"A demon? Demons are real." Jamie repeated for the fifth time, in disbelief.

Eliza had spent well over an hour explaining her world to him. She knew that Jamie had grown up hearing stories of fairies and of people falling through stones, his own damn wife was from the future! So she was hoping that vampires and demons wouldn't be such a far fetched idea for him, but the more she had explained things, the more he had looked like he wanted to run away at any given moment.

He didn't run away though, he stayed and listened to what she had to say. She had a feeling he didn't quite believe her yet, but with the dead demon laying between them, it was hard for him to flat out deny it.

She wasn't surprised that he had never seen a demon before. She, herself, hadn't had many encounters with the supernatural since she had traveled to the past. She wasn't sure why, maybe she was so used to living on a hellmouth that she didn't realize running into a demon around every corner wasn't a normal occurrence for the rest of the world.

"Yes, they are real." She said with as much patience she could muster.

"And ye...it's yer...job to fight them, to kill them?"

"Yes. I'm The Slayer, it is my destiny." She said slowly, repeating herself again.

He shook his head back and forth, his impossibly blue eyes were wide with confusion.

"I... I dinna think...lass, I..." he abruptly turned away from her and started walking back and forth, muttering to himself in Gaelic.

She sighed softly, "I'm sorry, James. I know that I shouldn't have told you. I just turned your whole world upside down and I just...I haven't talked about who I am, who I truly am for so long. It felt nice to say it out loud after so long...It was selfish for me to tell you. I shouldn't-"

"No!" He stopped and walked over to her and crouched down to where she was sitting on a fallen long. "No, it's a lot to take in, is all. I just need time to accept it, I think. But dinna ever apologize for being honest wit me. I am glad ye told me, lass. Truly." he said earnestly, his eyes boring into hers.

She smiled slowly, "So, you don't hate me for ruining your life?"

"Nah, ye didna ruin my life. Maybe ye dented it a lil', aye, but perhaps it wasna all that great to begin with. Now, let's go home and ye can tell me more about these beasts."

He said with a soft smile. He stood up and offered her his hand, she gladly took it.

—-

Over the next few days, Eliza told Jamie everything. She told him about her high school, about living on a hellmouth, she even told him about Angel and Angelus. She told him about her friends. About Giles. About Dawn. About Glory and the heart wrenching night that she lost everything.

Jamie, for his part, listened to every word, he never judged. He just listened. She was eternally grateful.

And in return, he told her more about his family, his mom, his brothers. About Murtaugh. About his uncles. He told her more about Claire, about her going back to the future for their child. It felt good for him to tell everything to another person. He didn't realize how suffocated he felt, holding onto his past for so long, until he said it all out loud. It felt good to release it into the world, to let it go. To let it all go.

—-

"Och! This is it! Just over that hill, lays Lollybroch." Jamie said as they came to an ordinary looking road.

"What? Really? I didn't realize it was so close. I should change, I don't want to make the wrong impression." Eliza replied with surprise.

"Dinna fash Eliza..." he paused with a confused look on his handsome face, "Buffy? I'm sorry, I just realized I dinna ken what I should call ye, lass."

She smiled softly, "Well, Buffy doesn't really sound like what one would call a lady, but it's...nice, hearing you say my real name." She blushed slightly at her own admission.

Jamie smiled back, "How bout I call ye Eliza when we're in public and call ye Buffy when it's just us."

For some reason, Eliza's butterflies came back after she had miraculously managed to shove them away for the past week. She ignored them with a great amount of effort.

"I would like that, James."

"Ye ken that everyone calls me Jamie, lass."

"Oh, I know...but I'm not everyone." She said as she jumped down from her horse.

Jamie's heart did a flip at that. He chose to disregard it and was about to reply when the sound of barking caught his attention. He made it down from his horse just in time to be attacked by a number of hairy beasts with wagging tails, who covered him in slobber. He laughed with joy at the familiar welcome.

Eliza tensed at the sound of feet rushing towards them and had dropped into a fighting stance. Once she realized Jamie was being licked to death by the cutest crowd of dogs she had seen, she laughed right along with him.

"Och! Whose there?" A man suddenly approached them. The dogs immediately retreated from Jamie and ran back up the hill.

Jamie didn't seem to recognize the man, the boy actually, Eliza realized once he got closer. He was skinny with long blond hair and he couldn't have been older than fifteen.

"Who are ye? What is yer purpose here?" He asked more aggressively when they didn't reply.

Jamie cleared his throat, "I'm sorry lad, my name is Jamie Fraser and thi-"

"Uncle Jamie?!" The boy asked with excitement when he heard the name.

Jamie looked confused at first but then he seemed to have a moment of clarity, "Who are...Ian? Young Ian?"

"Aye, it's me, Uncle Jamie! Ma dinna say ye were comin home! She'll be mad wit joy to see ye, Uncle!"

Jamie smiled and then moved forward and engulfed the smaller boy in a hug, he barely came up to his chest.

"Last time I saw ye, ye could fit in the palm of my one hand."

Eliza laughed at that, charmed by the sweet moment. The boy, Ian, turned to her, seeming to notice her for the first time. He immediately ducked his head, his cheeks turning redder than his uncle's hair. She was confused at first, but then she looked down at herself and realized that she was still wearing her slayer outfit. She blushed as well. Jamie didn't seem to notice the exchange at all.

"Och! Young Ian, this is my...dear friend, Lady Eliza Winters. Eliza, this is Young Ian, my youngest nephew." He introduced them with pride in his voice.

"It's nice to meet you Ian, Young Ian, I'm sorry that I-" she was cut off when another man suddenly appeared. He was taller than Ian, but not as tall as Jamie, of course. He also looked older than Ian, but probably not by much, Eliza guessed. He was handsome with dark hair and fair skin. And he had a French accent when he spoke.

"Ian! Who is it? Dinner is almost ready and your maman will be angry if you're-"

The man stopped talking when he saw the two strangers. He seemed to take in Eliza's outfit first, but did not seem as disturbed as Young Ian was at the sight of her. But his eyes grew wide and his mouth dropped open as he took in Jamie.

"My-Milord? Is it...Is it really you, Milord?"

"Fergus? Christ!" Jamie's mouth had also fallen open, his eyes moistened with unfallen tears.

The dark haired man smiled and stepped forward, Jamie promptly enveloped him in a hug as well. Clearly, just as happy to see him. After a few heart warming moments, Jamie finally pulled back, sniffling slightly.

"Och! Fergus, it is verra, verra braw to see ye, lad!"

"You too, Milord! Come! Aunt Jenny will be so happy to see you!"

Jamie smiled and then turned to Eliza, "First, I'd like ye to meet my dear friend, this is Lady Eliza Winters, Eliza, this is-"

"Fergus!" They were interrupted by yet another voice, this time it was feminine with a Scottish accent.

"Fergus! Ian! If ye two are up to no good again, I'll-" she broke off at the sight of them as well. She had dark hair, she was much shorter than the men, closer to Eliza's height, maybe a tad taller. She was beautiful with eyes that were the perfect match to Jamie's.

"Jamie?"

"Hello Janet." Jamie said warmly. He opened his arms and approached her with a huge smile on his face. But instead of going to return the hug, she punched him right in the stomach. He grunted in pain.

"Och! Really Jenny? This is how ye welcome yer brother home after I have no seen ye in years."

"Oh, aye! Who do ye think ye are? Ye dinna even write to tell me ye were comin? Ye just show up whenever the hell ye want, bráthair. We dinna have enough food for ye and-" She paused as she took in Eliza. She took in her hair that was messily falling down her shoulders and her outfit, that was baring an obscene amount of skin for the time, and not to mention, her skin tight trousers.

"Who the hell are ye?" Jenny pinned Eliza down with her hawklike gaze. Eliza was not one to be cornered, though she was rather embarrassed by her dress, well lack there of. She stepped forward and bowed.

"Hi, I'm Eliza, Eliza Winters."

Jenny looked her up and down again, "Eliza? Look I dinna ken what my brother told ye, but this isna a brothel. It's probably best fer ye to go back where ye came from and leave my brother be."

"Janet!" Jamie shouted out, mortified by his sister's behavior.

"What? This may still be yer home bráthair, but that doesna mean ye can just bring whores whenever ye please!" She had turned back to him.

"She isna a whore, Jenny. She is my friend AND my guest! I expect ye to treat her wit respect and-"

"Jenny! Where are ye?" They were interrupted yet again. This time it was an older man with lighter hair, he was hobbling down the hill at a slow pace. Eliza dropped her head in her hands and mumbled to herself, mortified.

"Och! Husband! Come and see who has decided to finally show up, unannounced, of course and with...company." Jenny gave Eliza a side eye as she spoke. Jamie grabbed Eliza's hand, trying to give her some sort of comfort. This was not going down as she had pictured it, and certainly not the way Jamie had.

"Now Janet, fer the last time-"

"Och! Don't Janet me, James Alexander Malcom Mackenzie Fraser! If ye think ye can just-"

"Jenny. Jenny. Enough!" Ian had finally reached them and wrapped his arms around Jenny's shoulder and started guiding her up the hill. He couldn't say that he wasn't surprised that she actually let him. "Now, Jenny, I'm sure that Jamie and his...friend are tired and hungry from their travels. Now let's give them a moment and let them settle in before dinner, aye? Come."

He gave Jamie a smile and told him it was good to see him as he started walking back to the house with his wife.

Jenny, one to always have to have the last word, paused for a moment and turned back to Jamie.

"Well, I expect yer 'guest' will change before dinner. There will be children present, ye ken? Now, if ye'll excuse me, I have to go make sure we have enough food for ye and yer...friend." With that she went back up over the hill with Ian, leaving four mouths gaped open from shock, in her wake.

—

"She hates me." Eliza said as she sat down at a bench outside of the barn.

They had just had a somewhat awkward dinner with Jamie's family. After the uncomfortable introduction outside, Eliza had immediately ran off and changed before even going to the house. Once she was dressed properly and didn't feel like a street urchin anymore, she met the rest of Jamie's family and they all sat down to eat. Jamie had many nephews and nieces, Eliza couldn't really keep up with who was who, but everyone, for the most part, was quite warm and welcoming, especially Ian. He was much more charming than his wife, Eliza had thought.

She sat through dinner listening to Jamie tell stories of his time in Helwater, he was quite the storyteller, she had come to realize. And Ian caught Jamie up on what was happening there at Lallybroch. Jenny was actually very quiet during the meal, which Eliza guessed was not a common occurrence. After dinner, Jamie had wanted some alone time with Eliza, so he offered to take her for a little evening walk around the farm, promising for a much grander tour in the daytime.

"She doesna hate ye! She's sore wit me and she took it out on ye, I'm sorry a nighean. I shoulda warned ye and...perhaps given ye time to change." Jamie said bashfully.

Eliza turned to him incredulously, "Do you think?"

"Aye, I really am sorry about that, but it doesna matter, she woulda acted poorly either way. Jenny is a bit..overprotective of me."

Eliza huffed indignantly.

Jamie walked over and sat next to her on the bench and took one of her hands in his, "Ye just need to give her time El-Buffy. She'll warm up to ye and love ye once she gets to know ye. Ye'll see."

She scoffed, "I don't know about that one, James."

"She will, Buffy. I promise."

—

A few days later, Eliza started to think that Jamie was a big, fat liar.

Jenny had not thawed out at all, in fact her attitude towards her seemed to become icier and icier.

After Jamie had shown Eliza around the first day, they had come in for lunch and then Ian had called him into the study to look at the ledgers, leaving her alone with Jenny.

"Your home is very beautiful, Jenny." Eliza said, trying to start some sort of conversation with her.

Jenny simply huffed and didn't say anything further. Eliza sighed and tried again.

"James mentioned that you and Ian have been taking very fine care of this place for years, it must not have been easy."

She huffed again, "Oh, did he now? Aye. Trying to feed everyone with only potatoes for ten years while British soldiers kept coming to not only arrest my husband, but to tear apart our home every time. No, twas not EASY." She said as if all of it was Eliza's fault.

"That sounds awful. I'm so sorry that you had to deal with that." Eliza replied, genuinely feeling bad for her.

Jenny turned to her then, "Why are ye here?"

"What do you mean? " Eliza asked, startled by the abrupt question.

"Ye ken what I mean. My brother is a man of honor and he has responsibilities now. He doesna need someone like ye, followin him around like a damn leech, distracting him."

"And what exactly do you mean by someone like me, Jenny?" Eliza replied.

Jenny sighed, "Look, I ken that my brother is handsome and a fine man, but he needs a woman of standing, a family to care for. Not a common girl who prances about in the woods with men she doesna ken and dresses like a whore." She sneered at her.

Eliza took three deep breaths. 'This is Jamie's sister, he would not like it if you staked her.' She repeated in her mind over and over. She then stood at her full height and marched right into Jenny's space. She imagined that people usually cowered at her bluntness, but those people probably didn't go to high school with Cordelia Chase. She made Jenny look like Mother Teresa as far as Eliza was concerned and she was not going to be walked all over again.

"I understand that you're being protective of your brother, Jenny. And we may not have gotten off on the right foot. But you don't know me, you don't know anything about me. And for your information, James is my FRIEND, nothing more, not that that is any of YOUR business. And he wants me here. You can be as rude and unwelcoming as you like, but I'm not going anywhere. So I suggest you get over yourself and just accept that."

Eliza had then walked out of the room, not wanting to fight with her. After that, Jenny had simply ignored her whenever they were in the same room or would make a snide comment whenever she could.

On the third night, they were all having dinner together, when Jamie had had enough of Jenny's antics.

"Janet! I dinna ken what's the matter wit ye, but I wish ye to no be rude to my friend or me fer that matter any longer."

Jenny huffed, "Och! Ye dinna ken bráthair? Why is she even here? She doesna do any of the chores, she doesna even ken how-"

"She is a GUEST, Jenny."

"Oh, well that just changes everything then, doesna it?" She replied with sarcasm.

"James, it's really not a big deal-" Eliza tried to interrupt but she was ignored. Ian put a hand on her shoulder.

"It's best to just let them go, it's impossible to stop them once they get started." Eliza turned back to the shouting siblings, firing insults at each other. It was rather impressive, how vicious they were yet evenly matched.

"If ye dinna like it, Jenny, then fine! We will go. I dinna need this, and neither does Eliza." Jamie finally shouted at her.

Jenny paused at this. "Och! That's fine, but dinna think that ye can-"

"Milord! Mademoiselle! Monsieur!" They were interrupted by Fergus running into the room, panicked.

"Come quick! There's a fire! At the barn! Ian's in there!"

Silverware clanged onto the table and chairs toppled over in the chaos of the announcement, as the adults all ran out of the room.
—

Eliza, being Eliza, got there first. Jamie was right behind her. When they reached the barn, there were flames coming out of the door and smoke was seeping out of every direction. Jamie ran up to the door, but jumped back when a lick of flame lashed out at him.

"The fire's too big, we canna get in." He said. The others had arrived by then and Jenny was screaming for Ian. Older Ian was holding onto her to keep her from running into the flames.

Eliza had stood back and was looking over the building, trying to find a way in. Then she saw it, a branch hanging above the barn that was too high for a normal person to reach. Without a second thought, she ran full blast toward the barn and leaped up to grab the branch.

"Eliza! No!" Jamie yelled and tried to grab her, but she was too quick. She managed to grab it and then swung herself onto the roof, as she landed, it collapsed and she fell through, hitting the ground hard. She was instantly surrounded by smoke, making it very hard to breathe. She got up and yelled for Ian, trying to cover her nose and mouth with her sleeve.

"Ian! Where are you?" She heard a cough in reply, coming from a stall in the back of the barn. She ran over and found him, curled up in a ball, trying to cover his face.

"It's okay, it's okay, Ian. I'm gonna get us out of here." He looked up at her, tears running down his face. She looked around as she spoke, trying to find a way out. The flames were surrounding them now, the smoke was getting heavier, making it harder for her to see. She then looked up and saw a rope still hanging from the ceiling. She crouched over Ian and held out her hand.

"Okay, Ian. I'm gonna need you to put your arms around my neck and hang on to my back."

Even through the smoke and flames, she could see the incredulous he gave her.

"Come on, Ian. Trust me. I can hold you, but we gotta go, NOW!" Eliza heard a lot of crackling and popping, the fire was getting bigger and bigger. Ian nodded and wrapped his arms around her shoulders from behind, he wasn't much taller than her, which made it slightly easier. She jumped up and grabbed the rope, telling Ian to hold tight and not let go no matter what.

—

Outside, Jenny was on the ground, sobbing. Ian had ran off with Fergus to get help. Jamie stood there, helplessly. He was just about to do something, he wasn't sure what yet, when there was a loud popping sound. His heart dropped when he realized what it was. He quickly turned and grabbed Jenny, pulling her away from the barn just in time as it exploded.

He held her under him, shielding her, tucking his head onto her shoulder as wood and metal flew over them in every direction. The sound of the explosion had rendered him deaf for a moment. It took him a few seconds to realize that Jenny was screaming into his ear. He slowly got up and turned to look at the barn. Except it wasn't there anymore.

There were bits and pieces of wood strewn about, some still on fire. Jamie walked forward to where the middle of the barn was, seeing nothing but debris. It was like a bomb had just went off.

He dropped to his knees, unable to comprehend what had just happened. He felt cold and empty. He dropped his head down to the ground in complete and utter devastation. He wasn't sure how long he sat there for before he heard it.

A cough.

He looked up and saw movement near the trees where the back of the barn was. He jumped up and started yelling as he ran over. He found Eliza and Ian huddled together. Eliza was covering Ian, in a protective manner, in the same way he had just held Jenny.

"Eliza?" She coughed again. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Eliza." He went to grab her, but she rolled over, off of Ian and shook her head.

"Ian. Help Ian." She turned her head and coughed violently. Jamie hesitated, but moved to Ian. He was unconscious, but Jamie could see that he was still breathing. He went to grab him, when Jenny and Older Ian appeared. Ian gathered him in his lap, Jenny hovered over him, yelling his name. His eyes suddenly opened and he started coughing violently as well. Jenny sighed in relief and threw herself on top of him.

Once Jamie saw that he was taken care of, he went back over to Eliza. She was sitting up by then, her coughing was somewhat under control. She was trying to take deep breaths. He gathered her in his arms. She was covered in black soot, he could see some scratches and bruises underneath.

"Christ! Are ye okay, Buffy?"

She nodded. "Ian. Is he okay?"

Jamie smiled in spite of himself, she would be more worried about him. "Aye, lass. He's okay, thanks to ye. Ban-Dia Òir."

She looked up at him, from her spot in his lap. "You've called me that before. What does that mean?"

The tips of his ears turned red, "Oh. It...It doesna translate."

Normally, she would question him more, but she was too exhausted. She pushed herself out of his lap and tried to stand up on her own.

"Easy, Buff" Jamie said as he held on to her and helped her up. Once she was standing, she gazed up into his eyes. She could see the worry that was still there. She reached up and smoothed the worry lines on his forehead.

"I'm okay, James. Really."

"Ye scared me to death, lass. I thought...I thought I lost ye." He admitted quietly.

She smiled softly, "It'll take a lot more than that to get rid of me."

He leaned down and rested his forehead on top of hers, reassuring himself that she was still there. Her heart jumped to her throat. She pulled back slightly, locking eyes with him again. He then looked down to her lips, she could feel him slowly moving, just half an inch more and...

"Eliza! Eliza!" The moment was shattered as Jenny's voice pierced the air. The second she turned away from Jamie, she was engulfed in Jenny's arms.

"Thank ye, Eliza. I can never repay for what ye did." She was sobbing onto her shoulder, hugging her tightly. Eliza was so shocked at first, she simply stood there, with her arms at her sides. Jamie had walked around them and she could see him smiling down at her. She slowly raised her arms up and hugged Jenny back.

"You're welcome, Jenny. You're welcome."

She had a feeling that she had just gained a new friend.