Note: I don't own any of the characters or the rights and I pay great respect to those who do. Thank you for creating such a great tale and such fascinating characters Diana Gabaldon.

Destiny Be Damned

This began as a one shot I had from a dream of Angus saving Claire then quickly altered into an alternate version of Book 1 / Season 1 of Outlander. Some events are as they happened and others have been altered to allow for the ideas and the ending to take shape. Not wanting to simply recreate the whole story I left out parts here and there that I knew you as readers would already know. I hope it isn't too disjointed for you and that you enjoy the story as much as I did. Please as always, review my work so that I may improve. Thank you.

Note: The timelines between the book Outlander and Season 1 of Outlander vary greatly so a little creative licence had to be used.

According to Diana Gabaldon's timeline from her books and some approximations:

1773:

May 2nd Claire arrives in 1773 Scotland.

Late June: Jamie and Claire are married.

Early July: Jamie and Claire return to Leoch with the rest of the rent party.

October: Sandringham arrives. Witch Trials of Claire and Gellis. Return to Lallybroch.

November: Lallybroch harvest.

1774:

Jan / Feb (Early winter): Jamie captured and sent to Wentworth.

Chapter 1: July 1773

Jamie and I had barely been married four weeks when we returned to Castle Leoch. Mrs Fitz and the other residents of Leoch had welcomed us back with open arms and well wishes but I knew Jamie's mind was still troubled by Cullum's refusal to bless the marriage. I never knew what had happened when Jamie had been summoned to the Laird's chambers shortly after our return, only that Jamie had been on edge ever since. I didn't press the matter, hoping he would tell me in time. Over the next five days it had been like a never ending celebration within the castle. Alec had given Jamie time off to 'settle in his new bride' and Mrs Fitz made a point of supplying us with food and whisky on a regular basis so that we need never leave our private chambers. After a long bathe and a good night sleep we had left the dust and the trials of the road behind us and I found myself rejoicing in my new found marriage.

"Claire." Jamie began hesitantly one evening as we lay in bed, curled up in each other's arms. Even after six weeks together he still shied at speaking his mind, fearing I might think him daft or feeble. It was one of his endearing qualities.

"What is it?" I asked him, eager to know what was on his mind.

I felt him shake his head behind me as he twirled his fingers in my hair. "Tis nothing."

"It's ok Jamie, whatever it is."
"I was just wondering is all." He continued slowly, "That is….. are ye happy Claire?"

"Am I happy?" I asked him, wondering what was going on in the thick headed mind of his.
"Aye." I felt his fingers almost frozen in anticipation except for a slight tremble as he waited to hear my answer. "I ken that you were forced to marry me, but I was wondering hoping… do I make ye happy Claire?"
"Oh Jamie." I turned around to face him, placing a hand on his cheek as I looked into his bright blue eyes, hastily trying to avoid my gaze from embarrassment. "You make me very happy indeed Jamie Fraser." I kissed him, "I never thought it possible, given how we met and all, but I couldn't imagine being anywhere else."

"You don't regret marrying me then? I ken Cullum was keeping you from joining your family and Dougal didn't give you much choice in the matter." His eyes looked up to meet mine.

"I won't deny that I wasn't happy about the idea. Marrying a man I barely knew. But I think you know as well as I do, that there was a… a bond between us from the moment we met."
"Aye, there was." Jamie agreed, "I wanted you from the first moment I saw you. Looking so lost and afraid but still standing your ground. I thought to myself how full of spirit you were and how I wanted to just take you in my arms and tell you everything was going to be all right."
"You never told me."
"How could I? You were in mourning, and we barely knew each other. It was not my place to be so forward." He reminded me, "Did you not feel the same?"

"Hmm." I blushed, "You were so dear to me. You and Mrs Fitz. I never expected to but yes. I did. I found myself looking for you in every room I went into. My skin tingled when you were near, or when I could feel you watching me."
"So you noticed that then, I thought I hid it well but I couldn't take my eyes off of you. I would make up excuses with Alec in the stables so that I could steal a glimpse here and there."
"Is that why you went on the rent party? I thought it strange Dougal would invite you, given how they hid you so carefully at the castle, to then drag you all over the countryside for anyone to see."

"Aye. I couldna bear the thought of not being near you for weeks on end, of thinking of you out there on the road, cold, alone and in danger. I told Dougal he had to take me with him and he, obviously having plans of his own, had agreed." Jamie resumed playing with my hair and the back of my head after turning me back around to face away from him.

"Well I'm glad he did. Otherwise I might have found myself married to Rupert." I cringed at the thought, he was not known for his cleanliness or his charm but he did have a kind heart.

"Or Angus." Jamie teased me, "Now there's a match I'd like to see. Perhaps he could teach you some obedience." He added as I elbowed him in the ribs.

"Don't count on it." The puff of air escaping his lips as he gasped made me smile as his large arms warmed me as they wrapped around my own.

"Dinna Fash Sassenach. I love you just the way you are. Spirit and all."

"Well I'm glad." I entwined my arms in his as we lay there together, "Cause I'm not going anywhere." I promised him. I felt him relax as he settled in behind me. His mind now clear of doubt.

The rent party had been such an arduous affair that everything that had happened seemed to blend into each other as I tried to recall our time away from the Castle. So much had happened in such a short time, meeting the tenants, working wool, Captain Randall and the beating I had endured afterwards. My own life had also changed so dramatically, when I had left Leoch I was still a 'widow' trying desperately to get back to the stones, I had no interest in making this life my own. Now, I looked at my reflection in the mirror as I brushed my hair, now I was Mrs Claire Fraser, wife of a man with a price on his head, trapped at Castle Leoch with my husband and still held under suspicion as an English Spy by the Mackenzie and happier than I had been in years. Stretching out my hands, I twisted the newly minted ring on my finger and smiled. "Mrs James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser." I said out loud. Jamie was still sleeping on the bed behind me, his lips curled up in a smile as he visited far off lands. I tried to recall just when we had been married. In all the confusion the days had merged but it felt important to know the date, like I had known the date of my first marriage, so we could celebrate our anniversaries and record our own history.

"What's on your mind mo nighean donn?" He startled me as he reached over me and gripped me in his embrace.

"When were we married?" I asked. "The date I mean?" I had been so drunk at the time I could hardly recall.

"Oh Aye well…" Jamie did some math in his head and then "I believe it was the 8th of June Sassenach. Why?" He asked noting the wrinkles on my forehead and tracing them with his finger.

"I couldn't recall. It's nothing, silly really. I just wanted to know when our anniversary was." I let out a small half grunt half laugh and he seemed to relax a little as he played with my hair and traced his fingers across my collarbone.

"Mrs James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser." Jamie repeated softly as he smiled half winking at my reflection in the mirror.

"You heard that? I thought you were asleep?" I blushed.
"I was, but then a beautiful angel woke me from my slumber and I was heralded by her call." He nodded, bowing as he took my hand and kissed it. "Milady."

"I can't believe it's already been four weeks." I said trying to do the math in my own head,

"Aye." Jamie agreed, "It feels like only yesterday I stood in that church and pledged ye my oath." He said as he kissed me quickly again his hand lingering on my chin before pouring a small glass of ale for the two of us. "To my beautiful wife." He toasted. "May she always be warm and fed and may she always be happy and loved."
"And to my darling husband." I returned the toast, "May all his dreams come true."
"They already have Sassenach." He said, emptying the cup in one sip and pulling me close. He took my head and tilted it up until my lips met his, then lifting me effortlessly off of the ground he carried me back towards the bed and lay me down gently on the sheets.

"Isn't Alec expecting you in the stables today?" I asked him as he kissed my lips and my neck.

"Aye but he will have to wait. My wife needs me." He stopped and smiled at me,

"Oh she does, does she." I questioned him, pretending to struggle.
"Aye and she can be a down right vixen when she isna satisfied, so I must see to my husbandly duties first. The horses can wait."

"A vixen hey?" I pulled him closer and bit into his neck, leaving a small mark just above the collarbone. Jamie gasped at first, then smiled and bit me back, just above my breast. I found myself smiling at a stray thought that filled my mind. Mrs Graham had been right, my husband was not likely to stray far from my bed, but more to the point I wondered if he may ever leave my bed at all.