A/N: thank you so much for all who continue to read and review. I know AU is not for everyone, but I am so happy that there are some people reading and enjoying. It encourages me to keep on writing...

Chapter 15:

They reached their room, sneaking through Lallybroch (as much as Eleanor could), Jamie leading the way. The floorboard creaked and Jamie turned his head and gave her a look.

"I'm almost 9 months pregnant," Eleanor whispered. "There is going to be creaking."

"Shh," Jamie put his finger to his lip and looked around the corner of their hallway. "Come, it's clear."

He grabbed her and practically pulled her into their room, closing it and locking it. He leaned against the door, a look of triumph on his face.

Eleanor giggled. The lightness of their relationship which Eleanor always loved was full fledged in Jamie's return. The truth was she just loved being with him.

"Ye wouldna have found it funny if we had been caught," Jamie chided, but grinned back at her. "Welcome home, Mistress Fraser."

"Welcome home, Mister Fraser," Eleanor couldn't help the wide smile that consumed her. Her hand absently moved to her belly.

"Now then," Jamie straightened and came closer to her, surveying her. "I want to look at ye."

"I know I am huge." Eleanor rubbed her belly.

"Aye, ye, are, lassie," Jamie said, putting his hand on her belly, the baby rewarding him with a jolt. "Ah, the bairn is strong, is he no?"

"Very much so," Eleanor said, "strong enough that I cannot sleep at night. Very troublesome already."

"I dinnae much plan on letting ye sleep tonight anyway," Jamie said, honestly.

"Is that so?" Eleanor raised her eyebrows.

"Aye," Jamie continued to study her, closely. Eleanor could tell that he was working something out in his head, but she couldn't imagine what.

Eleanor reached to take his hands off her belly and hold them in hers, linking her fingers in his. "You are staring at me in the most peculiar way. What are you thinking about?"

"Weel, if ye must ken, I want ye something awful, mo ghraidh. But I am working out the best way to have ye if ye gather my meaning."

"Oh my God," Eleanor's laughter filled up the room. "I do not know whether to be offended or just happy you still want me."

"Oh God do I want ye, mo ghraidh. I cannot be more pleased to see ye so blossomed."

She laughed more at his word choice. "I missed you, James Fraser." She stood on her tippy toes to kiss him and then leaned to whisper in his ear, "I got this, love."

"Do ye now?" his voice was low.

"Yes, I can even give you options if you'd like."

"Can ye?"

Eleanor laughed again and then whispered again in his ear.

"I see the options now," His throat bobbed. "I want to see ye now, Eleanor."

He turned her around and helped her slowly undress, tossing her undergarments on the chair. "Turn around."

She turned around her stomach bopping into him. "I'm sorry."

He winked at her. His hands moved down her body to rest on her stomach. His eyes fell on the stretch marks that covered her expanded belly. Eleanor flushed and stepped away, but Jamie held her fast,

"Ach, dinnae draw away from me," he chided. "They took me by surprise."

"It is common. I've gained quite a bit from the baby. I think he or she might be on the big side..."

"Aye, maybe so," Jamie traced his finger on one of the marks, "Do they hurt...the marks?"

"No, they just look ugly," There was still a catch in her voice and her posture was much stiffer then before.

Jamie reached to tilt up her head to look at him.

"You are beautiful, mo ghraidh. Dinnae ever think that I for a moment would ever think otherwise," his eyes searched hers. "Do ye with the scars on my back?"

"Of course not."

"There ye go," Jamie's tone was gentle, soothing her vanity.

"It's afterwards when the baby weight does not go away quickly."

"I wouldna fash lass. It will not be lack of want of ye that keeps me from ye."

"It will be the bairn crying nonstop?" Eleanor offered, relaxing with his sweet words and kind tone.

"Aye," Jamie poked at her, "so, we'd better..."

"Get some while we can?" Eleanor looked mischievous.

"Is that what ye really say?" Jamie asked, amused. "Get some?"

"I could say f..." Eleanor started but Jamie covered her mouth with his, silencing her.

"We should go downstairs and make your presence known," Eleanor said, afterwards.

"In a few minutes, but first..." Jamie kissed her head, "I want to acquaint myself with our bairn."

He put his head on her belly and began to converse with his child in such a sweet, beautiful way. He had a good 10 minute conversation in English for her benefit. Eleanor's heart melting as he did. She did not think she could love him more in that moment.

"Jamie," Eleanor's voice cracked.

Jamie's head rose. "What is it? Why are ye cryin?"

Her tears fell. "I'm just so grateful you are home."

He kissed her tears, "I am too."

"So, this whole school house thing..." she wiped her face with the back of her hand, "does that mean I am off the hook?"

"Off the hook?" Jamie asked, curiously. "What do ye mean?"

"Not in trouble."

He gently swatted her bum, "Oh, no, ye and I still have to talk about it."

Eleanor groaned, "But I really do not want to."

He poked her nose, "Then ye should have thought of that before ye goin to do some half cocked plan."

"I did thought of it," Eleanor said, "And I chose to believe that you would be able to see reason."

"We will discuss this later," Jamie kissed her cheek, then turned over and got out of bed. He reached for his pants. "Ye are right, we should go downstairs. It must almost be supper time."

Eleanor pulled the covers over her head.

Jamie looked over at her and chuckled, "What are ye doin, woman?"

"Everyone will know we had sex and me being this huge and about to have this baby...God, how embarrassing!"

Jamie laughed more, "Aye. I suspect they will."

"I thought we were being so sneaky, but it was rather obvious, was it not?"

Jamie buttoned his shirt and then went to sit on the bed, pulling her covers off her, "Come out from there, me wee besom."

"I have an idea."

Jamie smirked, "Do ye now?"

"You can sneak back out and ride up. . We'll have a sweepingly romantic moment..I'll run..."

He snorted and she amended,

"I mean waddle into your arms. Nobody will never know! Okay," she clapped her hands, "let's do this Fraser!" She managed to shuffle around Jamie to gather her undergarments "What are you waiting for?" she demanded.

"Oh, are ye serious?" Jamie asked, considering her.

She glared at him as she put her dress over her head.

"Ye are serious," Jamie came and went to reach for her buttons. He turned her around and reached up, his large hand smoothing the side of her hair. "Ye just gave me so much joy, Eleanor. I have longed for ye every night since we have parted..."

"Just in the nights?"

"No, not only the nights, mo ghraidh," he kissed her softly, "every day, I longed fer yer laughter and sweet nature that soothes my soul and draws it to yers," He kissed her again, "Ye are my wife. And I couldna be more pleased that ye are about to deliver my bairn. Tis no shame that I am attracted to ye still. Ian and Jenny willna think anything of it, I promise...after all the bairns they had."

"Very well, I suppose you are right," she acquiesced. "I am sensitive with the bairn."

"Just with the bairn?" Jamie asked.

"Okay, so I may not be able to blame in on the bairn..." she kissed his cheek. "Let's go eat supper. You must be hungry from your travels."

"Aye," Jamie nodded, "among other pursuits," he put his arm around her waist as he guided her down the stairs, to greet his family.

Eleanor and Jamie spent a good portion of the evening by the fire, Jamie catching up with Fergus, Murtagh, Jenny, Ian and their brood. The evening was filled with joy and laughter, like no time had passed. Eleanor was attempting knitting a blanket for the baby, Jenny assisting her with making clothes. At points, Ellie would get stuck- her piece would unravel or her line would go crooked. Jamie, out of the corner of his eye, would see and causally take it for her, fix her mistake and get her back on the course again.

"Is there nothing you cannot do?" Eleanor asked, a bit exasperated. He chuckled and winked at her.

"Aye, much. Dinna fash, it will still keep our babe warm."

Eleanor grunted and exchanged a look with her sister in law, who was quite amused at the interplay between the two of them.

When finally it was time to retire, long after the children went to sleep, they said their goodnights and headed up the stairs.

"It is good to be with Jenny and Ian again," Jamie said.

Eleanor smiled, "I love seeing you with your sister. I was never close with my siblings. it's a gift to be able to have that sweet relationship."

"I dinna even ken that ye had siblings." Jamie said as they entered the room.

"Yes, three brothers and a sister," Ellie said, "quite a few."

"And ye were close with none of them. How is that possible?"

Eleanor shrugged, "I was different from them."

Jamie reached for the package that was sitting on the table. "Here, I almost forgot. This is from Lord John."

"Wonderful!" Eleanor unwrapped the package, "How is Lord John doing? I meant to ask, but you distracted me."

"John is well," Jamie said, "Hopefully on his way home to Lady Isobel as we speak. I think he wrote you a note."

Eleanor reached for the sealed parchment that was inserted in the book. She slid her finger under the seal and unfolded it, reading it by the candlelight.

She giggled and Jamie raised an eyebrow. She handed him the letter and he read it and chuckled as well.

"I trust it will not be too scandalous for your husband's sentiments," she laughed. "It's a new novel...and...oh dear."

Jamie looked over at the illustrated children's book. "He should not encourage ye."

"It's for the children though..." Eleanor said, "even ours maybe..."

"Aye," Jamie grunted. "Still, he was verra defensive of ye, lassie."

"He's such a good friend," Eleanor said, "And he got you back to me in one piece so for that I will always be gr...indebted. There," Eleanor looked triumphant, "that sounded quite well."

"Aye," Jamie acknowledged.

"Can I write him back?"

"If you'd like, I can include a note from ye in our next correspondence," Jamie said.

"Would it not be too improper?" Eleanor asked.

"All things considering, I dinnae think so," he replied. "John has asked me to write when ye are safely delivered of our child."

Eleanor let our her breath, "That is really sweet of him to be concerned."

"Ye have an ally in Lord John."

"That is a good thing, I would think."

"Aye, mo ghraidh. I tend to be of the same mind with ye on that matter," Jamie admitted. "But, we will talk more in the morn."

"Are you tired?" Eleanor came up to him and rubbed his back, gently.

"Aye, I am. I ken I said I would keep ye up, but I dinna think I have the energy for such matters."

Eleanor laughed, "Come to bed, James. You look so weary. You can wake me in the morning or in the wee hours of the night when you get your second wind as you are apt to do..." she paused, "I said apt in a sentence and it sounded right," she was almost gleeful with pride.

Jamie kissed her soundly. "Ye are somethin else, Mistress Fraser. Be ye are right. I am shattered."

"Then to bed with ye," Eleanor said, swatting him playfully. Jamie practically fell into bed, exhausted and Eleanor leaned over to give him a kiss on the forehead, pulling up the covers for him, before sliding into bed herself. She supported herself with her arm, watching the rise and fall of Jamie's chest. The babe had the hiccups and her stomach was shaking. She put a hand on her belly as she watched Jamie, who had started to slightly snore. She couldn't fathom how in a few short months her life had so drastically changed. It was inconceivable...and yet, here she was.

"Lord, protect this baby," she whispered. "And keep my other sweet babies safe...where ever they are."

"What is it?" Jamie asked as Eleanor frantically tried to contort herself so she could to rub her leg.

"Leg cramp. I'm getting them awful this past month. I'm sorry I woke you," she grunted.

"Which leg?" Jamie asked, flipping over. "Here?"

"Yes," Eleanor said, groaning as Jamie began to massage her leg, working out the cramp, while talking to her in Gaelic.

She finally let out a breath of relief, "Thank you."

He leaned over to kiss her on the forehead. "Go back to sleep, lassie, the sun is not up yet."

She turned towards him, "The baby is not asleep."

"No?" Jamie asked. "Is he keeping ye up, lassie?"

"Wasn't, but now that I am awake, he is," Eleanor explained.

"Oh, I see," Jamie reached over to touch her face. "I confess I am awake as well."

"Did your business not end well?" Eleanor asked, her forehead wrinkling in concern. "I assumed because you came home..." she bit her lip. "Is everything alright, Jamie?"

"It ended as well as one could have hoped," Jamie said, "but I fear that it will come back to haunt us."

"To haunt us?" Eleanor reached for his hand, squeezing it, "What do you mean?"

Jamie squeezed her hand back, "Tis nothing. I am certain that I am just worryin unnecessarily. John and I did settle the matters...almost in its entirety."

"Almost isn't quite completely," Eleanor pointed out.

"Aye," Jamie said, simply. "Tis not."

"Will you not tell me what the matter was?"

"It would not help matters to do so," Jamie said. "I do not want ye to fash, especially when ye are bearing the burden of our child."

"It is not a burden, love, to carry your child," Eleanor said. "I will not press you though."

"I thank ye," Jamie said. "fer trusting my judgement on the matter."

"Of course," Eleanor said. "I am not fragile though."

"I ken," Jamie squeezed her hand again, "But still, I long to protect ye for as long as I can...from whatever bad in this world, in my time."

"There was plenty of bad in my time as well," Eleanor shifted, her back aching.

"Turn on yer other side and I will rub yer back for ye," Jamie said. "It is aching, is it no?"

"Yes. I cannot get comfortable."

"And ye say that it is no a burden to carry my babe?"

Eleanor reached out to rub his cheek, "It is one that I carry willingly for the honor of being able to give you a child for you to love and claim as your own."

He smiled in the dark, "Turn on yer side now, mo ghraidh, so I can help ease yer load."

"Very well, but do be gentle."

"Aye," Jamie said, with a lopsided grin. "I can be verra gentle if I set my mind to it."

She laughed. "I know you can." She shifted on her other side and Jamie began to rub the ache out of her back.

"That does feel good," she murmured after a while.

"Aye, the horses like it to."

"Good Lord," Ellie groaned, "I do feel and look like a horse these days. Is that what you are saying?"

"I dinna mean..." Jamie said, turning her back towards her.

"Oh, more like an elephant?" Eleanor's voice turned stern.

"Of course not..."

There was silence until Eleanor could not help but giggle.

"Oh ye wee besom," Jamie growled.

"I got you, didn't I?"

"Aye, ye did," Jamie said, pulling her against him, his mouth on hers, his kiss rough. "I will teach ye not to..." he paused, "poke the bear."

She laughed more, but Jamie soon silenced her again, his kisses persistent and unyielding. And soon, her laughter faded as she met his passion with her own fervor.

"I need to speak with ye," Jamie said as Eleanor was getting dressed for the day.

"What about?" Eleanor asked, twisting her up into a bun, sticking the pins to try to fasten it in place.

"Ye are getting better at that," Jamie said.

"Thank you," Eleanor reached for another pin, "It helps that my hair is growing longer."

"Aye, it's bonny, lass," Jamie said.

Eleanor turned to him, "Why do I feel like you are trying to butter me up?"

Jamie's brow raised, "What?"

"Um..." Eleanor thought for a minute, "flatter me for the purpose of tempering my reaction...or something like that..."

"Aye, well," Jamie patted the seat of the bed. "Maybe so. Let's sit together."

He sat down and Eleanor frowned at him, but he patted the seat again, insistently. "We are going to talk now, lass," Jamie said. His tone was not unkind, but it was also clear he was not offering her the choice.

Eleanor went to sit next to him. "You do know you are progressive and sweet until you get all 18th century man on me."

"Weel, I am the heid of this family."

Eleanor put her hand on her stomach, "I do not object to that as long as the heid listens to his other body parts...especially the hands and the heart."

"Point taken, lassie fer ye are both the hands and the heart of our family," Jamie acknowledged. "So explain yerself, mo ghraidh and I will listen."

Eleanor let out a long breath, "It wasn't to usurp your authority, but it was because I saw a need for Ian to continue his schooling in lieu of a school master. Jenny did not object to me teaching him at home so I did. But then he invited friends and they invited friends and soon it was too much so Jenny sent us to the schoolhouse. I did not want to because I thought I was on firmer ground here with being able to justify it to you, but she reminded that you never had a problem with Claire doctoring and oh, Murtagh said she did so when she was expecting in Paris...so I thought that surely if Claire did it, I could too."

Jamie looked at her aghast, "Is that really how ye want to approach this?"

"Why not?" Eleanor got up, but Jamie pulled her gently but firmly back onto the bed.

"Because I have made it clear that ye constantly comparing yerself to Claire is unproductive and harmful to our marriage."

"Unless it helps me, then I think it is quite productive and helpful to us having a healthy marriage."

"Is that how that works?" Jamie asked, his eyes heavy on her, searching her.

"Yes."

"Noted," Jamie said. "Claire ended up losing our bairn in Paris, or did ye forget that?"

"But that had nothing to do with working..."

"I dinna ken what it had to do with," Jamie retorted, heatedly, "it could have been the stress of my behavior or the fact that she was overworking herself. I dinna ken and she dinna ken either. It was no ones fault, but it wasna a situation I wanted to have repeated. Murtagh wrote to me and I was able to secure a school master fer the lads. He starts today."

Eleanor rose swiftly, "When the hell were you going to tell me that?"

"Now."

"So, you make love to me...and act all sweet...while stabbing me in the back?"

"No," Jamie said, "I made love to my wife, because ye are my wife and I missed ye fiercely. I was too shattered last night to handle yer reaction, so I waited until the morn."

"My reaction..." Eleanor huffed, "You make me sound like such a child."

"I dinna say that," Jamie said.

"It's back to the same old nonsense with you, Jamie. I want you to listen to me first, before deciding what is best."

"There wasna time. The lads need a schoolmaster and considering ye are days away from delivering our bairn, there was not time to try to talk some sense into yer bonny wee heid. Did ye really think ye could continue after the bairn was born?"

"No, of course not," Eleanor said. "but..." she crossed her arms.

"I am not goin to press the issue of ye takin over to begin with," Jamie said.

"How generous of you!"

"Aye, it is," Jamie said, pointing his finger at her, "because ye did go expressly against my orders...again."

"Your orders were ill-conceived. No one had an issue. They were happy for me to teach the kids."

"Ye dinna ken how they would react."

"It didn't matter."

"It should have!" Jamie's temper finally snapped. "Or did it no because ye were angry at me fer leaving you?"

"I'm angry at you for having one standard for Claire and one for me!" Eleanor yelled.

Jamie grabbed her arm, "Ye will not raise yer voice at me."

"What are you going to do about it?" Eleanor challenged as the bairn practically leaped in her stomach, her stomach shaking against Jamie.

He looked down at her wiggling stomach. "At the moment, nothing. After our bairn is born, we'll see. I dinna want to, but if ye force me to bring ye into line, I will."

She shook her head, "You are unbelievable. Please let go of my arm."

Jamie let go immediately.

"I need some space from you...to think. Do not follow me, James."

"I am not in the wrong, Eleanor. It had to be done."

Eleanor left without another word.

Jamie paced the kitchen of Lallybroch, Jenny and Murtagh watching him.

"It has been too long," he said, his hands fisted. "She should have returned by now. Of all the irresponsible, pigheided things...she is practically burstin with my babe. And there looks like to be a storm a brewing."

"What are we waiting fer?" Murtagh asked. "I would have gone after her an hour ago. Give her half an hour to stew, half an hour to ponder and then bring her home."

Jamie turned to stare at his godfather. "Ye make it sound so easy."

"What is so difficult about it?" Murtagh drawled "Ellie just needed to get it off her chest. She usually realizes when she has acted in folly."

"Not in my experience."

"Weel, maybe ye aren't listening," Murtagh retorted.

"Good Lord, man, does she have all of ye under her thumb?" Jamie huffed, "First Lord John and now ye."

"Now, brother," Jenny reached to still him, grabbing him by the arms. "Murtagh is right. Eleanor truly thought she was doing the best by those sweet lads. And she did a fine job of it as well. Ian loved his lessons with her. To see that joy that has taken him over with learning. Eleanor has a gift fer it and that is the truth of it."

"Aye," Jamie sighed, "I ken. I saw."

"So she is mourning that loss of being able to do what she loves. And ye not telling her right away. It was a blow. But now that as Murtagh said, she had time to stew and ponder, she is probably regretting acting so rashly towards ye."

"And bringing up Claire again..." Murtagh said.

Jamie scowled, "Thank ye sister fer planting that one in her heid."

Jenny patted his arms, "It was not wrong. Ye have a different way about ye with Eleanor than with Claire. And that is not necessarily bad, but ye need to realize when that might be off putting to yer wife."

"Aye," Jamie acknowledged, "I can see how she would think so."

"Verra gut," Murtagh nodded. "Now go find her and bring her home. She should not be traipsing around the countryside about to deliver her bairn."

"Will ye help me find her?" Jamie asked.

"Of course, ye dinna have to ask," Murtagh said, patting his back, "Let's go bring her home."

Eleanor put her hand on her stomach. She had been so stupid and now she was paying for her folly. She cried as another pain hit. She could tell that the wind was picking up. She could sense a storm was coming. She did not know what possessed her to come to this cave. Well, she did know. Jamie had spent years here and even though she was mad at him, she wanted to be close to where he once was. But it was secluded and now she was afraid to leave. She knew she wouldn't be able to go far with her pains coming every few minutes.

She began to pray, sinking down to lean against the wall of the dank cave. She was terrified...terrified of the baby coming, of delivering the child on her own. Of dying in this cave. But more so, terrified that the last memory Jamie would have of her was her screaming at him and throwing Claire in his face over and over again. When would she ever learn not behave so rashly?

She cradled her belly with her arms, "it is going to be okay, love. Mama will make sure."

It had been a rollercoaster of a 24 hour period...how could she go from such joy to such disaster in so few short hours? How could she have railed so fiercely at Jamie when he was right? Of course the boys needed a school master. She was such an idiot. She wanted him to admit that she was right to take over in lieu of that schoolmaster and in the meantime she alienated him...and maybe pushed him away forever.

She groaned, the pains coming on again. She wept and prayed and hoped for deliverance, but knew that the likelihood that it would not come. And in that case, she was on her own. She just prayed she had the strength to do as she must.