After their first date, Claire and Jamie didn't get to see each other for several days, owing to Claire's string of 12-hour shifts at the hospital. She was looking forward to Friday, when she would get off for four days in a row. They spoke every night on the phone and texted each other several times a day.
Claire often thought of that magical night, when he had taken her out and shown her the beautiful lake. Even more, she thought about what happened afterward. In hindsight, she knew that she had probably been a bit forward, but God, he was so beautiful and very sexy. He was hard to resist. But he had been right to stop them from making love that night. It would have been too soon. Knowing that still didn't make it easier to wait.
Claire left work at five o'clock and headed straight home. She was exhausted. At least she only had one more long day before she was off. She hoped that her and Jamie could do something special over the weekend.
Claire's phone rang and she knew immediately that it was Jamie.
"Hi, love, he said."
"Hi, baby. How was your day?"
"It's been good. I've been missing you though."
"I know. It's been hard, hasn't it?"
"Aye, it has. At least you have a long weekend coming up."
"I'm looking forward to it. It can't come quick enough! Would you like to do something together this weekend?"
"Of course I do. I want to be with ye always. Speaking of that...I wanted to ask ye something."
"What is it?"
"Weel, I wanted to ask if ye will go with me to Lallybroch...to meet my Da and my sister."
"Really? Are you sure you want to introduce me to your family this soon?"
"Claire, when I said I want to be with you always, I meant it. I see no reason to wait, when my decision is already made. I want them to meet the woman I love."
"Oh, Jamie. Do you think they'll like me?"
"Aye, I do. Like I said, you have a lot of qualities like my Mam and even Jenny, come to think of it."
"If you're sure, then...yes, I'd be honored to meet them."
"Thank you, Claire. I promise you'll love them."
"Well, I love *you* Jamie, so I'm sure I'll love them as well."
They continued their conversation for a while longer, making plans for the weekend trip. They would be driving up to Lallybroch on Friday morning, a little over 3 hours' drive. Claire hoped that would be enough time to calm her nerves before meeting her future family. Jamie seemed confident about them liking her, but she was still nervous. This was a big step. She just hoped that she would measure up.
Friday morning, bright and early, Jamie showed up at her place.
"Good morning, love," he said, as he bent to kiss her.
"Good morning. Do you want some breakfast? I made bacon, eggs, and toast, and I have some good, strong coffee as well."
"Aye, thanks. That sounds great. It will be good to have a good breakfast before heading up."
They ate companionably, talking of their trip. Jamie could see that Claire was nervous. He wanted to ease her mind as best he could.
"Claire," he said, reaching for her hand, "I know ye are scared to meet my family, but ye dinna need to worry. I will be right there with ye. They are kind and I know they will love ye. Just as I do."
"Do they know about us? How we met?"
"Aye, I've been talking about ye ever since we first began talking online. I knew then, Claire, that you were the only one for me."
"Do they know I'm English? Will that be a problem?"
"Aye, they know. And it doesna matter, Claire. The past is the past. I love you, and that's all that matters."
They finished their breakfast and then got ready to go. Jamie took her suitcase as they headed out the door.
The drive north was peaceful. There wasn't a lot of traffic on the road that day and the sun was actually out for the first time in 4 days. The weather was warm, which was rare, and Claire enjoyed the feel of the wind coming through the open window.
Jamie looked over at her. Her wild curls were blowing around her face, and he couldn't think of anything more beautiful. She saw him looking at her and smiled, putting her hand on his thigh. He grasped her hand in his and brought it up to kiss it, before setting it back down on his leg.
She scooted closer to him as he drove, resting her head on his shoulder, enjoying the time alone with him. She breathed in his scent. He smelled of clean linen, sun, and the indescribable essence of pure male. He was intoxicating...and he was beautiful.
Once they hit Inverness, they turned southwest on the road that would take them to Lallybroch. After driving through rolling hills and fields full of heather, they came upon the estate, quite grand-looking and very old. Claire was in awe of the beautiful structure, and could almost feel the imprint of centuries in its stones.
Jamie drove up to the arched gate, where there was a small parking area. He saw his Da's old truck parked there and he had to smile. Brian had never been one for buying something new, if what he had was serviceable. Jamie had often tried to urge him to replace that beat up truck, but his father assured him that it was in perfect condition and still had years left in it.
Jamie opened the car door for Claire and helped her out. He took her hand and kissed it. "Are you ready, Sassenach?"
"Ready as I'll ever be, love."
Jamie held her hand, squeezing it in reassurance. "It will be alright, dinna fash, my love."
Jamie walked her up to the front steps and he knocked twice before opening the door, just to let them know he was there.
They walked into the front parlor, full of beautiful rugs and tapestries. Claire gasped in wonder.
"Jamie, this is beautiful."
Jamie looked around for a moment, then said, "Aye, it is. My parents tried to keep it as authentic as possible. This house is over four hundred years old. Many of the tapestries you see here are from the 17th and 18th centuries. They've added a few more modern pieces, but the spirit of the place is very old."
"I can see that. It's wonderful."
They heard footsteps coming down the stairs. "Jamie? Is that you?" Jamie looked toward the doorway and found his Da, smiling brightly. Jamie! It's so good to see ye, son! And this must be the lovely Claire." He bowed to her and took her hand. "My God, Jamie was right. Ye are very bonny, lass."
Claire blushed. "Th-Thank you sir. I'm very happy to meet you."
"Oh, we don't stand on ceremony here, lass. Ye can call me Brian if ye like." He looked at the two of them, noticing their linked hands. "Aye, ye look quite the pair. Come sit down with me and we will chat."
They moved to the plush settee, where they sat close together, opposite Brian on the large, cushioned chair. Their hands remained linked and Claire squeezed Jamie's, hoping for reassurance. Jamie squeezed back and looked at her lovingly.
Brian began, "So Claire, Jamie tells me you're a doctor."
"Yes I am, sir, I mean Mr. Fraser. I work in Glasgow at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. I'm a surgeon."
"Impressive, lass. I always knew Jamie would pick a smart lass, but didna ken he would pick a genius." He smiled broadly and gave her a wink. "Smart and beautiful," he said, then looked at Jamie, "just like yer Mam."
"Aye," Jamie replied, beaming at his Da and then at Claire.
They chatted companionably for a long while, when suddenly Brian said, "Och, I almost forgot...ye'll want to see Jenny." He yelled toward the doorway, "Mrs. Crook? Send Jenny in here if ye'd be so kind."
A few moments later, a lovely young woman came through the door. Upon seeing her brother, she smiled broadly and walked over, giving him a big hug.
"Ah, brother. It's good of ye to grace us with yer presence. Ye leave for the big city and forget about us poor souls here at Lallybroch." She winked at Claire, indicating that she was only teasing her brother. "And ye must be Claire." She came over to Claire, and as Claire reached out to shake her hand, Jenny hugged her instead.
"Och it is so good to finally meet ye. Jamie has been talking of ye nonstop."
"Oh has he?" She looked at Jamie and smiled. Turning back to Jenny, she said, "Jamie has told me so much about you, Jenny. He's very fond of you, you know."
"Och aye? Weel, he's a good lad. Always has been, even since we were bairns."
Jenny sat down in a chair next to her father, and the four of them talked for a long time. They didn't realize how long it had been until Mrs. Crook signaled that dinner was almost ready.
"Oh, where are my manners?" said Brian, jumping up from his chair. "I havna even showed ye where ye will sleep. Come along you two and we will get ye settled in."
Jenny hooked her arm with Claire's and they preceded the men towards the stairway. Brian held back for a moment, motioning Jamie to come closer.
"Son, I dinna quite ken how to ask this, but are ye and Claire planning to…"
"No, Da. Not yet. I'll sleep in my old room and Claire can have the guest room."
"Ah, I see. Weel, I just wanted to ask before we go up. Waiting then?"
"Aye. I want to do things the right way, Da."
"Weel, I wouldna judge ye either way, lad. Ye know how me and your Mam got together, right?"
"Aye, I do. Dinna worry, Da. We've decided to wait, and we're ok with that...for now."
"Ok, son. If ye say so."
Brian and Jenny took Claire upstairs to get settled in, while Jamie went out to the car to get their stuff. He delivered Claire's suitcase to her in her room. When he found her, she was looking at the patterned wallpaper and the other items that decorated her room. She turned when she heard him come in.
"Jamie, this place is so beautiful. I can feel the history here. There's almost a magic about this place. I feel so at home here."
He came up to her, and put his arms around her. "Aye. Ye belong here, Sassenach. With me. I've known it since I met ye that you'd be destined to be the Lady of Lallybroch."
"Jamie. How can you be so sure?"
"I'm sure, Claire. And so are you. You feel the same way, I know you do."
She looked up at him and smiled. "Yes, I do."
He leaned down and kissed her thoroughly on the lips. His hands roamed down to cup her backside. They heard a deliberate cough coming from the doorway and turned to see Jenny.
"I just wanted to tell ye that dinner is ready. If ye need a few minutes to...wash..."
"No, we'll be down directly," Jamie said.
She grinned and winked at them, knowingly, then turned and left to go down to dinner.
Dinner was wonderful. Claire regaled them with stories of her upbringing with uncle Lamb and all of the exotic places she went with him. They were fascinated by her stories and enjoyed her company very much. As she spoke, Jamie looked at her animated face and thought, there's no way anyone else could compare to her. She was the one...he was even more sure of it. She glowed in this place. She was meant to be here with him. This was her home. He could feel it.
After dinner, Jenny took Claire out to see the old stable, where Jenny kept her beautiful mare, Moonlight. The men retired to Brian's study to talk of matters of the estate, but Jamie knew there was another purpose for their discussion.
"Jamie, your Claire is something special. And I see that ye are quite smitten with her." He looked closer at his son. "No, it's more than that isn't it? Ye love her."
"Aye, I do. Da, you told me that when you met Mam, it was instantaneous. Ye knew right away that she was the only one for you."
"Aye, I did."
"Weel, I felt that for Claire the first time we met, or rather the first time we talked, since we met online. Da, I swear, she is the one. I know it."
Brian considered his son closely. "Aye, I ken it too. I see how ye look at the lass. I looked at yer Mam the same way. I ken that Claire loves you too, lad. She seems to light up when ye are near."
Jamie smiled. "We do love each other Da, very much."
"Weel then, I want to give ye something." Brian went behind his desk and rummaged in the top drawer. Having found what he was looking for, he came back around to stand in front of Jamie. "Here son. I want ye to take this."
Jamie looked puzzled, having never seen the small box before. He lifted the lid and gasped. It was his mother's wedding ring. He looked up at his father, eyes wide. "Is this Mam's…"
"Aye, it is. And she wanted you to have it - to give to the woman ye love."
"Da," he said, eyes misting with great emotion.
"Give it to your Claire, when ye are ready. She will make ye a fine wife, Jamie. I couldna be more proud of ye, son, and your choice of bride."
Jamie hugged his father tight, eyes tearing up. "Thank ye, Da, this means so much to me. And it will mean so much to Claire as well."
They stood back and Brian placed his hand on Jamie's shoulder. "So, when are you going to propose?"
"I dinna ken, Da. Whenever the time is right."
As the men left the study, they saw the ladies coming in from outside, laughing together. Seeing Jamie, Claire said, "I've been having fun talking with Jenny." She looked at Jenny, giggling. "She's been telling me wonderful stories of you as a lad."
Jamie looked at Jenny, eyebrow raising in silent question.
Jenny, seeing his face, said, "Dinna fash, Jamie, I didna tell her the really embarrassing ones." She looked at Claire and began laughing again. "Weel, maybe I did."
Claire continued giggling as she came up to Jamie. She got up on her tiptoes to give him a peck on the cheek. "Don't worry, love. I enjoyed learning about wee Jamie."
"Aye? Weel...if ye are quite finished laughing at my expense," he said, grinning, "I think that maybe I'll retire for the night." Jamie looked at Claire, his intention quite clear. "Would ye like me to escort ye to your room, love?"
"Sure," Claire said, following him up the stairs.
When they reached her room, Jamie paused at the door.
"You know you can come in, Jamie. I doubt anyone would care."
"I ken, but it's probably better to avoid the temptation." He grabbed her around the waist and brought her to him, taking her lips in a passionate kiss.
"So I see," she said, breathless, leaning up to kiss him again.
"Claire, my love, it means so much to me to have ye here. My Da and Jenny adore ye."
"And I adore them, Jamie. You have a wonderful family."
He hugged her tightly, feeling her body pressed against his. In that moment, he thought to himself, "And you will be part of the family very soon."
After another lingering kiss, he said, "Goodnight, love."
"Goodnight, Jamie." She looked into his eyes and smiled warmly, closing the bedroom door as he turned to go.