Chapter 8: Relationships and Results

Notes: I had horrible writer's block with this chapter, I have a vague plan for how I want the rest of this story to play out it's just writing the actual scenes that are hard and always get nervous writing Claire and Jamie scenes incase I don't get them right.


Claire POV

The first few days of Chris' departure was a bit disconcerting, to be here more or less alone apart from Harry but I couldn't blame him for making a life for himself. Since Frank died Chris had devoted so much of himself into keeping me and Harry safe it was time for him to find out what will make him happy now. Though I must admit only being alone here apart from Harry was a bit of a exaggeration since nearly every spare minute Jamie had was spent with me, the last few months of my being here meeting together for lunch had become an almost daily event and, both him and Harry had really bonded over their shared love of animals especially horses.

This particular morning I was working in the surgery like I usually do, I was by myself today because Harry was having a school day with Hamish and their tutor so I was glad for company when Jamie came around noon as he usually did to walk me to the great hall to eat.

"So Sassenach, ye ready to get something to eat?" he asked

"Of course, I'm starving" I answered eagerly, Jamie then held out his arm to me which I took gladly.

We ate a lovely meal together while I gave a brief overview of my day "It's been pretty quiet today, a few cuts and scrapes"

Jamie snickered at that "You sound a little disappointed, Sassenach"

"No it's fine but the first few months I was here had been so busy it's odd to not have much to do now"

"Aye, well I have the day off today so how about we check back at the surgery and if no one is there, we can spend the rest of the day out."

"That's sounds wonderful, Jamie" I answered happy with the plan to spend the day together and the idea of some fresh air.


Thankfully there wasn't anyone waiting for me at the surgery so Jamie and I decided to go horse riding it was near winter so there was a definite chill in the air but Jamie made sure I was well wrapped up and he was apparently used to cold weather from his living rough so we were both pretty comfortable out with the horses.

We just rode for a bit enjoying the scenery until Jamie spoke up "Well how do ye like it here, at leoch I mean?"

"I like it fine, it's been a while since I had a proper place to lay my head down at night" I answered wistfully

"I ken how that feels, lass"

I gave a quick 'hmm' at that and turned to him properly and said "But I must admit that above everything else, I'm certainly thankful I got to meet you"

He looked back at me at this statement and answered softly with "Not as thankful as I am, Sassenach"

I felt myself blush at that but then tried to cover it up by turning my face away and saying "Well it's getting cold we should head back...Race you back"

Jamie snickered at this suggestion and answered "All right" and lined up his horse with mine.

Jamie then started to count "one...two...,"

I started off before he could finish and yelled back "See you back at the castle"

Jamie took off right after me yelling and laughing in between words "Ye..little...cheat"

Despite my cheating head start with Jamie's extra knowledge of horses he still won our childish race back to the stables luckily no one was around to see us being so silly but Jamie was still gentlemanly enough to help me off both of us laughing and still feeling the rush from the race.

When the laughing simmered down Jamie took hold of both my hands and pulled me towards him and kissed me.

That kiss went on for a while until we were forced to come up for air, Jamie backed away slightly to look straight into my eyes then said "Claire, I love ye, I've loved from the first night here when ye wept in my arms, now I wake up everyday and find that I love ye more than I did the day before and I love Harry as if he were my own"

I then answered him with a gently "I love you too, Jamie"

He gave me another brief but passionate kiss and then knelt down in front of me and said "Claire Beauchamp, will ye marry me"

I didn't even have to think before answering "Yes, yes, yes, yes"

At this Jamie stood up again, kissed me and then pulled me into his arms and spun us around both of us laughing with complete abandon.


Chris POV

I had made it to London in two weeks with no problems, took the lawyer's exam and was waiting for the results while tracking down this Dr Gregory which turned out to be almost no trouble since he moved here to London after leaving Fort William. I found his new office and clinic so we could have a nice long chat about Jamie Fraser and Fort William where he not only provided information about Fraser's condition he also had plenty to say about Captain Randall and the more disturbing things he got up to with some other prisoners while the good doctor was there. Dr Gregory even agreed to testify in court about all this, his time away from Randall had made him braver about speaking up against the man and once my law degree comes through I can submit this information to a judge and clear Fraser's name and get rid of that Captain in one fell swoop. I must admit that I was somewhat thankful to Colum for trusting this to me so I had something important to do while waiting for my exam results but I do so hope I can have all this done quickly, I missed my family and I missed Laoghaire.