I do not own any characters, plots, or anything else pertaining to "Outlander". This chapter will take place from Bree's P.O.V. the next morning. After the events of the previous night, let's see how the Fraser family is dealing with the aftermath. As always, thanks for following/favoriting and commenting.
Chapter 18
Consequences
Bree wakes up the next morning with a blinding headache, feeling the full effects of her bachelorette party the night before. She slowly rolls over in bed and sits up. The previous night suddenly comes back to her and a wave of shame follows. Her mama had literally gotten so drunk that she had stood up on the bar and danced inappropriately. It had been horrifying to say the least, but the worst part of the night was when her mother fell off the bar. Unfortunately, she was too drunk to stop her, and merely laughed at her mother's broken ankle. Bree feels her headache getting progressively worse, as she puts on her robe, and stumbles down the stairs.
When she reaches the bottom of the stairs, the aroma of coffee fills her nostrils. Bree makes her way to the kitchen and is stunned to see her da sitting there eating breakfast. She had expected him to be with her mama right now at the hospital, but clearly she was wrong. "Good morning, da." He places his fork down on the table and turns to her. "What happened to you last night?" Her da shakes his head. "I got inta a wee bit of trouble at the bar." Bree shakes her head. "Did you get into a fight?" He gives her a shake of the head. "Ye shoulda go askin yer fiancé about that." Her heart drops at his words and suddenly her mind is clear. "Is Roger okay?" He gives her another nod. "Aye, I went defendin him last night. I dinna want the wrath of ye or ye mother." Bree gives him a smile. "Thank you, da." He gives her a small smile back. "I made ye a wee bit of coffee, remeberin what ye said about it's magical powers." Bree laughs, as she makes her way over to the coffee pot. She grabs a mug out of the cupboard and pours herself a steaming cup. Bree turns to her da and smiles as she takes her first sip. "Your right da, coffee can be magical, especially the morning after you've had too much to drink." He gives her a smirk and returns to eating.
Bree takes a moment to capture the scene in front of her. If someone had asked her a year ago, whether this would be possible, she'd have said they were crazy. Her da eating his breakfast in this time and making her coffee seemed like an impossible dream. Bree knows that she's been given a gift and she's thankful to have her family together. She takes another sip of her coffee and sits across from her da. "Where's mama this morning?" He glances up from his breakfast. "She's in bed, sleepin away the alcohol." Bree nods. "And Roger?" He gives her a smile. "The lad is doin the same. Joe went takin him home after gettin us outta that ghastly cell." Bree freezes for a moment, stunned by her da's words.
She locks eyes with him. "You were taken into the station?" He gives her a hesitant nod. "Aye, the officers went breakin up the fight n arrestin us." Bree shakes her head. "Does mama know yet?" Her da shakes his head. "No, ye mother dinna kent. Joe winna probably go on tellin her." She smiles slightly, despite the difficult situation. "I'm sure Uncle Joe will tell her, but I advise you to tell her yourself first. I know mama won't be happy hearing about the events of the bachelor party from anyone else but you." Her da shakes his head, a frown appearing on his face. "Aye, ye mother winna be more than a wee bit mad at mi. Tellin her first wonna go makin a bit of difference." Bree shakes her head, knowing that her da is moving towards more trouble than he thinks. She knows better than anyone what happens when you try to conceal the truth from her mama.
Bree remembers the day she had played dress up with her mama's clothes and had tried on her ring. She had always been fascinated by that ring and had asked her several times who had given it to her. At first, she had thought that her father had given it to her mama, as a gift before she was born. However, each time her mama had refused to give her an answer, she had become skeptical. When she had decided to try on the ring that day, while her mama was washing the dishes after dinner, she had wanted to find out why her mama found the ring so special. Bree knew that if her father hadn't given it to her, then someone else had. In her naïve mind, she had thought that the answer would come to her when she wore the ring herself.
The moment she had taken it from the window seal and worn it for the first time, she had inexplicably felt her heart warm. Bree couldn't understand at the time why she had felt that way, but now she knows that her da was with her at that moment. She smiles at the memory and is happy that her father was with her even then. Bree's smile disappears, as she remembers hearing her mama frantically searching for her ring downstairs. It had been quite chaotic, and she had felt a wave of guilt wash over her instantly.
After a few more minutes of her milling around, she quickly made her way out of her room, and down the hall. Bree had tried to be as quiet as possible, knowing that her father was in his office working. She was halfway down the hall, when the floor creaked under her feet. Bree's father's voice rang out at that moment and she knew she was in trouble. "Brianna, is that you moving about?" She remembers holding her breath at that moment, trying to come up with an explanation. "Yes, daddy. I was going to get a glass of water." Her father appeared moments later, standing in the doorway of his office. "What do you have on your finger?" Bree had regretted not hiding the ring before she had started down the hallway. She had then held out her hand sheepishly and she remembers her father's eyes going wide.
At the time, she had no idea why her father had reacted that way. His look of surprise, instead of the anger she had expected, confused her. Now, she knows that the ring symbolized her mama's love for her da, something that her father knew her mother would never let go of. Seeing the ring off her finger was probably a shock to him. Bree remembers her father taking a step forward with his hand outstretched. "Give me the ring, I'm sure this is what your mother is searching for." She hesitantly took it off her little finger and gave it to her father. Bree remembers the crestfallen look on his face, as he held the ring in his hand. "You need to go to your room, Brianna. I will handle this situation with your mother." Bree quickly turned and went back to her room. She had waited there for nearly an hour, before her mama had come into the room, with more anger than she had ever seen. Her mama had scolded her for not telling her that she took the ring first.
Bree comes back to the present and looks over at her da. "Trust me, da. I know mama values honesty above all else." Her da gives her a hesitant nod. "Aye, yer right. I'll be tellin yer mother when she goes wakin up." Her da looks up at her with a smile. "I reckon ye've seen yer mother's fiery temper." Bree nods her head and the two enjoy breakfast together, waiting for the missing member of their family to join them.