The throbbing in her wrist and the burning within her lips distracted her from the massive party going on around her. Wine and food passed all around her without notice, while toasts and stories of debauchery echoed through the small inn until the night sky bloomed outside the window.

"If you gentlemen would excuse me," Daniea began, standing from the table, gathering her skirts, " But I think I shall retire for the night."

The men all raised their glasses to her, "Good night Mistress Fraser." Willie called while the others toasted in agreement. She bowed her head, taking her leave to the solitude of her bedroom for the few precious moments she could have to herself until she had to truly face Jamie after all this time.

"So lad, was that threatening speech about how you would be the only one to marry the lassie worth it?" Ned asked staring at Jamie.

"Oh let the lad have his wedding night first?" jested Angus, shoving his shoulder into Jamie's.

All Jamie could do was shake his head, not wanting to get involved in this conversation because he couldn't tell them that even if she hated him with ever fiber of her being, if she never wanted to see him again after they got back to Leoch, if she wanted to be with another man, he would have never been able to live in a world where she wasn't his, even if his name was the only thing that connected them.

Quickly he downed the remainder of his ale, gathering his courage and without a word stood up and began the ascension upstairs.

Slowly creaking the door of his room open, he paused to gaze at her. Sitting in front of her bureau mirror, she was slowly unpinning her curls and after releasing each one her hand would gently linger for a split second upon the string of pearls gracing her throat.

"May I come in mistress?" He cautiously asked, not wanting to force his presence upon her.

Slowly she turned towards the door and attempted a weak smile.

Jamie carefully entered and began to disrobe his heavy coat, readjusting his kilt for a more comfortable fit.

Not really knowing where to begin, he grabbed two glasses and poured them each a small amount of whiskey. Tentatively she accepted hers as he rose his glass in the air.

" To the strongest woman I have ever known and the most beautiful bride in the world, my wife...my rose." He attempted, his voice trailing off slightly at the end.

She smiled shyly, sitting the glass back down on the bureau without taking a sip.

He couldn't take one more second of the formalities, kneeling down in front of her, he visually saw her inch back from him as he tried to take her hand.

"You needn't be afraid of me Daniea."

"I'm not afraid." She stated, turning back towards the mirror, staring at herself because she couldn't bare to look at him.

"Then what is it mistress?

She didn't speak, only began to fumble with the corset strings on her wedding gown that had suddenly become unbearable to endure against her healing ribs.

Jamie had seen a corset undone once when he was a lad and tried to help but she brushed him off angrily. Standing, she maneuvered over to the window and continued to no avail to free herself.

"I can help you with that contraption."He stated.

"I'm perfectly capable of undoing it myself James Fraser." She barked, twisting and turning away from him.

He patiently waited for what seemed like eternity then tried again. After his fingers had found the strings, she whipped faster than the devil around on him.

"Your assistance is not needed nor wanted!" She seethed.

"Hell woman, I know that temper of yours has nothing to do with your dress so just spit it out already!" He roared, waiting to hear her loathing comments.

Silence.

There had never been a time since he met her that his enrage never sparked some sort of heated response, he backed away not knowing how to respond.

An hour passed in silence, Jamie had drank a few glasses watching carefully as she finally shimmied out of her binding corset and gown, and quickly wrapped a blanket around herself to cover her chemise.

It wasn't until he was entranced by her brushing her raven locks that he heard her speak.

"Why did they change their mind?"

He looked at her puzzled. "Mistress?"

She stood turning towards him, her eyes reddening against her will.

"Why did I marry you instead of Rupert? What made them change their minds at the last minute?" She finally asked pulling the blanket tight around her.

"Because...I made them?" He told her roughly, his head hanging.

"What?"

"I made them."

"Why on Earth would you do that, you hate me!" She exclaimed.

Her words sliced him through like a knife, in two strides he was in front of her, clasping her head in his hands.

"Mo fiadhaich aon! NO...NO...NO I could never hate you, how could you ever think that?" He pleaded hot tears stinging his eyes as he stared into hers.

"You…." She tried to compose herself but once she started all she could do was let her emotions pour out of her like water, the words mixed with agony. " You didn't want me! You pushed me away, I tried to be your friend, I tried to let you know how much I cared but you scorned me… YOU WEREN'T THERE! I TRIED TO FIGHT BACK! YOU DIDN'T CARE!" She screamed, so loud the entire downstairs heard every word. Murtagh sighed in relief, she finally was letting it out.

Crumbling into him, they went to the floor. "You…."

"It's all my fault, you should hate me," He began quietly against her ear, tears now staining his face. "It's all my fault, you were just trying… I love you more than life itself and it scared me," he choked. "I tried pushing you away, I thought I was no good for you, you didn't deserve a wanted man, I never got the chance to take it back, I wish I could take it back every minute. I love you Daniea." He sobbed, raising his head towards the sky, trying to catch his breath.

"When I saw you in Murtagh's arms, I lost all control. I knew if you died, I would die to. Every night I stood outside your room and pleaded to God for forgiveness, I would do anything... I pleaded for him to take me and not you."

She pulled away, crawling to the fireplace. As she did the healing scar on her leg became visible, a permanent reminder of how he failed her.

"You are the most precious thing to me Daniea, I won't force myself on you in any way, but I swear I never again will fail to protect you."

She shuddered at his words, "I've tried to hate you, I wish I could." She began. "I wish I could blame you for everything, but I can't. It's my fault not yours."

This angered him, "It was never your fault, it was the rotting corpses fault, don't you ever think that again!"

It took her a long time before she cast her gaze away from the fire. "Corpse? He's dead?"

"Aye, I killed him, I tortured him for what he did to you, I made sure he felt every pain he inflicted upon your poor body and soul before the devil took him." He growled, remembering in vivid detail.

Many a word could have passed through her lips but instead she entangled her fingers into his auburn locks tightly as the blanket fell from her shoulders. Her eyes smoldered with anger illuminated by the firelight, slowly her lips overtook his consuming him in raw need, breaking the contact just as his body became feverish.

"You're going to be the death of me woman," he growled.