He is sarcastic as hell and doesn’t mind making digs on how old Antonio is, despite the fact Antonio is perfectly aware of how things work in the modern era.

He found some of Antonio’s attempts at making movies. He will not name names or give any hint of his resources. Much to Antonio’s displeasure.

Diego finds this hilarious. So does Eva.

He’s really patient with Eva and doesn’t mind showing her what or how technologies work. Unlike Antonio, she’s been dead for 500 years. Kind of a big technological gap to learn from.

When MC’s blood is poisoned, he offers Antonio his blood in the meantime.

Antonio rejects the offer, even though he appreciates the sentiment.

Antonio is in charge of answering questions about history later on. This is both a good thing, but also a bad thing when the textbooks get something wrong. MC has to remind both of them that ‘my mom’s vampire boyfriend’ is not a resource to use in papers.

“This is completely inaccurate. What research did this ‘author’ use and where did they get it?? It’s total crap.”

“Remind me to not show you any books about the explorers. Especially Cortes.”

“Why?”

“Er...no reason.”

Thankfully word gets around pretty quickly and Frankenstein as well as the Cult of Blood leave him alone for the most part. The Cult of Blood snatches him along with MC, but that is basically to keep her compliant.

He doesn’t like Victor at all. Don’t ask him why, he just doesn’t.

Antonio is protective of the kid, even though they act like mortal enemies in the beginning. It’s like Diego and Antonio, only if Diego was shorter and can’t speak a lick of Spanish.

They run into his parents unintentionally and he sees them before anyone else. He hides the fact he spots them, but wanders away to have a chat. It goes about as well as to be expected.

It results in him getting a smack across the face from a very angry mom and a warning from the dad. MC is not happy when he gets back to them with scratch marks across his face.

It takes MC quite a long time to convince Antonio that he can’t kill them, even if they’ve earned it.

Antonio will say things in Spanish around him just to mess with him. It’s fun until the kid starts learning Spanish. And then he has to explain to MC why she was informed that he called the kid an ass.

He blames Diego, who neither confirms nor denies it

After Igor, Frankenstein, The Master, Cult of Blood, and Benedict he tells Antonio he needs a really good vampire therapist.

He’s only half-joking

He also thinks he might need to start making a will at the rate this is going because he doesn’t know if he’ll make it to age 15.

He says this as a joke, but that absolutely terrifies Antonio.

Antonio pretty much plans for the kid to become a vampire when he’s a little older.

#lovestruck #lovestruck headcanons #havenfall is for lovers #jordan jd davies #diego escalona #makenzie hunt #razi nassar #antonio vasquez #vanessa helsing #jamfics

[itsafanficthing]

The Paper Boy - Chapter 4

Special shout out to @notevenjokingfic who beta'd for me on this chapter when I was struggling to make it make sense and flow properly.

Enjoy!

A03 is Here

One more week until school started again. One more week of waking up late...r than normal (Jamie still had chores and a paper route to attend to). One more week of avoiding Laoghaire MacKenzie’s house as she insisted that they should “hang out” before they were trapped back in classrooms. One more week to show Claire around the town that he grew up in and really cement their friendship before she would go to his school and the other girls would surround her like a pack of wolves.

It had been three days since the dinner at Jamie’s house and the smile hadn’t been wiped from his face since.

--

“Thank you for telling me that, Jamie. Really. Thank you for trusting me.”

“Yer welcome, Sassenach. After all, we’re friends, aren’t we?”

“You’re the only person I know in this town, I don’t know if that’s fair.”

“Yer sayin’ that there might be better options?” Jamie asked in mock horror. “After I shared my house- my dinner with ye?”

“Well, it’s your father’s house,” Claire grinned at him, “and your sister did cook.”

“They’re better options than me?”

“My options are limited, what can I say?”

Claire pretended to think for a moment. Her arms were still around Jamie, as if she hadn’t noticed that she was still comforting him. Jamie didn’t mind. He wasn’t ashamed to admit that he liked it. Not that he would ever say that out loud to Claire.

“Well I suppose-” Claire began before she was abruptly cut off by her uncle calling her name.

“Claire? Time to go.”

Claire and Jamie sprang apart… like… well… teenagers caught in a compromising position as the heavy sound of footsteps came down the hall.

“Jamie?” Brian Frasers voice followed.

“Thank you for dinner Jamie… for… you know… Thank you.” Claire stood up from the bed quickly and Jamie felt his cheeks heat up in embarrassment, though he didn’t know why.

“Thank ye for comin’, after… after ye had a hard day.” Jamie still hadn’t quite figured out what was wrong with Claire. He hadn’t really discovered that much more about her. She lived with her uncle, though he didn’t know why. Her father wanted her to play the piano, but she wouldn't. She was upset about something, though what that something was- Jamie was still at a loss. Perhaps Jenny knew more about her after their chat in the kitchen before dinner. Jamie made a mental note to try and talk to his sister about it.

“Yes well… every day is hard for some people. Why should that stop them from enjoying something nice?”

“And this was?” Jamie asked, “Nice, I mean?”

“Yes, it was quite,” Claire answered with a hint of a smile at her lips.

Jamie couldn’t help the smile that came to his face as Claire’s uncle and Jamie’s father finally came through the doorway.

“There you are, Bumblebee,” Lamb said in relief. “Couldn’t find you for a while there. Thought you’d been taken by the fairies.”

“No, Lamb. Just reading with Jamie.”

“Reading?” Lamb brightened at the mention of books. He looked around the room quickly, as if there was a mountain of books for him to start climbing.

“Lamb?” Claire called her uncle's attention back to her. “Were we going?”

“Ah, yes, sorry.” Lamb shook his head briefly, as if he remembered where he was.

And then they were gone.

It wasn’t a paper delivery day, but Jamie found himself making excuses to finish his chores as quickly as he could and jumping on his bike heading to town to run a few errands for his father and his sister.

Jamie pulled up in front of Claire and Lamb’s house- previously Walter Stuarts- and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Perhaps Claire would like to join him and she could see a bit more of the town.

Jamie wiped his hands nervously on his shorts before he knocked on the door. There was a clatter and then the heavy sound of footsteps coming towards the door.

Claire pulled the door open, her wild curls pulled away from her face and covered by a scarf.

“Jamie!” she greeted brightly, opening the door wider to him. “What are you doing here?”

“Sorry to drop by unannounced, Sassenach. I needed to run into town to get some things for Jen and my Da. I was wonderin’ if ye wanted to join me?”

“Oh, yes… sure, why not.” Claire stood back for Jamie to enter. “Let me just finish what I was doing and I’ll join you.”

Jamie ducked his head with a smile as he passed her. He caught a whiff of her perfume and thought that he might just go light headed with it. Floral with a hint of something earthy that reminded him of the freshly turned earth after a rainstorm. It was intoxicating and Jamie wondered why he had never noticed it before. (Of course he didn’t make it a habit to smell Claire whenever they were together.)

“I did’na mean to interrupt ye,” Jamie said as he followed Claire through her house.

“Oh, you aren’t. Not really. I was just doing some gardening.” Claire continued out to her backyard where Lamb was kneeling in the dirt and planting a rather flourishing tomato plant.

“Jamie, Lad. How are you son?” He asked looking up. He was wearing the flowering apron again and what Jamie assumed to be a woman’s wide brimmed hat, though he didn’t seem to be bothered by it.

“Well, thank ye,” Jamie answered as Claire knelt in the dirt patch again. “Can I help at all?”

“Oh, no, it’s fine,” Claire answered at the same time as her Uncle, saying “Yes, actually.”

“Lamb, Jamie doesn’t need to help.” Claire shook her head at her Uncle, who was obliviously looking up at Jamie and pointing to a rather large bag of soil that was sitting by the back door.

“Yes he does, he wants to, isn’t that right, Lad?” Lamb said, ignoring his niece and continuing against her protestations. “There’s a large bag by the door that my old muscles can’t lift. Could you bring it over?”

Jamie nodded, thrilled at the chance to help out, and even more thrilled at the chance that he might be able to show off to Claire.

“You really don’t need to,” Claire called out as Jamie bent to pick up the bag.

“It’s fine, Sassenach,” Jamie turned waving her away. It was a larger bag than he was used to, and Jamie briefly wondered how Lamb and Claire had managed to get it even to the back door. Still, he was used to this kind of work and it couldn’t be heavier than the bales of hay he was used to carrying around the farm.

Jamie bent his knees and hoisted the bag of soil onto his shoulder with a very heavy grunt. Christ it was heavy. Jamie thought it weighed about the same as a decent draft horse. Still, he was showing off to Claire and once it was in the right position on his shoulder it wasn’t so difficult. With another grunt Jamie stood up slowly and made his way over to their garden bed. Lamb had turned back to turning the soil, but Claire was watching him with a curious sort of expression. Jamie dumped the bag unceremoniously by them, trying not to show how much effort it had actually taken to move the bag.

“Excellent, lad. Thank you kindly. Now there’s about four more bags, at the side of the house, if you think you could manage?” Lamb said as he cut the bag open and started to grab handfuls of the soils and spread it around his freshly planted tomato vine.

“Four more?” Jamie repeated.

“You really don’t have to-” Claire began as Jamie held up his hand to stop her.

“It’s not a bother. I’m happy to help,” Jamie said, turning away to fetch the other four bags of soil.

--

Jamie considered lifting two bags at once, to really show off his strength, but that idea was quickly abandoned as the next bag felt about four times heavier than the first. Another grunt and another lift and Jamie was walking (half stumbling) back out to Claire and her uncle. Their heads were bent together and Claire seemed to be speaking very quickly, her hands gesticulating wildly as she spoke.

She abruptly stopped as Jamie dropped the second bag of soil by her and Lamb and Jamie swore that her cheeks were flushed as she turned away from him. Trying to shake off the feeling that Claire very much did not want Jamie’s help, he left to get the other bags.

--

Once the fourth bag had been delivered, Jamie helped Lamb spread the soil across the freshly turned garden. Jamie could feel Claire’s eyes on him as he worked with her uncle, but each time he turned to look at her, she was carefully absorbed in the next vegetable she was planting.

Finally they were done, and Jamie was wiping sweat from his forehead. Not quite the afternoon he had thought he would be spending with Claire, but any time to simply be with her was worth it.

Claire slowly relaxed and started to tell him about the things she was planting and the books she had read to help them grow in the best conditions, and the correct organic fertiliser to ensure maximum fruition. Similar to her Uncle, once Claire started talking about something she was passionate about, her eyes lit up and it was difficult to get a word in. Jamie didn’t mind. He thought he could listen to Claire talk about just about anything.

“So the tomatoes, I know it’s late in the season, but I think that they will be alright. Everything that I have read about them says that they should be surrounded by other vegetables, which is why I have the pumpkins here. Because they should spread out and while the tomatoes go up, you know? If it all goes to plan of course- though it should. I’ve done everything that should help them to grow properly. See I chose this spot because of the sun.” Claire paused to take a breath, looking up at the midday sun. “Yes, I think that this is ideal. Now, across this line here is going to be the herbs.” Claire focussed on the garden in front of her once more. Taking Jamie’s hand she pulled him to where she was talking about.

Jamie felt a thrill go through him at her touch, but he tried not to react.

“Along here I am going to plant some chamomile, garlic, ginger, maybe some ginseng if I can get it.” Claire pointed out the various spots she would plant her herbs before she looked back up at Jamie, smiling happily. “And then when they are nice and healthy, I can use them for- what?” Claire stopped speaking abruptly as she looked up at Jamie.

“What?” He repeated in confusion.

“What are you looking at? I’m covered in dirt aren’t I? I’ll go wash quickly and we can go into town.”

Before Jamie could say another word, Claire was leaving him stranded in the garden, wondering what she was talking about. He was just listening to her talk about the herb garden that she wanted to plant.

“You like her then?” Lamb’s voice came from behind Jamie, making him jump. Lamb had left them a while ago, mumbling something about a book he needed in doors.

“Sorry?” Jamie asked turning around to face the older man, and wiping his dirty hands on his shorts.

“Claire, you like her?” Lamb repeated. The flowery apron was now gone, as was the floppy sun hat. It was the first time that Jamie had really looked at Claire’s uncle. All other times he had been focused on Claire and her Uncle was just another face in the room.

“I suppose so,” Jamie tried to shrug casually and Lamb smiled at him with a knowing look that was slightly unsettling.

Lamb must have only been in his late thirties or forties, but years in the sun had weathered his skin to a tanned leather. Claire had told Jamie that her uncle was an archeologist and that he had spent the last thirteen years in Egypt with the University of Oxford. His hair was lighter than Claire’s though still brown, probably lightened from his time in the sun. His eyes were bright green in contrast to Claire’s golden whisky and Jamie briefly wondered if she got her eyes from her mother.

“I mean, son, that you like her.” Lamb emphasised the word and Jamie fought the flush on his cheeks.

“Well, I-” Jamie didn’t actually know what he was going to say and shoved his hands deep into his pockets, looking down at the ground. He couldn’t look Lamb in the eye with this conversation. He’d only known Claire for a week. It was a bit too soon to be talking her uncle about his feelings (no matter how much Lamb was right on the money).

“She’s a very attractive young woman, and I don’t know what she’s told you, but she’s been through a lot in the last few months.” Lamb continued, unaware of Jamie’s discomfort. “You’re father told me a bit about your own loss, your mother, your brother.” Lamb’s voice was careful and measured; a much different tone than the enthusiasm that Jamie had become accustomed.

Jamie looked up quickly to see Lamb looking uncharacteristically seriously at him.

“I wouldn’t want to betray her trust by telling you things before she is ready, nor yours by telling her.”

Jamie nodded in agreement, though not quite understanding what Lamb saying.

“I just want you to be careful. For you both to be careful,” Lamb said gently. “You are both very young.”

“I just… we are just going into town,” Jamie replied hesitantly.

“Oh, I know,” Lamb chuckled lightly and his face was transformed, back to the relaxed jovial features that Jamie recognised. “I’m glad she has a friend, Jamie.”

Jamie heard the back door open as Claire exited the house before calling out to them both.

“Aye so am I.”

“Jamie? Are you ready? Lamb we are going into town. Do you need anything?”

“No thank you, Bumblebee. See you when you get back.”

Lamb nodded seriously at Jamie, who found himself swallowing heavily before following Claire back through the house to pick up his abandoned bike on the footpath.

--

“So, the herbs?” Jamie asked as they walked together. Jamie pushing his bike and Claire strolling along side him. Occasionally stopping to study a weed growing between pavers, or pick up an interesting pebble. “The ones you want to plant.”

“What about them?” Claire asked, standing up and putting another pebble into her bag.

“Why those in particular? The vegetables, I understand, but the herbs… well, they are’na exactly… I dunno…”

“They’re medicinal,” Claire answered promptly. “They are useful. All food and herbs are useful, of course. But those one in particular. Chamomile is useful for relaxation, headaches, anxiety. Garlic is useful for blood pressure and cholesterol-”

“‘Tis good with pasta as well. Garlic bread.” Jamie helpfully added as Claire chuckled in response.

“Yes, it is also good for garlic bread. Ginger,” she continued, “is good for a cold and flu, nausea, it can be used as an anti-inflammatory. Ginseng is similar to ginger, but a bit more potent I think.”

“How do ye know all this?” Jamie interrupted, “and why wouldn’t ye just use normal medicine, rather than growin’ yer own?”

“Why not?” Claire shrugged in response. “It’s natural, comes from the earth-”

“Aye, so does paracetamol if ye think about it,” Jamie interrupted.

“I suppose so.” Claire shrugged again as her forehead wrinkled as she thought. “I didn’t have a garden before,” She said slowly, as if she was testing Jamie’s response to her. He tried to look ahead as they walked together, but he couldn’t help glancing over at her, just to watch her think.

“We didn’t have room. When Lamb and I moved out here, I saw the garden and I don’t know. I suppose I just felt like I needed to do something with it. I’ve always been interested in plants and natural medicines- stop for a second.”

Jamie halted as Claire stopped to pick up a smooth pebble. She ran her fingers over the surface gently before smiling softly and adding it to her bag.

“So,” she continued as if she had never stopped, “Lamb and I decided to set up the garden. Sure I could use paracetamol or cold and flu tablets when I need to, and I’m sure I probably will, but why not try for something natural, something that I’ve grown myself?”

Jamie shrugged in response. He didn’t really have an answer.

“Why do you farm?” Claire asked suddenly, as they rounded the corner and the main street came into view.

“Because it’s been in my family for generations and it’s Da’s work. It’s how we live. Weel, we farm and he does a bit of Accountin’ here and there when he needs to,” Jamie answered as he found a bar to tie his bike against.

“And what will you do?” Claire asked. “When you finish school I mean?”

“I suppose I’ll work on the farm.” Jamie shifted uncomfortably. Claire noticed.

“Is that what you want to do?”

“I guess so. I haven’t really thought about it.” Jamie shook his head as they continued down the street towards the general store.

“That’s a lie,” Claire stated abruptly. “I can see it on your face. You have thought about it, and farming isn’t it.”

“And ye ken me so well, do ye?” Jamie asked uncomfortably.

“Not really, no,” she answered honestly. “But you aren’t passionate about it. I can tell that.”

“And what are you passionate about, Claire Beauchamp?” Jamie asked as he held the door open for her, hearing the welcoming bell tinkle in response.

“Many things,” Claire said simply as she walked past him, the smell of her shampoo wafting past him and leaving him dumbstruck for a moment.

—

Jamie collected a basket from the stack by the door and pulled the list from Jenny from his pocket.

“We won’t be long. Just a few things for Jen.”

Claire nodded in response and studiously followed him down the isles, occasionally stopping to pick up and item, study it carefully before putting it back.

Jamie was done quickly, knowing the store as well as he did and Claire had picked up a few things of her own.

“Hobnobs?” Jamie asked as she put her purchases on the counter.

She smiled and shrugged in response as Mr MacWilliam finished Jamie’s transaction.

“I just need to go to the hardware store for my Da and then we can go,” Jamie said as Claire immediately opened the packet of biscuits before offering him one.

“Never really liked Hobnobs, myself,” he said as he took one. “They always remind me of my Auntie Jocasta. It’s the only biscuits she ever has at her place. Weel, it’s the only ones she puts on offer. I’m sure she keeps the good stuff hidden somewhere else.”

“Hobnobs are good,” Claire defended with her mouth full of the wafery biscuit. “They’re sweet and crumbly. Good size.” She held up a biscuit to show him. “They’ve got it all.”

“They’re crumbly,” Jamie said shaking his head. “Ye canna dip them into a cup of tea without them disintegrating.”

“Why would you ruin two good things?” Claire asked aghast. “A cup of tea and a good biscuit. That’s barbaric.”

“Yer tellin’ me ye never dunk yer biscuits in a cup of tea, not even a glass o’ milk?” Jamie asked in shock as they approached the hardware store.

“I’m not an animal. So no.” Claire held her head high in defiance and Jamie snorted with laughter.

“Yer saying I’m an animal?”

“Barbaric!” Claire exclaimed with a smile.

“Ye hav’na lived, Claire Beauchamp. Lucky ye met me when ye did.”

“You’re going to show me the ways of the world, are you?”

“If yer lucky.”

—-

Backpack full and about a million questions about what various farming tools in the hardware shop did later, Jamie and Claire exited the shop together.

“That’s all my errands done,” Jamie said, watching Claire’s face fall from her previous excitement and laughter. “But I dinna have to get these back straight away. I can show ye round the shops if ye like?”

Claire immediately brightened and nodded enthusiastically.

“Only if you have time.”

“For ye, Sassenach, I have all the time in the world.”

Claire blushed prettily at that and Jamie felt as though molten lava was travelling from his throat to his manhood. She was so pretty and she had no idea of the effect she had on him.

“Shall we?” He asked as he slung on his backpack, looking anywhere but at Claire. “There’s a few clothing stores down that way, a sweets place round the corner, erm, a bookstore…”

“Shall we just wander?” Claire asked as she rolled the plastic of her Hobnobs to cover the extra biscuits. “Can I ask a favour though?”

“What’s that?” Jamie asked as headed towards the clothing stores. Girls liked clothing stores didn’t they? He had memories of Jenny dragging him around to various stores before he was allowed to go into town by himself.

“Can you hold my Hobnobs? They won’t fit into my bag.”

Jamie grinned widely at her. “They’re your biscuits.”

“Which I tried to share with you.”

“What’s wrong with your bag?”

“It’s full.”

“Of rocks and weeds,” Jamie snorted with laughter as he held out his hand to take the packet from her.

“Of pebbles,” Claire corrected him. “And plants,” she said as she handed him the half empty packet.

“What if ye want to buy somethin’ in one of these shops?” Jamie asked as they stopped outside the first store. There was heavily thumping music coming from behind the glass door and Jamie took a deep breath. He’d been shopping with Jenny before, he knew how long this could take, but as long as he was spending time with Claire he didn’t really care all that much.

“I’ll hand it to you.” Claire laughed lightly and Jamie felt his heart stutter in his chest at the sound.

“Aye, regular pack horse, I am.”.

—

Shopping with Claire, specifically clothes shopping with Claire, was… well odd was the first thought that came to Jamie’s mind.

Jamie’s memory of shopping with his sister and even his mother went for what seemed like hours as they entered each and every store, digging through each rack and and stand, trying on forty thousand items, to then only purchase one or two.

Claire didn’t enter most shops, barely breezing past the window before moving onto the next. It was Jamie that was left behind, looking at a pair of shoes, or a t-shirt before Claire was calling out to him.

“Keep up then,” she laughed as Jamie looked around wildly for her and flinched in surprise as he realised that she was already at the window of the next shop.

“How do ye move so fast?”

“What do you mean?”

“My sister will spend three hours looking’ over a display and rootin’ through stacks of clothes and ye dinna even enter the shop.”

“Ah,” Claire grinned as he caught up to her. “Clothes shopping doesn’t particularly thrill me. But I do have a theory when I am forced to do it.”

Forced to do it? Was Jamie forcing her to do something she hated? He’d just assumed that she would want to look at the clothing shops. It seemed like it was all the other girls in his year wanted to do. He should have known Claire wouldn’t be like any other girl.

“There’s a bookshop just up further, if ye wanted to go there?” Jamie asked hesitantly. Here he was, dying to spend time with her, only to do something she hated.

“Oh, yes, that would be marvellous,” Claire said excitedly, almost skipping a step.

Jamie relaxed and they rounded the corner, both looking up to the sound of his name being called.

Laoghaire.

Jamie should have known they’d run into her eventually. She had been trying to see if Jamie was going into town all week, wanting to meet up with him.

She was waving at him enthusiastically, almost skipping toward him. Jamie saw on her face the exact moment that she saw Claire beside him. A mixture of confusion (and was it anger?), before she schooled her features and plastered a smile on her face.

“Hi Jamie. I was wonderin’ when ye’d be in town,” she said brightly. She had stopped when they’d come face to face (as much as Jamie thought that she might go straight through him at the speed she was walking towards them). She was standing very, very close to Jamie. He found himself taking a step backwards and closer to Claire. For protection? Maybe.

“Today I suppose,” he tried to say politely, but he knew that he sounded gruff with her.  “This is Claire. Claire this is Laoghaire. Laoghaire’s a few years younger than us.”

“Nice to meet you,” Claire smiled brightly at Laoghaire. Jamie could feel his neck flushing at her smile. Was there anything about Claire Beauchamp that wouldn’t make him blush like an idiot.

“Ye as well,” Laoghaire smiled politely. “Ye just moved here then?”

“Yes, a few weeks ago. Jamie’s been kind enough to show me about.”

“Aye, he’s always been a bit of a gentleman. Even when we were bairns playing house.”

Claire looked between Jamie and Laoghaire grinning.

“Aye- yes, weel, that was quite a while ago Laoghaire. Dinna do so much of that any more.” Jamie ran his hands through his hair, pushing it out of his eyes in agitation.

“Now ye canna even find time for me to hang out in the village.” Laoghaire pouted and Jamie found himself taking a half step back toward Claire again.

He didn’t understand why girls pouted like that. What was he supposed to do when they did? Jenny never pouted at him when she was upset with him. She usually just yelled at him. Or tried to whack him with a wooden spoon.

He hadn’t seen Claire pout like that yet and he was entirely sure he ever would. Claire seemed much more similar to Jenny and would either yell at him if she was upset or try and whack him with whatever was closest. But the thought of her bottom lip popped and a wee wrinkle on her forehead… Lord even the thought of it was attractive to him.

“We should get going,” Jamie said to Claire ignoring Laoghaire’s plea for attention.

Claire nodded. She was looking at him with an expression that Jamie didn’t quite understand. Her eyebrows twitched slightly. Claire, for the most part, was usually quite easy to read. Jamie may not know her very well, but she usually wore most of her thoughts on her face. Right now though, Jamie couldn’t understand what she was thinking.

“It was nice to meet you, Laoghaire. I’m sure I will see you again at school,” Claire said politely and smiling at Laoghaire.

“Aye, I’m sure you will.” Laoghaire smiled back but Jamie wasn’t sure how genuine it actually was.

“Bye, Laoghaire,” Jamie said taking a step to move past her.

“I don’t get a hug goodbye?” Laoghaire asked sweetly.

“We’ve only just met, I didn’t think it was appropriate,” Claire answered for Jamie, who snorted with laughter in response before he suppressed a sigh and pulled Laoghaire into a one armed hug briefly.

—-

There was an awkward pause between Claire and Jamie as they continued down the street. Jamie wondered what was going through Claire’s mind. Was she curious about Laoghaire? It might help her to know someone else in town, even if Laoghaire wasn’t in there year. Did she think that Laoghaire and Jamie were a thing? He was about to explain that he and Laoghaire’s families had grown up together and that they were just friends when Claire spoke.

“So, did you want my theory then?” Claire asked as the bookshop came into view.

Jamie swallowed heavily unsure of what she was going to say. Theory about Jamie and Laoghaire? Theory about growing up in a small town, where everyone knew each other?

“Always.” Jamie didn’t really mind what Claire wanted to talk about, as long as it was him that she was talking with.

“I figure that they put the best clothes on display. So I can look in the window and if there’s nothing that takes my fancy, I can move on,” Claire said seriously as Jamie looked in her confusion. “Because why would they hide the good things? And if I don’t like anything on display, the odds of me liking something that is buried deep in the shadows of the store is, statistically speaking, quite slim.”

“I’m sorry,” Jamie apologised in confusion. “What are we talking about?”

“My theory about shopping,” Claire answered matter-of-factory. “You wanted to know why I skim past the stores.”

“Right,” Jamie agreed. “I did.”

“So there you have it. What’s meant to be is meant to be. If I didn’t see it when I first looked, I clearly wasn’t meant to have it.”

Jamie hummed in response as he opened the door to the bookstore for her, wondering if she was only talking about clothing.

—

In complete contrast to how Claire shopped for clothing, it seems like she could have spent hours in the bookshop. Jamie was quietly proud of the little bookshop in the village. Shelves overflowing with classics, second hand and new, every subject you could imagine was available. Not only could Claire spend hours in the shop, so could he.

Claire walked up and down each aisle carefully, her fingertips running lightly over the spines of various books before she let out an excited squeal as she came across the gardening section.

“Jamie!”

She didn’t need to call loudly as Jamie trailed her from a respectful distance. Not wanting to be separated from her, not wanting to crowd her, fascinated by her facial expressions as she looked at each book.

“Aye?” He said casually as he rounded the corner with a book of his own.

“Look!” Claire held out a book to him excitedly, as she rocked back and forth on her feet.

Jamie snapped his book shut as he took her offering. It was a book of natural medicinal herbs and remedies from what looked like the 17th century.

“Medicinal Herbs and Natural Remedies, Dr. C. E.B.R. Mackenzie.” Jamie read from the front page.

“It’s perfect. I’m going to get it.” Claire was literally bouncing on her tiptoes and Jamie couldn’t help but smile at her.

—

The walk back to Claire’s house would later be regarded by Jamie as the moment he was sure that he was in love with Claire. That it wasn’t just a crush. He was well and truly head over heels for her.

It wasn’t that glimpses of her body, her porcelain skin, wild curls and full lips that wreaked havoc on his body. It was just simply Claire.

The more that Jamie learned about her, the more he wanted to know.

She was smart. He already knew that. But as they walked together and she relaxed, telling him more about her life, and he for the first time truly realised how intelligent she was. He was immediately afraid that she might be put a year ahead of him at school and they wouldn’t have the same classes despite being the same age. But she put that thought to rest as she explained how happy she was that she already had a friend and her first day wouldn’t be so daunting. Jamie promised that he would stay by her side, introduce her to some more people and that he wouldn’t abandon her.

She was funny. She was quick witted and almost brought tears to Jamie’s eyes as he laughed at her explanation of her fury regarding traffic jams.

She was impatient. Claire spoke quickly jumping from one thought to the next, particularly if it was something she was passionate about. However she had a skill in making Jamie feel like she wasn’t talking at him. She spoke over him often before apologising for her rudeness. Jamie didn’t care. She was saying what he was thinking anyway- like she was plucking the thought straight from his mind and putting it in her own words.

She had a deep sadness about her. But she hid it well. Only certain topics, specifically family, caused her to retract into herself and let Jamie direct the conversation.

Lamb’s words about her being through a lot in the last couple of months echoed in Jamie’s memory. He longed to ask her about what haunted her, to let her know that he was a shoulder that she could lean on but it wasn’t the right time. As curious as Jamie was about her past, about her family, about Claire, he somehow knew that Claire needed to be the one to make the first move and open up to him.

She was kind and Jamie wasn’t sure she recognised that about herself. She smiled at people as they passed, saying hi to Jamie and looking at her curiously. She stopped Jamie to look at an orange and black ladybug before helping the insect off the pathway and onto a nearby leaf.

They took their time walking back to Claire’s so that it was late afternoon by the time they returned. Jamie would more than likely be in trouble for taking so long on his errands but he couldn’t find it in himself to care.

As he waved goodbye to Claire at her gate, watching her as she unlocked the front door, waved once more, blushing prettily before shutting the door behind her and calling out to her uncle, Jamie was sure of one thing. He was in love.

#The Paper Boy #Outlander #Outlander Fanfiction #Outlander Fanfic #Jamie x Claire #Chapter Four #Jamie Fraser #Claire Beauchamp #Teenager Au #Fluff #Fluffy fic #Laoghaire MacKenzie #Makes and appearance #ohhhh #tagging is fun #if you read these tags you should tell me #might put something stupid in here #see how many people read it #I need to work on the next chapter #I keep writing one shots

[wrotetheaboveoftoday]

1831 Thurs. 20 January

7 10/..

12 20/..

L

F46º at 7 10/.., soft damp morning with a little rain while I was out - out at 8 10/.. to the Muette gate Boulevard de Beauséjour  and back at 10 10/.. - dressed - 1 5/.. hour reading Le Temps - breakfast in 25 minutes - 15 11 35/.. had my hair done - had 1/2 hour's nap - Letter from Mariana (Leamington) about 12 1/2 - at my desk at one - read my letter - dated 1/2 down the 2nd page from Warren's hotel London  3 pages and the ends and under the seal -

Mention of the death of Mr. John Charles of Newton Kyme - neither of the executors can act with her Mr. Charles (John late the banker) residing out of the kingdom and writes Mrs. Charles to Mariana ‘Mr. Raper you know from his conduct is banished [from] the kingdom’  Death of your old and faithful housekeeper Mrs. Tatham - William Milne not well - inquired after the school recommissioned by Miss MacLean (my poor dear Sibella) Miss Clomels, Yorkgate, much pleased with it - expense till the age of 14 or 15 £100 a year and Mariana will make a sacrifice to send her niece there - of course as I ought to know I have not much to expect from her in the money way

Mr. Willoughby Crewe writes her that the people began to threaten in Cheshire - she had thought much of what I told her about returning to England - I shall most likely be at 'home in July which perhaps is the best place for us to be together in' such a chance as Scarbro' 2 years ago is not to be expected -     

“If your aunt's health will admit of a return to England possibly she might sit down comfortably at Shibden - certainly such an arrangement would set you more at liberty than any other, and now that you are in such good luck as to society, and stumbling on eligible companions for seeing all you may desire of other countries, I would certainly have you follow it up - you will not be less inclined to go again, should opportunity offer, and if it should not, it will always be an advantage to both that even one has seen the world"

She thinks 'somehow' the continent will not be long open to us - will 'count the time like a school girl' to July - voila tout on this subject  well it is all very well I must make my plans and then tell her them never expecting her advice to help them much - Lady, I mean Mme. de Polignac was a Parkinson daughter says Mariana of the last sister of the present Lord Rancliffe - niece to the Lady of Mrs. Salmon's  brother Captain Barrow - from 1 3/4 to 4 25/.. wrote 3 pages and the ends, long, and under the seal, all very small and close to Mariana from 4 1/2 to 6 wrote page 4, and the ends and crossed page 1 and finished my letter to Mrs. William Priestly begun Monday the 10th instant (vide lines 1 and 8 of page 16)

Dinner at 6 10/.. - read the paper - came to my room at 7 1/2 - _twenty five minutes preparing napkin for my cousin came gently between one and two this afternoon - have wrote to Mariana, surprised to find her in London -

"It is impossible ever to count upon anything like fixity in their case, quite as  much so as in my own - as to myself, nothing is more settled than when I wrote last - no communication has as yet passed on the subject of returning, between my father and me - but you shall know all as soon as you can - I have no reason, at present, to think my aunt will not be able to bear the journey; tho' it is probably enough, if she does not go next summer, she may never go at all - However, perhaps the chances are, we shall     make the attempt - as for my traveling schemes, I see your uncertainty, but I do talk, and must talk of them, because I cannot calculate upon being able to remain comfortably in England - even you yourself, weighing all things justly on the balance, will not, I think, be for my staying longer than necessary beyond the time where we have been as much together as circumstances will permit - my aunt may do very well at Shibden - rien à dire contre - quant à moi, c'est une autre paire de manches - I do not expect the chance of Scarbro' encore, and only ask for 3 weeks, because I think you would have a right to claim the time certain - But we shall see by and by comment tout cela doit d'arranger - as for my 3 possible, just possible traveling companions, I do not count upon any one of them; and all would be very temporary - Lady S- [Stuart] (Gordon) may perhaps be persuaded to go to Spain - Miss Mackenzie is still, I believe, at, or not far from Naples and Miss Pickford is I know not where - and perhaps, after all, [your wid[?]] is as likely as anybody - je n'en sais rien - sufficient till the day etc. etc. and I shall not pother myself by attempting to fin[al] anything till the time comes - I shall be delighted and satisfied to see you, and this will be enough for me -    

Poor dear Sibbella! I have lost the ostensible and now, I find, the real object I cared to wait for here; and, I confess, I have felt more than usually unsettled since my last return - I can understand the regret for [totality] - It is a serious thing, more serious than we sometimes fancy, to lose anyone to whom we have been long accustomed - I refuse going anywhere in an evening, for I am not in a humor for it and morning visits I make as seldom as I can - Mrs. Hamilton promised to introduce me to Lady Granville; but she has not yet been called upon for the fulfillment of her promise; and I am in no hurry - now that my mind is almost made up to be off from here in the summer, I am indifferent about things that would otherwise have interested me much - nous verrons - I am not much above concert-pitch; and now that I have done enough of at my accounts for the present (expense of last year not much above thirteen-hundred) I am seriously meditating a return to my little apartment, and turning back to something more mental than the commonplace of rue Godot - By the way, 13 hundreds are more than I wish to spend just now; but, in the status quo, I am quite sure I cannot make less do - economy goes for something in my not visiting this winter, tho' I am not sorry to have this excuse to make to myself"

Mention Kinnersy having changed 5/. for transmitting the money - 'the accounts I have from Briggs are much better than I expected - all my rents were paid' - remember hearing 'my poor dear friend speak of Miss Clomel's (Yorkgate, London) school'. She at one time wished to have her nieces there - 'It is a nice situation, from all I remember about it, a very likely one to suit their people' ask the age of 'Mariana Lajeune' - 'I am glad you think her such a nice girl, and shall be anxious to hear what you determine about her - at her age, she certainly has no time to lose' - ask after Steph - fear she can expect no great advice from that quarter - will inquire about Mme Thomas rue des filles St. Thomas no. 23 Mde des modes - mention have several 2 or 3 times met a lady I should have fancied Mrs. John Raper had I not beheld her to be at St. Bues in Cumberland. Beg Mariana not to forget her French and if she sends little Mariana to Miss Clomel to 'beg that this language may be particularly attended to' - all the rest of my letter chit-chat of no consequence

my letter to Mrs. W. Priestly - chit chat - had received her letter on my return home 'for which I should have made a point of thanking you immediately, had my mind been more at ease' - she would see by the papers the death of my poor friend Miss MacLean 'for the nearness of which I was strangely unprepared - Deceived to the last, she herself was not aware of the real state she was in, till the last 3 or 4 days; and the 1st account that met me on my return was that of her death' - Congratulation on the Sutherlands being returned to Crownest -

'I can easily understand and join in their sentiments on this subject - I am accustomed to give you credit in matters of both of feeling and of judgement; and it is not in this instance that I should be inclined to dissent, in spite of the opinions, the wishes, or the interests of others’

say 'I had a very interesting tour last summer - a week on the Spanish side of the mountains and at the 1st Spanish town found the contrast between the French and Spaniards as striking as that between the French and English on first landing at Calais - from Narbonne to near Marseilles disappointed with the shores of the Mediterrtanian but M- Toulon and Hières made us regret that our arrangements did not allow of our going farther' -

I find my aunt surprisingly well - she had behaved admirably during the revolution, having been much calm and composed than many younger and stronger people - she says she never felt alarmed but once, and that only for a little while when Marmont threatened to blow up the whole street if they did not instantly cease making the barricade, which, however, was completed in the night - we had no fear during the trial of the ex ministers - 100,000 men under arms - sense enough' -  

All as quiet here now as the P-s [Priestleys] themselves can be at Lightcliffe - mention Laffitte’s being ruined by the revolution - conclude with

‘I know your time is a thousand (crossing on the 1st page) times better employed than in writing to me, and therefore and therefore only I do not expect to hear from you very soon - If you wait 6 or 7 months, perhaps you may have an opportunity of answering in person - Do not name this to any one but Mr. Priestley because our plans are at this moment not fixed, and therefore not mentioned even to our friends at Shibden - I am too much accustomed to trust to your discretion to doubt it in any case - you may see us both - it depends this time as I told you it did 2 years ago, on my father - I fancy you can read my crossing without much difficulty - I did not wish to write the last sentence where Mrs. Bagnold could read it too easily - my aunt’s kind regards to yourself (had before joined in mine to Mr. Priestley) - and my own, too, and believe me, my dear Mrs. Priestley, affectionately and very truly yours A L- Anne Lister’

dated ‘Friday 21 January 1831’ - from 7 1/2 to 9 1/4 (coffee at 9 20/.. and came to my room at 10 55/..) and from 11 to 11 1/4 wrote all but the first 22 lines of today - did not talk much to my aunt tonight - read her what M- [Mariana] wrote on the subject of our going to Shibden , and said, I took it, that she did not particularly advise but said nothing at all against it - spoke as if hesitating on the subject - but my aunt herself says she thinks it best on all accounts to go - Soft damp disagreeable day - a little rain in the morning while I was out - and gentle rain from about 2 p.m. for a considerable time - F48º now at 11 20/.. p.m. and damp, wet night - raining a little - rainy night -

#anne lister #anne lister code breaker #mariana lawton #eliza priestley #1831 #paris winter 1831

[otheroutlandertales]

Anonymous said: Can I please have some modern day au Mrs Fitz?

                                    – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Onions

by @whiskynottea

Glenna FitzGibbons left the house and locked the door behind her. 

One, two, three, four times. 

These doors, her nephew Murtagh had insisted, were useless unless you made sure all screws were in place. So Glenna made sure. 

It wasn’t easy living alone these days. Last week burglars had broken into a house at the block up the street. The police were still investigating the case. 

She briefly wondered whether it would be different if her man was alive, or if he would just provide a fragile feeling of security with minimum impact on reality, were the thieves at their doorstep. 

She shook her head as if to shake the thoughts away. She looked upwards, and her pursed lips changed into a smile. In greeting. Silent words formed in her head, the same she always said when she left the house.

I’m going to work, mo chridhe. 

The walk to her small restaurant took less than ten minutes. Plump she might be, and the doctor might insist she lose weight, but her quick feet hadn’t failed her yet. It took her ten minutes to get there, and not one more. Rain or shine. 

When John had passed away, everyone thought Glenna would close the restaurant. She was old, and running it without him wouldn’t be easy. Murtagh had suggested they sell it. Jamie tried to convince Jenny to take over the business, but the lass had declared that with that family of hers, she’d cooked enough for two lifetimes. Glenna let them talk, and fight, and brainstorm for ideas. 

At last, she announced that she was keeping Leoch’s Kitchen no matter what. She was certain John would agree.

The wooden sign next to the door moved slightly in the autumn wind, and Glenna’s smile grew. For years, she had been the first to arrive to open the restaurant, to begin the preparations before her lassies and lads arrived. 

Others called them employees, but for Glenna, they were family. 

Ian arrived first. Glenna heard him singing one of those deplorable songs he seemed to like, and waited for him to enter the kitchen before she talked, sure that the loudest scream wouldn’t go through his earbuds. He came to a stop at the counter across from her, and as Glenna looked into his warm hazel eyes she would swear he was four years old again and begging for a slice of freshly-baked bread with butter. But she had to look up to see these eyes now. Jenny’s wee one had become a man; tall with a body shaped from the same mold as his father’s. He said a singsong hello as he tied his hair on a knot at the back of his head, walked around the counter, and gave her a loud kiss on the cheek.

“Onions? D’ye do it on purpose, auntie? Every time I come, ye’re chopping these damned onions!” he said, blinking as his eyes started to tear up.

“Well, I dinna remember ye cursing at them when ye have them in yer burger!” Glenna laughed, sniffling herself.

Ian scrunched up his nose, picked a cherry tomato from the bowl next to him, and took a few steps away in an attempt to remove himself from the onion vapor.

“Uncle Jamie said that the wine delivery will arrive in about an hour. I’ll stay to help.”

Glenna hummed. “Wasn’t he supposed to be here?” she asked, wondering when, exactly, the plans had changed. 

“Aye, but he said auntie Claire started to suspect we’re preparing something for her birthday and he couldna find a good excuse to leave the house.” Ian was now in front of the fridge, staring at the shelves, no doubt wondering what else was available to eat.

Glenna smiled at herself, and moved about deliberately. Three minutes later, she was toasting a sandwich for the ever-hungry-lad.

“Do ye think Auntie Claire will figure the surprise out?” he asked with the sandwich in hand and his mouth full, spreading bread crumbs around.

Of course Claire would find out, sooner or later. If she hadn’t done that already. But Glenna didn’t have the heart to tell Ian. “Nah,” she reassured him. “We have everything under control.”

Ian continued devouring his sandwich, and Glenna picked up her favourite knife again. Who would imagine, Claire’s 55th birthday. The wee curly-heided medical student who had forgotten her keys at Glenna’s restaurant that October night she celebrated her 20th birthday. 

Thirty-five years. It felt like yesterday, and yet it didn’t.

Glenna could feel each passing year in the ache of her bones. It was there, in the empty side of her bed. In the wrinkles of her face. Two deep ones between the brows, a testimony of her concentration when she was cooking, her love for perfection. And the others, so many others, lines covering her white skin and showing to the world that she had cried, and smiled, and lived. 

Thirty-five years had gone by. Glenna had seen her daughter getting married and held her bonnie granddaughter in her arms, tufts of blonde hair shining under the sun. And then she had fixed that golden hair and comforted her granddaughter before her own wedding, when Laoghaire had a breakdown thinking her hairstyle had been a disaster. She had witnessed her grumpy Murtagh fall in love and make his own family. She had seen her nephews and nieces make their dreams come true, finding their own paths to happiness.

In all those years, Glenna had made wedding and birthday cakes, had prepared brunches and dinners for her family, and had laughed until all breath gone out of her lungs in those gatherings. She had made cookies with the wee ones -- each and every one of them. The FitzGibbons, the Frasers and the MacKenzies, all covered up with flour and face-splitting grins. 

She had held her John’s hand when he was strong and led her up the munros, and when he was weak and let her lead him to their bed. She had felt his breaths giving her life with every kiss, and she had felt them taking life away after each session of chemotherapy, when each inhalation was more laboured than the previous one. 

Thirty-five years of life. Almost double what Ian had lived so far.  

Glenna’s eyes glinted, from the onions or the memories she wasn’t sure, and she looked upwards again, sending her thoughts towards him. Reminding him that she would always keep him by her side. 

“See? I told ye these onions are evil!” Ian exclaimed, walking towards the sink to wash his dish.

“Aye, wee evil onions”, Glenna murmured. 

Like memories. You never know if they’ll turn out to be sweet or sharp. But it’s their taste, we’re craving for.

#outlander fanfiction #otheroutlandertales #mod whisky #ch: Mrs Fitz #ch: Young Ian #modern AU #category: general #oot

[the-record-obituaries]

Feb. 12, 2020: Obituaries

Bobby Shoemaker, 90

Mr. Bobby Shoemaker, age 90 of North Wilkesboro passed away Sunday, February 9, 2020 at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital in Elkin.

           Graveside services will be held 2:00 PM Friday, February 14, 2020 at Arbor Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Lane Roark officiating.  

           Mr. Shoemaker was born March 15, 1929 in Wilkes County to Robert McKinley Shoemaker and Addie Mastin Shoemaker.  He was a retired carpenter, first working for Foster Sturdivant Construction Company on projects that included the Reins-Sturdivant Chapel and Arbor Grove Baptist Church.  He was also a brick and block mason and helped to build the racing garages for race car owner Junior Johnson in Ingle Hollow. He also worked alongside his two brothers to build many homes in Wilkes County.   He loved to hunt and raised beagle dogs for many years. His greatest joy was his family and especially his grand and great grandchildren.  

           He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Vecie Hall Shoemaker, his parents, two sisters R.V. (Robert Virginia) Bowman and Agnes Alexander, two brothers; Bruce Shoemaker and Edward (Dink) Shoemaker and a son-in-law; Mike Cannon.

           Mr. Shoemaker is survived by two daughters; Lynn Shoemaker Dyer and husband Danny of Millers Creek, Diane Shoemaker Cannon of Wilkesboro, a son; Bobby F. Shoemaker and wife Pam of North Wilkesboro, four grandchildren; Robin D. Hamby and husband Matt, Amber C. Shumate and husband Andy, Ashley D. Cannon and fiance' Bobby Sheets and Adam P. Shoemaker, six great grandchildren; Aaron and Adrienne Hamby, Emeliegh and Ashlyn Shumate, Dawson and Gage Sheets, and a sister-in-law; Ruth Shoemaker, and his special friend and caregiver; Debbie Whitley.

           Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Arbor Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 196 Arbor Grove  Church Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.

 Gene Stewart 89

Mr. Gene Ray Stewart age 89 of North Wilkesboro passed away Sunday, February 9 2020 at his home.

           Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday February 12, 2020 at Welcome Home Baptist Church with Rev. Lyn Lambert, Rev. John Triplett, Rev. Jeff Collins, and Rev. Dean Crane officiating.  The family will receive friends from 12:00 to 1:30 PM prior to the service at the church. Burial with Military Honors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1142 will be held in Welcome Home Baptist Church Cemetery

           Gene was born August 18, 1930 in Watauga County to Edward "Eddie" and Blanche Luther Stewart. He served in the United States Army in the Korean Conflict. He was a graduate of Clevinger Business School.  He retired from Holly Farms Poultry/Tyson Foods as a manager in the accounting department. Gene was a member of Welcome Baptist Church where he served as Secretary-Treasurer for many years.

           Mr. Stewart was a member of the Silver Striders through the YMCA. He loved fishing, gardening and spending time with his grandchildren.  He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was a faithful church member and was known for his mild mannered spirit. Gene was a Tarheel Fan and Braves Fan, and loved watching his grandkids involvement in sports. He enjoyed watching West Wilkes Basketball.

           In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Opal Faw Stewart, and two brothers, John Stewart, and Jimmy Stewart.

           He is survived by a daughter Jeannie Stewart Stinson and husband Joel of North Wilkesboro, two sons, Stephen Ray Stewart and girlfriend Jayme Love of Statesville, and Reverend Dean Crane and wife Betty of Purlear, seven grandchildren Lucas Stinson, Jackson Stinson, Mackenzie and Christopher Stewart, Matthew Crane, Adam Crane, Josh Crane seven great grandchildren and three sister in-laws; Bonita Greene Stewart of Wilkesboro, Linda Stewart of Lenoir, and Babe Faw of Wilkesboro.

           Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Hope Ministry Toy Store C/O Brushy Mtn Baptist Association 514 Elkin Hwy. North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 or Nichols For Kids-Wilkes County Schools C/O April Marr 613 Cherry Street North Wilkesboro, NC 28659

           The family would like to thank Pruitt Health Hospice and Home Instead for their excellent care of their dad. A very special thank you to Lucille Johnson, Katherine Comer, Pam Osborne, and Gloria Wood for helping to make our dad's last year's wonderful.  We love you.

 Jesse Church, 83

Jesse Carson Church, age 83, of North Wilkesboro, passed away, Saturday, February 8, 2020 at his home. Jesse was born April 11, 1936 in Wilkes County to George and Nettie Adams Church. He was of the Baptist Faith. Mr. Church was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Albert, Marvin, Clayton and Richard Church.

           Surviving are his wife, Mary Catherine Cooper Church; several nieces and nephews.

           Memorial service will be held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, February 16, 2020 at Harvest Time Fellowship Church, 2865 Elkin Highway 268, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 with Rev. Tom Lineberger and Rev. Steve Rose officiating. The family will receive friends at Harvest Time Fellowship Church from 1:00 until 3:00 on Sunday, prior to the service. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Hospice of Wilkes or any other Hospice organization. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Clarence Carty, 86

Mr. Clarence Ray Carty, age 86 of Wilkesboro passed away Sunday, February 9, 2020 at Accordius Health at Wilkesboro.

           Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at Edgewood Baptist Church with Pastor Eddie Tharpe officiating. Burial will be in Edgewood Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00PM prior to the service at the church.

           Mr. Carty was born September 24, 1933 in Washington County, VA to Maiden and Ella Mae Holbrook Carty.

           In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Valerie Teague, and a grandson, Jonathan Teague, and thirteen brothers and sisters.

           He is survived by two sons; Jeffrey Lynn Carty and wife, Gigi of N.Wilkesboro and Timothy Ray Carty and wife, Vicki of North Wilkesboro, nine grandchildren; Misty Davis and Alex, Mindy Teague and Drew, Tasha Summerford and Dan, Christina Harrold and James, Shonna Davis, Tabitha Carty, Rebecca Minton and Anthony, Brandi Linville and Kenneth, Samantha Carty and Michael, and sixteen great grandchildren.

           In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Ebenezers Children's Christian Home P.O. Box 2777 North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 or St. Jude's Children's Research c/o Window World Cares. 118 Shaver Street, North Wilkesboro, NC  28659.

Raydell Blackburn, 80

Raydell Billings Blackburn, age 80, of Mulberry, passed away Sunday, February 9, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Regional. Raydell was born March 18, 1939 in Wilkes County to John and Nellie Key Billings. Mrs. Blackburn was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Shirley Billings Miles; and nephew, Ronnie Elmore.

           She is survived by her husband, Clyde Blackburn; daughter, Karen Blackburn Earp and spouse George of Hickory; son, Brent Blackburn and spouse Erica of Mulberry; brother, Danny Billings of Mulberry; grandchildren, Julia Golden and spouse Matt, Justin Earp, Claire Earp, Olivia Blackburn, Lilly Blackburn; great grandchildren, Embry and Violet.

           Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 15, 2020 at Mountlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel with Pastor David Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Mountlawn Memorial Park. Flowers will be accepted. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Yolande Caudill, 97

Mrs. Yolande Desmond Kerbaugh Caudill, age 97 of North Wilkesboro, died Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Villages of Wilkes.  

           A graveside service will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday, February 12 at Mountlawn Memorial Park with Dr. Bert Young officiating.  The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 3:00 PM at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home after the service.  

           Mrs. Caudill was born October 27, 1922 in Greenville, TN to John Thomas and Eula Leonard Kerbaugh.  She was a lifetime member of First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro and a FBC choir member, was a member of the VFW Auxillary and the Crickett Home Demonstration Club. She was an expert seamstress, made the best yeast rolls, and was a crafter of Chrismons, displayed at FBC North Wilkesboro during the holidays.

           In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Lee Caudill, Sr.; one sister, Vivian K. Greene; and three brothers, Shoun Kerbaugh, Glyn Kerbaugh, and Lyn Kerbaugh.  

           She is survived by one daughter, Sharon Caudill Adams and husband, Jack, of Clemmons; two sons, Thomas L. Caudill, Jr. and wife, Vickie, and James S. Caudill and wife, Joann, all of Wilkesboro; five grandchildren, Michael B. Caudill, Brian T. Caudill, Andrea A. Turner, Geoffrey T. Adams, and Sara A. Caudill; eight great-grandchildren, Matthew B. Caudill, Brandon A. Caudill, Brennen T. Caudill, Lilly Kate Turner, Savannah C. Turner, Madison G. Adams, Colton T. Adams, and Mila A. Morales; and one sister, Doris K. Bentley and husband, Jim.

           In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rainy Day Fund, c/o First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro, P.O. Box 458, North Wilkesboro NC 28659.  

 Julie  Minton, 50

Julie Christine Minton, age 50, of North Wilkesboro, passed away Thursday, February 6, 2020 at her home. Julie was born October 13, 1969 in Wilkes County to Thomas James "Johnny" and Mary Christine Bouchelle Call. Julie attended Cricket Baptist Church and was a loving mother to her sons.      She was preceded in death by an infant brother; grandfather, Clarence C.J. Call; and uncle, Joey Call.

           Surviving in addition to her parents of Wilkesboro; are her sons, Jonathon Marshall Minton, Joshua Austin Minton both of Hays; brother, David James Call of North Wilkesboro; sisters, Tammy Annette Shew and spouse Bodean, Sandy Ann Yates and spouse Keith all of North Wilkesboro; grandmother, Della Call of North Wilkesboro; nephews, Austin Shew and spouse Ashley, Michael Lane Bare all of Hays; nieces, Catherine Yates and Hope Yates both of North Wilkesboro; great nephew, Bentley Shew; aunts, Patricia, Joann, Janie, Gail, and Jeanette; and uncles, Jimmy and Jeff.

           Funeral service was February 10,  at Fishing Creek Arbor Baptist Church with Rev. David Wellborn and Rev. Ronnie Millsaps officiating. Burial  followed in the Church Cemetery.   Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Teodulo DeLeon, 80

Mr. Teodulo Meza DeLeon, age 80 of North Wilkesboro passed away Thursday February 6, 2020 at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice House in Winston Salem.

           Funeral Services were February 9,   at Reins Sturdivant Funeral Home Chapel with Father John Hanic officiating. Burial was at Scenic Memorial Gardens in Wilkesboro.  

           Mr. DeLeon was born February 17, 1939 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico to Gunercindo Meza and Severiana Meza DeLeon. He retired from Tyson Foods.

           In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Felipa Meza, Antonia Meza and Cecilia Meza.

           Mr. DeLeon is survived by his wife, Antolina DeLeon DeMeza of the home, four sons, Agustin, Natalio, Emeterio and Crispin Meza, six daughters, Ubalda, Catalina, Maria, Bertha, Carmen and Guadalupe Meza, twenty-seven grand-children, ten great grand-children, four sisters, Marciana, Marcela, Atanacia and Agapita Meza, two brothers, Crispin and Leopoldo Meza.

           Flowers will be accepted.

 Darcie  Call, 88

Mrs. Darcie Lee Minton Call, 88, of Wilkesboro, passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at Wilkes Medical Center.

           Darcie was born on May 14, 1931 in Wilkes County to Ransom Edgar Minton and Connie Lee Parker Minton.  

           Darcie is survived by her daughters, Brenda Call Hooks (Len) of Chesnee SC, Phyllis Call Johnson (Bryce), Thricia Call Walter (Steve), Wanda Call Smith (Rick), all of Wilkesboro; sons, Ransom Call (Shirley) of Wilkesboro, Nelson Call (Laurie) of North Wilkesboro; twelve grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.

           Funeral was February 9,  at Fishing Creek Arbor Baptist Church.  Burial was in the church cemetery with Rev. David Welborn  officiating.

           In addition to flowers, memorial donations may be given to Fishing and Creek Arbor Baptist Church Building Fund, 2446 Fishing Creek Arbor Rd, Wilkesboro, NC 28697.

           Adams Funeral Home of Wilkes has the honor of serving the Call Family.

 Randy Osborne, 34

Mr. Randy Paul Osborne, 34, of North Wilkesboro, passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.

           Randy was born on June 25, 1985 in Wilkes County to Brian Tracy Osborne and Cathy Marie Fitzwater Osborne.

           Randy is preceded in death by his grandparents, Lonnie and Rose Osborne, Samuel and Cordelia Fitzwater; aunts, Mary Moran, Donna Fitzwater and cousin, Jason Fitzwater.  

           Randy is survived by his parents Brian and Cathy Osborne.

           A private service will be held at a later date.  

           In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to The American Liver Foundation, 16 Hampton Village Plaza # 215, St. Louis, MO 63109

           Adams Funeral Home of Wilkes has the honor of serving the Osborne Family.

 Mamie  Osborne, 91

Mamie "Nell" Osborne, formerly of N. Wilkesboro, is heaven bound after spending 91 years on earth as a loving daughter, sister, mother of five and grandma to many.

           Nell was born in Wilkes County on June 30th, 1933, to Marion Frank Church and Daisy Agnus Milam Church during the Great Depression.

           The red head was also known for her wit and spunk. Never did one have to guess what Nell was thinking. She was funny, but also exceptionally bright. She was an avid reader and writer. She documented many of her life stories and travels through her books and poems. She always had a word search, a good book and her Bible close at hand.

           Her humor, kindness and selfishness will be remembered by all who came in contact with her during her 91 remarkable years.

           A celebration of Nell's life will be held Friday, February 7th at Miller Funeral Service from 1-2 p.m. Family and friends are encouraged to come gather in her memory.

           Special thanks to the team at Chatham Nursing and Rehabilitation.          Memorial contributions may be made, in honor of Nell, to Samaritan's Purse - a local charity that she supported during her life.

 Peggy Taylor,  74

Peggy Ann Prevette Taylor, age 74, of McGrady, passed away, Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at her home. She was born June 7, 1945 in Wilkes County to Dewey Gaither and Hazel Johnson Prevette. Peggy was a graduate of Wilkes Central High School, was a Teacher's Assistant; and a school bus driver for Mulberry Elementary School. Mrs. Taylor was preceded in death by her parents; and a daughter, Pamela Taylor West.

           Surviving are her husband, Wallace Taylor; daughter, Mandy Wyatt and spouse Ricky of McGrady; grandchildren, Eric Brown and spouse Chelsea of Purlear, Evan Handy and spouse Victoria of Wilkesboro, Lauren Mitchell and spouse Ethan of North Wilkesboro; brothers, "Junior" Dewey Prevette and spouse Linda of Wilkesboro, Kenneth Prevette and spouse Sarah of Lewisville; sister, Kathy Williams and spouse Dean of North Wilkesboro; several nieces and nephews.

           Funeral service was February 7,  at Miller Funeral Chapel with Rev. David Key officiating. Burial   followed in Taylor Cemetery in McGrady.   The family has requested no food. Memorials may be made to Mtn. Valley Hospice, 688 North Bridge Street, Elkin, NC 28621. Flowers will be accepted. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

           Pallbearers were Eric Brown, Evan Handy, Ricky Wyatt, Ethan Mitchell, Danny Gambill and Johnathan Billings.

 Lawrence  Pruitt,  86

Lawrence Allen Pruitt, age 86, of Traphill, passed away Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Regional. Mr. Pruitt was born May 7, 1933 in Wilkes County, he was a son of the late Archie and Jettie Shaver Pruitt. Lawrence served in the Army and fought in the Korean War.

           In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sons, Michael Allen Pruitt and Thomas Wayne Pruitt; and sister, Loreen Cockerham.

           Lawrence is survived by his wife of 63 years, Wanda June Pruitt of the home; son, David Mitchell Pruitt and lifemate Ann Sossaman of Traphill; daughter, Zendoline Kay Adams and husband Roger Adams of Traphill; brothers, Jarvie John Pruitt and wife Alice Pruitt, Gene Pruitt and wife Renee Pruitt all of Traphill; sister, Abby Pruitt Combs and husband Edsel Combs of Roaring River; grandchildren, Tara, Chad, Lance, Ayla and Leia; great grandchildren, Oaklen and Lily.

           Memorial service with military honors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard Post 1142 was February 8,   at Miller Funeral Chapel with Pastor Keith Wood officiating.

           In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Oak Level Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 2587 Austin Little Mountain Road, Roaring River, NC 28669. The family has requested no food. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

 Jera  Wagoner, 40

Jera Lee Parsons Wagoner, age 40 of North Wilkesboro passed away Monday, February 3, 2020.

           Private services will be held at a later date.

           Jera was born May 27, 1979 in Wilkes County.

           She is survived by her father; Jerry Parsons of North Wilkesboro, her mother;

Rita Looney Hatmaker of Elkin, her husband; Ritchie Wagoner of North

           Wilkesboro and one sister; Kristina Parsons of Hays.

           In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, c/oWindow World Cares, 118 Shaver Street, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.

 David Dearman, 82

Mr. David Dewitt Dearman, age 82 of North Wilkesboro passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, February 3, 2020.

           Funeral services were February 8,   at Baptist Home Baptist Church with Rev. David Jones and Rev. Mark O. Hollar officiating.        Entombment was in Mountlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum.

           Mr. Dearman was born April 28, 1937 in Wilkes County to Dewitt Talmadge and Rena Miller Dearman.  

           David married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn on December 18, 1955.  

           He was preceded in death by his parents.

            David is survived by his wife of 64 years; Carolyn Johnson Dearman of the home, three daughters; Kimberly Dearman-Wilcox and husband Shaun of Oak Island, NC, Tamera Dearman Newton and husband Steve of North Wilkesboro and Kandice Dearman-West and husband Chris of Matthews, three grandchildren that he adored; Cameron David Newton, Joseph Stephen Newton and Kassidy Caroline Newton, special niece; Teresa Dancy Casey and his special dog; Duncan.

           Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Baptist Home Baptist Church, 2367 Sparta Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659, Alzheimer's Association, 4600 Park Road, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209 or Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology  Lane, Suite 200, Mt. Airy, NC 27030.

 Wanda Montgomery,  87

Wanda Kay Harms Montgomery, age 87, of Mt. Airy, formerly of West Jefferson, passed away Monday, February 3, 2020 at Twelve Oaks Nursing Center.

           She was born July 18, 1932 in Wilkes County to Harrison Columbus and Minnie Leola Brown Miller.          Her DNA says she was a mixed of English, Wales, Germanic, European, Ireland, Scotland, and small percent of Native American.

           Mrs. Montgomery was a great great great grand-niece of Daniel Boone. She moved to Savannah, Georgia in her early years and married William Harms Sr., then in 1972, she married Walter A. Montgomery, who was in the military and they traveled with their family all over the world and come to retire in Ashe County.

           Mrs. Montgomery was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Keith M. Miller; and siblings, Thelma, Herman, Blanche, Beulah, Dorothy, Clyde. She will be missed by all.

           Surviving are her husband, Walter A. Montgomery; her children, William S. Harms, Jr. and spouse Linda of Ellabell, Georgia, Lilly A. Harms of Vidalia, Georgia, Todd Stewart of Gainesville, Georgia; one grandson; and one great granddaughter

           Funeral service was February 7,  at Union Baptist Church with Rev. Julius Blevins officiating. Burial followed in the Church Cemetery.  .                               Memorials may be made to Hospice of Ashe County, 392 NC Highway 16S, Jefferson, NC 28640. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Frances Greene, 87

Mrs. Frances Curlee Greene, age 87 of Wilkesboro passed away Monday, February 3, 2020 at Wilkes Senior Village.

           Private family Graveside serviceswere February 7,  at Barnes Family Cemetery in Churchland with Rev. Mike Hamby officiating.  

           Mrs. Greene was born September 16, 1932 in Union County to Abraham M. and Lois Witmore Curlee.  She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of North Wilkesboro. Mrs. Greene graduated from Catawba College in 1953.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker and loved art and music.  

           In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband; Edward Franklin Greene, a son; Richard Edward Greene and a daughter; Katherine Ann Greene.

           She is survived by one son; Stephen Brian Greene and wife; Vanya of Wilkesboro, four grandchildren; Matthew Greene of Sarasota, FL, Trevor Greene of North Wilkesboro, Trenton Greene and Lindsay Greene both of Wilkesboro and one great grandchild; Lillian Katherine Greene.

           In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Donor's Choice.

Ronald  Hamby,  62

Ronald "Ronnie" Darrell Hamby, age 62, of Deep Gap, passed away Saturday, February 1, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston Salem. He was born August 24, 1957 in Wilkes County to Sherman Garfield and Gladys Hicks Hamby.

            He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Ryan Hamby; and brother, Donald Hamby.

           Surviving are his wife, Claudine Billings Hamby; daughters, Felicia Griffin and spouse Rodney of Wilkesboro, Jessica Brown and spouse Robbie of Millers Creek, Melissa Kay Lewis of Caldwell County; sons, Brad Samuel Hamby of Caldwell County, Ronnie Andrew Hamby of Florida; brothers, Calvin Hamby and spouse Loretta of Purlear, Robert Hamby and spouse Norma of Burke County, Greg Hamby of Greensboro; sisters, Sharon Duncan and spouse Jake of Sawmills, Carolyn Hamby of Crumpler, Nancy Walters and spouse Donnie of North Wilkesboro; eight grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

           Graveside service was February 6,  at Mtn. View Cemetery in Deep Gap.   Flowers will be accepted. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

 Ronald Canter  71

Mr. Ronald Gray "Ron" Canter age 71 of Wilkesboro passed from this life to his eternal home February 1, 2020 surrounded in peace and love by his family.  

           Ron was born November 2, 1948 to Hubert Alton and Gozeal McNeil Canter. He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Conflict. Ron obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Appalachian State University.

           In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother James Alton Canter.

           Ron is survived by his wife of 50 years, Nancy Church Canter, of the home; two daughters - April Canter Greenwood and husband Charlie, and Alison Canter Moore and husband Chris; four grandchildren:  Hollie Gray Moore, Mitchell Joseph Moore, Charles McNeil "Mac" Greenwood, John Edwin "Win" Greenwood all of Winston-Salem; One brother Kenneth Canter and wife Carol of Wilkesboro; One sister Patty Broyhill of Taylorsville; Nieces and Nephews Jeff Canter, Richard Canter, Susan Canter Boyles, Steve Canter, Gary Broyhill, Janet Broyhill Sherrill, Sandra Broyhill Hawkins, and many special great-nieces and great-nephews.

           A private memorial prayer service will be held with wife, children and grandchildren.

           In lieu of a funeral, a "Celebration of Life" was held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to any of the following: First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro (firstbaptistNW.org), Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care- 688 Bridge Street Elkin, NC 28621 (mtnvalleyhospice.org), or any charity of your choice.

[three-drink-amy]

If After All These Years, You’d Like to Meet

masterlist - AO3

note: this next chapter was getting far too long so it was split into two chapters! Here’s the first half. The next half should be along soon! 

Chapter Eleven

Claire was standing talking to Geillis near the nurses’ station when they were interrupted by a shriek of glee. Turning to look, they saw Louise approaching them. “Ahh, it’s perfect!” she said without explanation.

“What is?” Geillis asked.

“The two people I wanted to talk to already in the same place,” Louise replied, pointing to the two of them.

“What’s up?” Claire asked, almost dreading whatever could be important enough to drag Louise to the hospital.

“Well you two are my best friends,” Louise began, laying it on a bit thick, “and this weekend I need one or both of you to join me so that you can help me seal the deal between me and Anthony from work.” Geillis and Claire both groaned. “Come on guys! I need one of you to come. Again, or both! His band is playing at this small pub.”

“So ye’re dragging us to hear his crappy band?” Geillis asked bluntly. 

“They’re not crappy!” Louise defended. She made a face and corrected herself. “They’re not awesome, but I have to go if I’m going to convince him to date me.” She clapped her hands together. “So who’s in?”

“It’s this weekend?” Claire asked. Louise nodded. Claire fought the smile wanting to cross her face. “I’m afraid I can’t. I’ll be out of town.”

Louise frowned and Geillis narrowed her eyes. “Out of town, huh?” Claire nodded. “Where will ye be?”

“I’m going to Scotland this weekend. Actually leaving Thursday night,” Claire informed them.

The other two looked at each other and then back at Claire. “This is the first I’m hearing of this,” Geillis commented. “What’s takin ye to my homeland?”

“I’m going with Jamie,” Claire tried to say offhandedly.

Her friends stared at her with matching skeptical expressions. “What now?” Louise asked.

“Why are ye and Jamie going to Scotland?” Geillis pressed.

Claire took a step back from them, feeling defensive. “Jamie asked me and I said I’d go. It’s just a visit to see his family.” Both of them raised their eyebrows and exchanged meaningful looks. “Who I already know!” Claire added quickly.

“Did we perhaps miss the announcement where you two finally got together?” Louise wondered aloud as she stared at Claire.

“We’re just friends!” Claire insisted. She hadn’t mentioned her all consuming feelings for Jamie to her friends. Somehow, she knew they’d be less than helpful. “Anyway, I have a surgery I need to get to. Shouldn’t you guys coordinate schedules so Geillis can get to this concert with you, Louise?” Claire smirked at Geillis as she walked away. She strolled down the hall, suddenly so much more thankful for her upcoming plans. No matter how confusing and potentially hard the upcoming weekend would be, Claire was still looking forward to it.

Miraculously, Claire had actually gotten off work early on Thursday. She was able to take her time getting to Jamie’s office before they took the train to Scotland. Claire knew that the Mackenzies didn’t own the whole building and only occupied a couple of floors, but she couldn’t help but be impressed by the building. The atrium seemed grand as she sat there staring. She was caught up in the architecture, something she’d gotten from Uncle Lamb, when she heard his voice.

“Sassenach!” Jamie greeted. Claire tried to ignore the way her heart fluttered at the sight of him.

She stood up and grabbed her bag. “Hi,” she replied lamely.

“Ready, then?” He asked, briefly touching her arm. She nodded and he led the way to the nearest tube station.

Once they were on the train that would get them all the way to Scotland, Claire began to relax. It was just a trip with a friend. They were going to see his family after all. It wasn’t like she’d be confronted with romantic moments she didn’t feel equipped to handle in her current state. They made small talk as they pulled away from the city. It wasn’t until a couple hours into the trip that Claire started to notice Jamie tensing.

Fighting her better instincts, Claire reached out and placed her hand on his arm. “Are you alright?” He laid his hand on hers and nodded. She didn’t really believe him. Claire stared at him until he sighed.

“It’s always a bit hard going back to Scotland,” Jamie admitted. He squeezed her hand in his.

“Because…?” Claire pushed.

He looked over at her with a sad look in his eyes. “I canna escape the ghosts that haunt me there. When I’m in London, my life is very different. It’s easier to compartmentalize it all. Not so much at Lallybroch.”

“You mean because of your parents? And your brother?” Jamie grimaced and Claire hurried to reassure him. “If you don’t want to talk about it, I get it. You don’t have to.”

“Perhaps talking about it with someone who understands could actually help,” he said, looking at her. She nodded for him to continue. “There was nothing we could do for Willie or Mam. They were both too sick. We’d done everything. But Da…” he paused, clearly still affected by his father’s death. “It was my fault he died.”

Claire squeezed his arm under her hand. “I’m sure that’s not true, Jamie.”

“No, it was,” he disagreed. “I was the reason he passed.”

“Was it an accident?” Claire asked, remembering her own parents’ passing.

“Aye, but not necessarily in the way ye think,” Jamie replied, looking away. She could tell he was years away, remembering how it happened. As he began to tell the story, he started stroking his thumb along Claire’s hand. “I got in an accident,” he started. “It was a bad one. I’d lost control of my car and crashed. They werena sure I’d make it. I was taken to the nearest hospital. I guess at some point, they’d called my dad. He went straight to the hospital. Apparently while they were fighting to save me, they lost my heartbeat.” Claire gasped softly beside him, even if she clearly knew he was fine. “My da had burst into the room as the monitor was reading that I’d died. They said he fell like a stone and didna get back up again.”

“Jamie,” Claire breathed, unsure of what else to say.

“I was kept in the hospital for quite a while because my injuries were significant,” he continued. “I missed his funeral. I didn’t even see his grave until a couple of months after the fact.” He looked down at his hand over hers, still running his thumb against her hand. “But it was my fault. If I hadna been in that accident, he could still be here.”

Claire swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Had you been drinking?”

Jamie looked over at her quickly. “No,” he insisted. “No, it was that road that leads out of the village toward the city,” Jamie recalled. “Ye probably dinna remember it, but there was a nasty curve in the road.”

“And a wall of rock on one side,” Claire remembered.

“Ye remember the road?” Jamie asked, seemingly amused.

Claire nodded with a sigh. “Can’t quite forget it.”

Jamie’s eyes widened as he stared at her. “That’s the same place where…” She nodded. “Christ,” he breathed.

“Someone was coming along the curve too fast and crashed into us,” Claire explained. “Was that what happened to you?”

Jamie shook his head. “Nah, I was the only one on the road, thank the lord. My car crashed into the wall.” He looked back over at her. “I’ve never driven that road since. I’ve always taken the long way to avoid it.”

“Can I ask you something? About your dad, I mean,” Claire asked. Jamie nodded for her to continue. “Was it a stroke?”

Jamie closed his eyes. “Aye.”

Claire blew out a breath. “Well then it wasn’t your fault!” Jamie opened his eyes and looked over at her. “It wouldn’t have just happened suddenly. A blockage would have had to have been building long before you ever wrecked your car. He was already losing blood to some part of his brain. It wasn’t your fault! And that’s my professional opinion.”

Jamie smiled at her. “Well that’s very kind of ye to say. Others have said it as well. And logically, I ken that it’s no’ my fault. But...I still feel responsible.”

Claire leaned her head on his shoulder. “I can understand that. I rather felt that way about Uncle Lamb. What was the point of spending all that time in medical school and all that time as a doctor if I couldn’t save the person who mattered most?” She moved her head to look at him again. “Logically, I know it wasn’t my fault. But I still sometimes feel a bit guilty.” Claire rubbed his arm. “I hope your ghosts will release you soon,” she said softly.

Jamie stared at her, an intense look in his eyes. “And yours.”

Claire smiled before hastily changing the subject. “So what are you actually excited to see in Scotland?”

Jamie laughed lightly. “Well it’s always good to see Jenny and Ian. And the bairns. It’s been too long since I’ve seen the bairns.”

“When was the last time you were here?”

Jamie sighed. “I havena been back since Hogmanay.”

“Been a bit, then.” Claire smiled as she looked at him. “What is the bairns’ favorite thing to do with their Uncle Jamie?” Jamie seemed to relax as he told her all about the trouble he helped his nieces and nephews get into during his visits. Claire relaxed as well, remembering all the wonderful times she’d had at Lallybroch as a child. It would no doubt be different going back, but she couldn’t deny that she was excited.

After a connecting train, they finally reached their destination. Ian was waiting for them in the parking lot, two small children next to him.

“Uncle Jamie!” they cried, running for him. Jamie dropped his bag and wrapped them both in his arms. Claire stood there, smiling at the sight. They clearly adored him.

“Claire, so good to see ye,” Ian said, walking up next to her.

“Ian!” She reached over and gave him a hug. “Thanks so much for allowing me to come this weekend.”

“Och, it was Jamie’s idea. We told him it was more than fine,” he assured her.

“I’m surprised you let these two stay up this late,” Jamie commented, holding his nephew and niece in his arms. Claire reached down and grabbed his bag for him.

“Well three and four passed out before we could leave. Five needed to be fed, so Jenny was taking care of that,” Ian remarked. “These two were too excited to sleep and insisted on coming wi’ me. I’ve no doubt they’ll pass out in the car on the way back.”

They walked toward the van Ian drove as a thought stopped Claire short. Ian had said “five” but the last time she’d seen him, they’d only had four kids. As Ian was buckling the children in, Claire pulled Jamie aside.

“They have five children?” Jamie nodded. “Pretty sure it was four the last time I saw Ian.”

“Oh right, well Jenny only had the fifth one recently,” Jamie explained. “Did I no tell ye she was pregnant?”

“Nope. You never mentioned that.”

“Hmm. Must have slipped my mind. Ian told me that weekend he’d come down to London when ye saw him again,” Jamie said with a shrug as he turned to get in the car.

“Wait, Jamie,” Claire called, grabbing his arm. “Did you come up here to meet the new baby?”

“Aye, she’s two weeks old but I couldna get away earlier.”

“If you’re here for some big family moment, why the hell did you bring me?” Claire asked, desperate for an answer. She felt like she was intruding.

“Because I thought it would be fun,” Jamie replied simply.

“That’s it?”

“Why does it matter why I came up here? I checked wi’ both of them and they said ye were welcome to come. I thought it would be nice to bring ye back here is all,” Jamie explained.

“I just don’t want to intrude.”

Jamie reached out and put his hands on her shoulders, ducking some to meet her eyeline. “You’re no’ intruding, Sassenach. We’re all happy for ye to be here. I promise ye,” Jamie said in earnest.

Claire took a deep breath and blew it out. “Well okay then. Let’s head on to Lallybroch.”

“That’s the spirit!” Jamie cheered, wrapping an arm around Claire’s shoulders as they walked back toward the van.

As they pulled up to Lallybroch and got out of the van, Claire stood in awe up at the house where she spent a significant portion of her childhood. She smiled as memories flooded her mind. Behind her, Ian mentioned getting Young Jamie and Maggie up to bed. Claire was still marveling when Jamie stopped next to her. She looked over at him with a large grin. “It hasn’t changed at all.”

Jamie nodded with a fond smile as he turned to go inside. She followed him, ready to see more of the house. They were barely inside before they were greeted by Jenny.

“Jamie!” she cheered quietly for the sake of the sleeping baby in her arms. “I’m so glad you’re here!” Jenny looked over at Claire. “I’m so glad both of you are here!” Jenny glanced back to Jamie and took a step toward him. “Here, why don’t you take your new niece?”

Jamie grinned and reached his arms out for the infant. “Hello there, Wee Janet. I’m yer Uncle Jamie,” he cooed to the baby. Claire couldn’t fight her smile as she watched him slowly walk away from them as he whispered to the baby in his arms. He switched to Gaelic and Claire couldn’t tell what he was saying any longer. She reminded herself that she shouldn’t be listening anyway. It was a private moment between uncle and niece

“Claire, I’m so glad you came up here!” Jenny said, refocusing. She reached out and hugged Claire tightly. Claire wrapped her arms around her old friend.

“I am too! I’m so sorry if I’m intruding. Jamie didn’t say anything about a new baby. I feel like a fool,” Claire apologized.

Jenny waved off her apology. “Please. She’s number five. This is practically a routine. The only important part of the weekend is happening right over there,” Jenny said, pointing over at Jamie and the baby. Claire looked back at Jenny with a confused expression. “Jamie makes it a point to talk to the wee bairns and let them know the important things of life. Tell them all that he knows, I suppose.”

“I’d say that’s impressive but if he can do that all in one weekend, I’m a bit worried,” Claire teased.

Jenny laughed, laying a hand on Claire’s arm. “Oh how I’ve missed making fun of Jamie wi’ ye. Of course, Ian and I still do, but it gets a bit old. We’ve needed new material.”

Claire laughed and shook her head at the image. “So he does this every time you have a new baby?” She looked over at Jamie sitting in the chair, the baby on his lap, still talking to her.

Jenny smiled as she nodded. “Oh aye. He’s really taken wi’ being an uncle. I can’t wait for the day he has bairns of his own.” Jenny looked over to Claire. “Do you want bairns?”

Claire gasped. “Are you asking me if I want to have your brother’s children?”

Jenny covered her mouth as she laughed. “Oh Christ, no! I could see how it sounded like that though. Oh forgive me. No, I just meant any of yer own.”

Claire raised her shoulders and crossed her arms tightly to her abdomen. “I don’t know. Yes, I suppose. I would like kids someday. I just don’t know when that day is. Work is very demanding right now. And I’m not very upset by that. I really enjoy my job.”

Jenny smiled at her. “I wasna trying to pressure you or anythin’. Just curious. I’m happy to hear ye’re so happy.”

“I am pretty happy,” Claire admitted. “Moving back to London was a really good choice for me.”

“I canna believe that ye moved back to London and just happened to run into Jamie,” Jenny marvelled. “That’s so great.”

Claire looked back at Jamie. “I often can’t believe it either.” She looked around the room before looking back at Jenny. “Everything looks exactly as I remember it,” she mused.

“Well don’t say that,” Jenny said disgustedly. “Some of the furniture and decorations were very late 80s and I worked quite hard to change that into something a bit nicer.”

Claire laughed. “What I meant was, even with a modern update, it still looks just as I remember it. Makes me feel happy just being here.”

Jenny smiled at Claire as they both appraised the room. Jamie walked back over to them. “Janet, yer bairn needs changing,” he informed her.

Jenny shrugged. “So change her.”

“I’m no’ her mother or father,” Jamie stated, holding out the baby.

“Ye’re the one trying to tell her all about life. Why don’t you continue that over a changing station?” Jenny offered.

“I really can’t. I dinna ken how to do so,” Jamie lied.

“This is my fifth child, Jamie. I’ve left you alone with at least two of them. Ye ken just fine how to change a dirty nappy.” She rolled her eyes and took the baby from him. “Men,” she muttered under her breath.

Claire laughed to herself as Jenny walked upstairs with the baby. “So many wonderful memories here,” Claire mused.

“Aye,” Jamie replied shortly.

Claire looked over and noticed Jamie seemed tense. “Is me being here making it worse?” She asked, thinking back to their conversation on the train.

Jamie turned to look back at her. “Nothing is ever made worse by being around ye, Sassenach,” he said with a reassuring smile. Claire stared at him, blown away by his statement. She could feel a flush to her face as she held eye contact with him. Ian walked in the room as she was about to reply.

“Well the two biggest ones are down,” he informed. “Of course, there’s no guarantee it’ll stay that way for long.”

Claire smiled at him. It was one thing to know Ian Murray was a father and another to see it in action. “I’m sorry if our late arrival messed up their schedules.”

Ian scoffed. “They kent Jamie was coming, they’d have been bouncing off the walls even if they didna come wi’ me.”

Claire looked over to see Jamie smile at Ian’s comment. “So is the layout and everything still the same?” she asked, gesturing to the rest of the house.

“If ye’re looking for the bathroom, it’s still off the kitchen, yes,” Ian finished for her.

“Thank you,” she replied. “If you’ll excuse me.”

Jamie and Ian watched her leave the room and stood there in silence for a moment. Once Claire seemed out of earshot, Ian spoke. “So is this a move?”

Jamie looked back at Ian, confusion apparent on his face. “What now?”

“Ye’re bringing Claire back to Scotland where ye first met and fell in love as kids. I mean, this seems like a move,” Ian pointed out.

“I wasna in love with Claire when we were kids!” Jamie insisted.

“But ye’re in love wi’ her now?” Ian asked, a grin wide on his face.

“I-uh...damn, it that did sound like that,” Jamie sputtered.

“Mmm, it did in fact,” Ian agreed. “So do ye recall that promise ye made me in February. I ken it was five long months ago, but it would do ye well to keep it, brother.”

“Ian, just let me take my own time,” Jamie asked of him.

Ian rolled his eyes. “What’s the hold up? I thought surely if ye were bringing her here, it meant ye were together. But then ye nearly jumped down Jenny’s throat when she asked ye.”

“Look, it’s no’ a move. And she doesna know. So dinna say anything,” Jamie pleaded.

“She’s no’ blind. I bet she knows something,” Ian said with a raised eyebrow. “I stand by my comments five months ago. Ye’d be good together. That’s even truer now.”

Jamie rolled his eyes. “Aye, I ken that.” The sound of a door opening down the hall alerted Jamie. “She’s coming back. Please drop it.”

Ian raised his hands in surrender. “Aye. Consider it dropped.”

~~~

The next morning, Claire was sitting, eating breakfast at the kitchen table when Jamie walked in. “Morning, everyone,” he said with a smile. He sat down next to Claire. “Morning, Sassenach.”

She smiled back around her bite of toast. “Morning.” She gestured over to Young Jamie. “Young Jamie here was just telling me about all the fun he has with you.”

“Ah, were ye?” He asked, looking over at his nephew with a grin. “And what tales were ye telling Claire? Surely none we said we wouldna speak of in front of yer mam,” he reminded with a wink.

“What trouble are ye gettin’ my son into, Jamie?” Jenny asked as she put a plate in front of Kitty.

“None he wouldna be getting into himself, I assure ye,” Jamie insisted. Claire chuckled beside him.

“While ye’re here brother, I have some things I’d like ye to help me with, if ye didna mind,” Jenny told Jamie.

Jamie looked to Claire and then back to Jenny. “This wasna really supposed to be a trip where I do chores the whole time. I wouldna have brought Claire if that was going to be the case.”

Jenny stared down her brother. “Look, this house is partially yours still. At least legally. There are simply some things that are easier for ye to fix than Ian. I would do them myself, but I had a bairn two weeks ago. It would really help us out if ye could do just a couple of things for us,” Jenny guilted. “I dinna want to put off yer plans to show Claire the boring corner of our world here, but we do need yer help.”

Jamie opened his mouth to reply but Claire jumped in. “Jamie, you can do whatever you need to do around here. I can help. The trip was to see your family, not necessarily Scotland. Please, give me something to do too.”

“Dinna give her anything to do,” Jamie demanded. “She’s a guest. Just tell me what ye need of me. I’ll do them quickly.”

Jenny nodded to both of them. “The fence on the east side of the land needs fixing. That’s the most pressing issue.”

“Do ye have the equipment to fix it or will I need to go to Broch Morda?”

“No, we should have all ye need,” Jenny assured him.

“Alright.” Jamie shoved the rest of his toast in his mouth and stood up from the table. “I’ll go as quickly as I can so we can go about our plans,” Jamie said to Claire. He started to walk out of the kitchen.

“There’s no rush from me!” Claire called after him. She looked over at Jenny.

Jenny just rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Men,” she muttered.

It had been a couple of hours and Jamie hadn’t come back from fixing the fence. Claire had been trying to entertain the children as Jenny was taking care of the newborn. Once Jenny wandered back in, Claire decided to go find Jamie. She was walking in the direction of the broken fence with a glass of cold water when she spotted him. He’d abandoned his shirt and was hammering a fence post back into place.

Claire stood, frozen in place, staring at the sight a few yards away. He hadn’t noticed her as he was still working but she couldn’t take her eyes off him. Sweat was dripping down his chest as he worked to fix the fence. The sight of him was doing things to her. She readjusted her stance, crossing her legs to ignore the evidence of how turned on she was. This was not what she was imagining she’d find when she decided to go check on Jamie. Before she could stop it, her mind pictured him pushing her back and taking her against the fence he was trying to fix.

Claire shook her head, trying to ignore the image there. She was tempted to pour the glass of water over her head to shake her out of it. Jamie looked up as she started to walk to closer to him. “How’s it going?” she asked. Pointing to his shirt she said, “I think you lost something.”

Jamie grinned. “I got hot.”

Claire ignored the part of her brain wanting to remind him that he always had been. “You’re in Scotland.”

“It’s July,” he argued. “It’s warm. And ye are just standing there. I’ve been working to get this bloody fence back in shape.”

“I see,” she commented. “How’s it coming?”

Jamie looked from her over to the fence. He nodded approvingly. “I think it’s about finished.” Claire reached out and handed him the water. Taking it, he downed it in a few gulps. “I’m sorry that today’s been boring so far.”

Claire leaned back against the fence. “It hasn’t been so bad. Your nieces and nephews were entertaining me.”

Jamie smiled. “Well still. It’s not what I had planned.”

Claire shrugged. “Don’t worry. We still have plenty of time to get wild,” she joked. Jamie stared at her with a judging expression. Claire grimaced. “I really wish I hadn’t said that.”

“Yeah, that was bad,” Jamie agreed with a laugh.

“It was like I got possessed by Geillis for a second,” Claire said as she shook disgustedly.

“Oh Christ, we canna let that happen.” They both laughed. “I would much rather prefer Claire be here than Geillis,” Jamie said softly, intensifying the moment.

Suddenly Claire felt trapped between his body and the fence. She looked up at him and he was staring back at her. Her eyes dropped to his mouth, wondering what it would be like when he finally kissed her. Shaking herself out of the intensity of the moment, Claire grabbed his shirt and threw it at him. In his surprise, she stepped away from between him and the fence. “Well if you’re finished, I’m sure Jenny will have another task for you,” Claire teased. She grabbed the glass back from Jamie and turned back toward the house. “I’ll see you back at the house.”

Jamie stared at her, but she was unable to name the feeling on his face. Could it be disappointment? He simply nodded and bent down to grab the tools he’d been using. The whole way back to the house, Claire wondered what that moment could have become if she hadn’t freaked out.

Claire was helping Jenny get food ready for lunch. Jamie had come back and showered before he started playing with his nieces and nephews. She could see him sitting on the floor with them as Maggie was animatedly telling him a long story. Jamie seemed engrossed in whatever tale she was weaving. Perhaps she’d picked up the family trait for captivating storytelling.

As she stared into the other room, she realized Jenny had spoken to her. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Oh, I just said they love their Uncle Jamie,” Jenny repeated, as she too watched her children play with Jamie. “He hasna been here in a while and they could hardly contain their excitement when we told them he was coming.”

Claire smiled. “That’s sweet.”

“I expected he’d come home for his birthday but for whatever reason he didna do so,” Jenny commented. “When we video chatted with him, he didna even mention any special plans. Did you all do something big for him?”

Claire looked over at Jenny. “Oh my God,” she whispered to herself. “It was May 1st.”

“Aye, I mean I ken it was a long time ago now, but I was just surprised he didna come celebrate wi’ his family as he usually does,” Jenny remarked. “Did ye not do something, then?”

“I completely forgot about it,” Claire admitted. She felt suddenly quite guilty. His birthday had fallen right in the window when she’d avoided the group. “To be honest, I wasn’t really speaking to him on his birthday.”

Jenny’s eyebrows raised as she looked over at Claire. “What?”

Claire shook her head. “It was stupid. We all were a bit stupid. They came on a bit too strong and I reacted badly.”

“They?”

“Our whole group of friends,” she clarified. “They didn’t like my boyfriend and had an intervention to convince me to break up with him.”

���Oh,” Jenny replied. “I didna realize ye had a boyfriend.”

“I don’t anymore,” Claire said with a small smile. “They were right. He was quite wrong for me. But I didn’t need an intervention to prove it to me. And so they just came on a bit strong.”

“Wait,” Jenny said, putting her knife down and turning to Claire. “Yer whole friend group, my brother included, staged an intervention for ye to make ye break up wi’ yer boyfriend?” Claire nodded. Jenny looked out toward the other room. “James Fraser!” she scolded. Claire cringed, but laughed at Jamie’s reaction to his sister’s tone.

“What did I do?”

“Ye meddled in Claire’s relationship and made her break up wi’ her boyfriend?” Jenny demanded. Jamie looked over at Claire, shocked. She bit her lip and looked back down at the sandwich she was making.

“What are ye telling my sister, Sassenach?”

“I just was telling a story,” Claire said evasively, not looking him in the eye. She turned to look at Jenny. “To be fair, Jamie didn’t really say much. It was everyone else who piled on too much.”

“Was he there?” Jenny asked. Claire nodded. Jenny’s gaze turned back to Jamie. “Then he was complicit.”

Claire couldn’t help but laugh. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Wow,” Jamie said from the other room. “Ye think ye trust people.”

“I’m sure that’s what Claire thought too,” Jenny retorted.

“Mam, when’s lunch? I’m starving!” Young Jamie interrupted.

“Soon, mo chride,” Jenny said to her child.

Jamie stared at Claire and shook his head as he narrowed his eyes at her. Claire just smirked and turned back to her lunch preparations.

After lunch, Jamie had taken Claire to Broch Morda, showing her around the place. She’d been there before, but like everything else in Scotland, it had been nearly 20 years. It was a relaxing day, just wandering around with Jamie. As they drove back to Lallybroch, she noted that he took the long way back, avoiding the road where he’d been in his accident. When she looked over at him, he seemed content enough. She wondered how much it all still haunted him. Claire could remember bits and pieces from her parents’ accident. It had all happened so fast. A psychologist she met in college told her that her brain had likely shut down the memories from the accident to spare her. She was fine not remembering it all.

They’d had a lovely dinner with Jenny, Ian, and their children. So many memories had been rehashed while they sat at the table. The children were likely bored by all the stories told by the adults through tears of laughter. “And that is precisely why the Murray children will never have a goat,” Jenny declared with a shake of her head at the end of her story.

Ian shrugged. “I thought it was cool.”

“It ate half of yer clothes and then butted me in the chest,” Jamie reminded him. “The goat was terrible.”

Claire wiped away a tear running down her face. “Jamie layed there for so long after that goat hit him. I honestly thought you were dead for a second.”

“I thought I was too for a second,” Jamie admitted with a grin.

“These Murrays are learning from their father’s mistakes,” Jenny said as she stood up to grab plates. Claire jumped up to help her clear the table. “Ye dinna need to help me, Claire,” Jenny said, waving her off. Claire shook her head and continued into the kitchen.

After the table was cleared, Ian and Jenny herded the children upstairs for a bath. Jamie was still sitting at the table when Claire walked back into the dining room. She held out a wrapped box for him. He looked up at her, his curiosity piqued. “What’s this?” he asked.

“It’s the best I could do on both short notice and incredibly long notice,” Claire replied, sitting down next to him. He started to unwrap it as a confused expression covered his face. “I missed your birthday,” Claire admitted. “I didn’t realize it until I was talking to Jenny earlier. I found this in Broch Morda earlier.”

Jamie sighed, pausing in opening the gift. “Ye didna have to get me anything. My birthday is long past.”

“I know. Two months and you never even mentioned it,” Claire said, feeling guilty. “It fell when I had been avoiding you all and I’m sorry.”

“Sassenach, it’s really no’ big deal. It’s just a birthday. I’ll have another next year,” Jamie said with a grin.

“Well I felt bad,” Claire told him. “So I wanted to celebrate, even if it’s two months late. Although, I do believe I broke up with Frank on your birthday.”

Jamie laughed. “Well that’s present enough. We didna need this,” he joked, gesturing to the box.

Claire shook her head as she laughed. She pushed the box closer to him, urging him to continue opening it. Jamie picked it up and pulled off the rest of the wrapping. Opening the box, he found the glasses she’d purchased from him in the village. He pulled out one of the whisky tumblers with thistles etched on the sides. Turning it around, he ran his finger along the sides of it as he stared at the glass in his hand. “Sassenach,” he breathed. “These are beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like them,” Claire said softly. Jamie looked over at her, moving to put his arm around her and bring her in for a hug.

“Thank ye,” he said in earnest.

There was a heavy silence between them. Claire sat back. “Well too be honest, the ones you have are really nice and I’m always a bit afraid I’ll get too sloppy and break one.”

Jamie laughed as he stood up from the table. “I’d say John is more at risk for that than you,” he countered. “How would ye feel about a drink?”

“Are we breaking in the glasses?” Claire asked.

“Nah, I thought we could go to a pub. Ye’ve never gotten to experience the nightlife here.”

“Does it get crazy?”

“Not in the slightest,” Jamie laughed. “But there’s a good pub in the village. Feel up to it?” Claire nodded, jumping up from her chair.

It was a small pub, fairly crowded for such a small village. Jamie and Claire had found a small table and were tucked into a corner. Claire sat there, appraising the quaint place. “Seems almost odd to not be here with a huge group of people.”

Jamie chuckled. “Are ye saying ye miss them?”

“Not really,” Claire replied with a smirk. “I love all our friends, but this is nice too.”

“Aye. ‘Tis,” Jamie agreed, raising his glass. “Slàinte.” Claire mimicked him.

“This is damn good whisky,” Claire remarked. Jamie snickered. “What’s funny?”

“It’s Mackenzie,” Jamie informed her.

Claire looked from her glass to Jamie and back again. “Have I never had Mackenzie before? I could have sworn I had. What do you have at your flat?”

“Ye might have. That’s an older year. But no, I dinna have Mackenzie at my home. It’s a bit too much like taking work home wi’ me,” Jamie explained.

“Hmm,” Claire said before taking another sip. “Well I suppose I’m glad to know you work for a company that makes good stuff.”

Jamie laughed. “Do ye approve now?”

Claire nodded with a grin. “I think I do.” She felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. “Hold on,” she said. “Hello?”

“Claire!”

“John, hi,” Claire replied. “Why are you calling me?”

“I knocked on your door a bunch of times and you never answered so I’m guessing you’re not home,” he explained.

Claire chuckled. “I’m not. What do you need?”

“Your spare key. Where do you keep it?”

“Why do you need mine?”

“Jamie re-hid his and I don’t know where it is. I need a place to stay so I thought I’d try yours,” John answered.

Claire looked up at Jamie. “You hid your key from John?”

“I told him if he used it he had to be discreet about it so everyone wouldna ken where it was. But he was getting sloppy so I hid it in a different place to teach him a lesson,” Jamie said with a righteous nod of his head.

“Wait, are you with Jamie?” John asked in her ear.

“Yeah,” she said quickly.

“Well tell me where you are, I’ll take a Lyft to you,” John insisted.

“I’m afraid that would be a rather expensive Lyft,” Claire remarked. “We’re in Scotland.”

“What?” John asked. “You’re in Scotland?”

“Yes.”

“Is the whole group there?”

“No, it’s just me and Jamie,” Claire responded, taking a drink from her whisky. She had purposefully not told John their weekend plans. He was guaranteed to read into it.

“So...it’s just you and Jamie...away for a weekend in Scotland?” John asked, pointedly drawing out his question.

“Yep. Just visiting Jamie’s sister and her family,” Claire said nonchalantly. She was starting to worry Jamie would get suspicious from hearing her end of the conversation. It was time to end the call.

“Well I have about a million and one questions then,” John said with a laugh. “First, how -”

“Oh no, John, I’m losing you,” Claire lied. “You know what, I’ll text you where my key is. Talk to you next week!”

“No, Claire! Don’t hang up!” John demanded.

“I can’t hear you, sorry! Bye!” Claire quickly hung up the phone. She sent a quick text to John telling him where her spare key was and an express order to not vomit on anything in her home. “So,” she said, looking back up at Jamie. “Where were we?”

“So John’s turning to his mother then?” Jamie asked with a grin.

Claire rolled her eyes. “I swear if he vomits on anything in my home, I don’t know which of you I’ll blame more.”

Jamie looked appalled. “How could you blame me?”

“You’re the one who took your key away!” Claire reminded him. “He’s in unfamiliar territory now.”

Jamie shook his head and laughed. “Hopefully the lad has more sense than to show up that far gone. If it makes ye feel any better, he’s never gotten sick at my home.”

“That may help. Time will only tell,” Claire replied, still hoping John wouldn’t be too sloppy.

“Well let’s distract ye from it,” Jamie offered. “How about another round?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you the other part of your birthday present,” Claire remembered. “I’ll be your driver for the evening.” Jamie looked confused. “We’re not in London. I tend to doubt the village has many cabs or lyfts or ubers. So I’ll be the driver. You can imbibe to your heart’s content and I’ll make sure you get home safely,” she assured him with a smile.

“Ye dinna need to do that,” he replied. “It’s not as though I’m planning to get trashed.”

“Well I’d have done it for you on your birthday,” Claire maintained. “So I’m offering it now. Feel free to drink as little or much as you want. You have a safe ride home.”

Jamie shook his head at her with a smile. “You’re too much, Sassenach.”

Claire smirked and lifted her nearly empty drink. “I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

“Aye, ye should,” Jamie said, staring at her.

Jamie had allowed himself a few more drinks before they decided to leave the pub and head back to Lallybroch. He trusted Claire to get him back home. Sitting in the passenger seat of Ian’s car, he looked over to see Claire adjusting the driver’s seat. She had a look of determination on her face. He’d seen a similar look from her before, but he couldn’t imagine what was causing her to look like that now. It didn’t make sense to him until the moment she took a left when she should have made a right. “Claire, ye needed to make the right,” he reminded her.

“No, this is the way we’re going,” she said stonily.

Panic started coursing through him. He knew the way she was going. Of course, it was the faster way back to Lallybroch, but he couldn’t let her take it. “Claire, please turn around.”

“No. Jamie, you’re going to be fine. I won’t let anything happen to you,” she maintained, not taking her eyes off the road.

“Claire, ye ken why we canna go this way. The road…”

“The road is not what killed my parents. And it’s not what killed your father. And what happened with you was an accident,” she said, still not looking at him. He was rather grateful that she chose to keep her eyes focused on her driving. “Your ghosts have haunted you for too long, Jamie. It’s time you conquered them.”

Jamie took a deep breath. He felt panicked. In London, it was easy to forget everything that had gone wrong that fateful night he’d lost control of the car. But here in Scotland as they barrelled down the road where it had all happened, he felt terrified at the prospect of facing it again.

“What made you lose control?” Claire asked. “I’ve driven places with you. You’re a good driver. So what was it? You said you weren’t drinking.”

“I wasna,” he insisted. “I canna remember what happened.”

“It’s just blocked. I’m sure you remember,” Claire prodded.

Jamie looked out the window at the scenery speeding by in the dark. A movement in the trees sparked a memory for him. “There was a deer,” he said simply.

“Did you swerve to miss it?”

“No. It was just standing there in the road,” he recalled. It was all foggy, but it was starting to get marginally clearer in his mind. “I slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting it.”

“Then what happened?” Claire pushed.

Jamie racked his brain, trying to remember what happened next. The only thing that stood out was the sickening sound of his car crunching against the rocks. It was the last sound he’d processed for days. Sometimes the sound still popped up in his nightmares.

“Jamie, what happened?” she asked. They were getting close to the curve in the road.

“The road was wet,” he said suddenly. It all came back to him. He’d slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting the animal but his car hydroplaned and he crashed into the wall. Jamie looked over at Claire and told her what had happened.

The look of determination was still on her face, though paired now with a look of satisfaction. “Like I said, it wasn’t your fault. And the accident that nearly took your life as well was purely circumstantial. If it hadn’t been wet, perhaps you’d have just gone home normally. But you couldn’t control the fact that it had rained. It’s Scotland, for Christ’s sake. It rains constantly.” She slowed down immensely as they went through the curve. Claire was silent as she navigated the car through the dangerous stretch of road that had cost the both of them so much. Neither of them spoke again until they pulled up at Lallybroch a few minutes later.

“Why did you do this?” Jamie asked, feeling much more sober than he had when they left the pub.

Claire put the car in park and turned to look at him. “Because you’re a good man, Jamie. You don’t deserve to be haunted.” She reached out and took his hand in hers. “Especially by something that wasn’t your fault.” Squeezing his hand, she continued. “I know it’s been a while, but I did know your father. He wouldn’t want you to blame yourself. He wouldn’t want you to isolate yourself in England because of his death. I’m sure this is nothing that Jenny hasn’t told you, but it bears repeating.” Claire grabbed both his hands in hers. “You have a great family here who loves you so much. Maybe conquering that blasted road will help ease your pain and help make it easier to come home again. And you deserve that.”

Claire opened the driver door and stepped out of the car. Jamie quickly jumped out of the car and ran around to the other side of it. She was walking toward the house when Jamie caught her hand. He pulled her to him, her body turning to align with his. His arms wrapped tightly around her, holding her close. Slowly, her arms came up to hug him back. He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t stop himself; Jamie planted a kiss in her hair. “Thank you,” he whispered.

She squeezed her arms around his torso before releasing him. Claire reached up and touched her hand to his cheek. “Don’t mention it. Hopefully we both left our ghosts there.” She smiled sadly and walked off toward the door.

Jamie couldn’t help but stand there staring at her. With every day his feelings grew. It hadn’t been his intention to bring Claire to Scotland as a way to woo her, but it was sure having that effect on him. More and more he was realizing that he didn’t know what his life would be without Claire Beauchamp.

Next chapter

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