Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight or Outlander. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and Diana Gabaldon. Please support the original release. I do own the original characters created for this storyline. Thank you.

Writer's Notes: Thank you Ceres for your review! I hope everyone is ready for a journey! I am enjoying writing this so far. Let me know what you think by leaving reviews! As always I appreciate all of you!

There was a large feast. Colum was known for his feasts. It was for the return of his brother, warchief, Dougal Mackenzie and his men. Castle Leoch was home to many and Colum considered himself a good laird. Colum Mackenzie was the oldest. He was also disabled. His hair was long, greying like Dougal's was. He was short and his deformity was with his legs. It appeared that he suffered from what Bella knew as being Toulouse-Lautrec Syndrome. Though according to Jamie, Colum's deformity was because of his fall from a horse when he was younger. Bella knew that the future of medicine would provide care for the disease, but no cure. Bella's hair was braided and wound into a bun. She felt like she could barely breathe in her corset, but she didn't complain. The dress was warmer than her own clothes and she knew that it was because of the wool used in the fabrics there in Scotland. She was a foreigner here not only in country, but in time. She hoped that she would be able to survive medieval Scotland. Glenna helped get her settled in a room there at the castle and Bella brought her bag up with her.

Bella looked through her bag. Her laptop was dead, not just because of the battery, but the screen was cracked on it. She must have crushed it in her fall and struggle with Captain Randall. Her notebooks were still okay, her phone was fine and she had her power banks still. She didn't dare turn the phone on. Whatever battery was on it, she wanted to preserve. She needed more privacy. So, she tucked it away, storing her bag under her bed in the room that she was given.

Now she was downstairs, about to be presented to Colum Mackenzie, laird of Castle Leoch. Jamie was missing, which she found odd, but Dougal was by her side now. When they approached Colum, Dougal bowed his head slightly, so Bella curtseyed. Colum studied Bella with his grey eyes, like he was trying to figure her out. When he finally spoke, his voice was smooth, though still accented with Scotland.

"Tell me lass, where are you from?"

"Boston." Bella spent time in Boston with her mother, but originally, she was from Washington state, though that part of the United States, wouldn't be settled until much later. Boston was a safe choice.

Colum nodded. "How did you come to be in Scotland?"

"Traveling with my mother. Inverness."

"What were you doing in Inverness?" Colum questioned.

Bella swallowed. "Visiting friends of family."

Colum nodded again, like he was just soaking in the information. "I am sure yer mother is worried about ya." He looked at Dougal. "Take her with ya on your way to collect rents. Bring her to Inverness so she can be reunited with her mother."

Dougal looked at Colum and then to Bella. "Aye, my laird. I will see to her safe travels." He said then bowed once more and Bella curtseyed again before leaving with Dougal.

"Thank you." Bella said once they were away from Colum.

Dougal turned and looked at Bella. "I don't know why you lied to my brother; I just know you did." He muttered lowly and then left her there.

Bella blinked a few times. The truth was she was separated from her mother, in Inverness. The only lie she told was the part of visiting friends of family. Could Dougal pick up on that lie? Or was he just suspicious of her from the start? She shook her head then decided to try and get some fresh air. She stepped outside the castle. She looked up at the starry sky. The sky was so beautiful without the pollution or the bright lights of a city. She enjoyed Scotland. She was happy to travel with her mom here. Though this type of travel wasn't what she signed up for, but now that there was a plan to get her back to Inverness, there was hope that she could figure out how to get back through the stones at Craigh na Dun. She heard footsteps and was startled when Angus appeared.

"Jesus. Angus, you scared me." Bella said and blew out a breath.

Angus smiled at Bella. He was short, stout, with a toothy grin. His hair was like pitch and so were his eyes. His beard matched his hair and his nose was almost too big for his face. He wasn't a looker, but he had a little charm. Bella found him funny. "Didn't mean to scare ya." He said with a smile. "Ya looks mighty fine tonight dressed in a dress."

It wasn't the smoothest line, but Bella smiled at Angus. "Thank you, Angus."

"Are you thankful enough to give this rough soldier a kiss?" Angus waggled his eyebrows.

"Angus, don't be a dog." Jamie said, walking up. He smiled at Bella. "Give 'im a punch if he's bothering ya." He joked.

Bella smiled. "Ah, he's not bothering me. He's being a good dog." She joked and looked at Angus. Jamie bellowed with laughter and Angus smirked, winking at Bella, before he slapped Jamie on the back then walked away laughing to himself.

"Angus is a lady lover." Jamie said with a nod. "He's aching to get under yer skirts."

Bella thought that Scotsmen had weird ways of saying things. She smiled. "Well, he's been helpful. You weren't inside when I met your other uncle."

"Aye, I like to keep my distance. If I go inside, they'll force me to wear Mackenzie colors and make an oath to pledge my felty to Colum." Jamie explained.

Bella didn't understand any of it, but she just nodded. "Ah, I see."

"Dougal told me yer comin' with us for rents." Jamie said. "Back to Inverness."

"Yes. To find my mother." Bella said with a nod.

"Aye, well, we'll get ya back to where ye need to be." Jamie said with a smile.

Bella thought his smile was wonderful, though she saw a bit of sadness behind his eyes. "Thank you. I know I have said it before, but you risked a lot to save me from Captain Randall. I hope that I didn't make any trouble for you."

"Nah." Jamie said, wrinkling his nose and shaking his head. "It'll be fine. Couldn't let a lass down when she was in distress. It's not the Fraser way." He said. "Now, if ye need me. I'll be with the horses." He said with a nod towards the stables. "Have a nice night Miss."

"Bella."

"Hmm?"

"Please. Call me Bella."

Jamie smiled. "Have a nice night… Bella." He said before walking away.

Bella watched him go back to the stables. She smiled to herself. Jamie was a true gentleman, though historically highlanders were said to be brutal. For a highlander, Jamie was like a puppy. She sighed and took in a deep breath of the fresh air around her before she went back inside.

[A Week Later]

Jamie helped boost Bella up on her horse. She wobbled a bit and he smiled. "How long has it been since ye ridden?"

"Um. A decade or so." Bella muttered.

Jamie chuckled. "Maybe you should ride with me then."

Bella swallowed. "Yes. Maybe I should. I'm sorry. I'm not very useful with horses."

Jamie shook his head. "It's okay. Ridings not for everyone. They don't ride horses in… America?"

"Well. Yes. I just never had to. We have carts or buggies. You sit inside the cab and the horse pulls it."

"Carriage riding then. Your family must be wealthy then."

Bella thought about it. She always considered herself more middle class. "Perhaps. Though I feel like I'm poor in some areas."

"Poor? How so?" Jamie asked as he fiddled with straps on the bags attached to the horse.

"Um. I've been told my face is too narrow."

"Too narrow?"

Bella nodded. "Got teased as a girl for it."

"They must have been blind. I see a beautiful lass in front of me." Jamie said freely.

Bella smiled, blushing a little. Out of habit she tucked her bottom lip in, her teeth biting it gently. It was a habit she had her entire life and Jamie took notice immediately.

Jamie smiled at her. "I made ya blush. My apologies then."

"It's okay." Bella said and then looked up at Murtagh when he approached. "Murtagh, glad to see you."

Murtagh smiled at Bella. "Aye, likewise, Miss Swan. I am charged with overseeing yer care. Jamie and I. It is a rough journey for rents, so Dougal wants ye to stay close to Jamie or myself. If Angus becomes a bother, then wallop him on the head a few times." He joked.

"I can hear you." Angus said from the front of the line of men. He chuckled a little at it.

Bella smiled. "Thank you. It really means a lot."

"Alright. Murtagh, we're ready to go. I'll ride along with her, tie my horse to hers until she gets comfortable riding by herself." Jamie said, patting the shoulder of the red bay that Bella was riding.

Murtagh nodded. "Aye, smart." He said and looked at Bella. "We don't stop a lot, so I hope yer prepared for this journey."

"I'll be okay. Thank you Murtagh." Bella said sincerely.

Jamie got up on the horse behind Bella, looping his arms around from behind to pick up the reigns. Bella held on to some of the horse's mane. Soon they were all traveling, back on the road again, but this time, it would take longer than 6 days to get to where they were going.