A/N: Whoa! Another update! I'm on a roll! Thank you!
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Jamie and Claire sat sipping their tea on the porch that evening. Claire had just told Jamie about Bree's theory that Ellie was from the future. His reaction was like Claire's, and he was not surprised. "Is this how children behave in the future?" Jamie asked Claire with a slight chuckle.
"She's different from other children," Claire agreed.
"Do ye think the lass will behave while ah am away?" Jamie asked, somewhat worried about how Claire would be able to run her clinic and keep her eye on Ellie.
"I already asked Bree and Roger and they'll keep an eye on her during the day," Claire replied as she took Jamie's hand and squeezed it. "I can handle her, don't worry," she said with a smile. "I did raise Bree."
"Ah ken," Jamie replied and responded with a smile.
"Mr. Jamie and Ms. Claire," interrupted a small voice. They both turned to find Ellie standing in the doorway.
"Ellie, are you ok?" Claire questioned.
"I can't sleep," the child replied with a yawn. Jamie and Claire both moved toward opposite sides of the bench, leaving a small opening for Ellie to squish between them.
"Come sit with us," Claire insisted as she patted the empty space. Ellie smiled and took them up on their offer.
"You guys are so nice," Ellie commented. Jamie and Claire exchanged looks and smiled.
"Would ye like to hear a story?" Jamie asked.
"Sure," Ellie replied. "I love stories." Jamie told Ellie a story about a woman who travelled back in time and fell in love (a shortened version of his and Claire's story, but with different characters). Ellie listened intently to him the entire time. "Do you think people can really time travel?" she asked at the end.
"I think it's definitely a possibility," Claire replied.
"Hmph," Ellie sighed. She pulled her feet onto the bench and rested her knees against her chest. Jamie and Claire looked at each other for a moment and Claire nodded. She thought Jamie's idea of their story was a brilliant idea. "I should tell you guys something," she said quietly, "But you're going to think I'm crazy."
"I think you'll be surprised," Claire replied as she took Ellie's hand and squeezed it gently between both of hers. Ellie looked up at Claire and then over at Jamie.
"I think time travel is stupid and impossible," she sighed as she pulled her hand away from Claire and popped onto her feet. "I'm going back to bed." She hurried into the house leaving both Jamie and Claire disappointed.
"She'll come around," Claire commented. Suddenly, loud banging noises came from the house. Jamie immediately hurried inside with Claire behind him. The commotion was coming from the kitchen and Jamie swung open the door to find Ellie throwing pans onto the floor. She flung open the cabinet door to the glasses and launched one in Jamie's direction, barely missing him and Claire. Ellie, unaware that they were there, looked at them with shock.
"That's enough!" Jamie's voice boomed as he made his way toward her quickly. Ellie turned and started to run, but Jamie wrapped his arms around her from behind and held onto her firmly.
"Let me go!" she cried as she tried to pry his arms off her. Jamie continued to hold onto her and patiently waited for her to calm down. "I want to go home!" she cried. "I hate it here!" Claire made her way around to the front of Ellie to calm her but was caught off guard by a kick to her stomach. Ellie immediately burst into tears; she did not want to hurt Claire. Jamie, shocked by Ellie's actions, wasted no time, and turned her over and landed a spank to her bottom. "Ow!" Ellie cried. "Please Mr. Jamie, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt her." Jamie stopped himself from landing another smack to her bottom and turned her back around and set her on her feet in front of him. He wanted to give the child time to explain herself, but instead Ellie threw her arms around him. "I'm sorry," she sobbed. Jamie wrapped his arms around her for a moment and looked at Claire who was standing in front of them. He released Ellie and then reached down and lifted her onto the counter, so she was sitting in front of them. "I'm sorry Ms. Claire. I didn't want to hurt you," Ellie sobbed.
"I know, Ellie," Claire said gently.
"Ye need to explain yereself," Jamie stated firmly as he placed his hand on her chin and turned her head, so she was looking at him. Ellie thought he looked mad, and it worried her.
"I was just angry," Ellie replied.
"That's yere answer?" Jamie questioned impatiently.
"Yes?" Ellie squeaked.
"Aye, then I guess ye have earned yereself that sore arse," Jamie replied sternly, "That is not how ye behave in ma home when yere angry." Ellie gasped as Jamie started to lift her off the counter.
"Mr. Jamie, wait, please," she pleaded as tears fell from her eyes. "Do you remember that story you told me?"
"Aye," Jamie replied.
"I….I…..I'm…from….the….future," she said hesitantly. She thought for sure they wouldn't believe her, so she kept her eyes focused on the floor and waited. Jamie took her chin and tipped her head, so she was looking at him again.
"We believe you," he replied with a calmer tone. Ellie's eyes widened with surprise and relief.
"Ellie, where are you from?" Claire asked.
"Wilmington," she replied.
"Do you remember what the year was?" Claire asked.
"2020," Ellie replied. Claire was surprised at how far in the future she was from. Ellie looked from Claire to Jamie, and neither of them looked surprised. She was confused and wondered how they could be so calm. She thought back to Jamie's story and then everything clicked. Her mouth fell open with surprise. "Are you the characters from the story?" she questioned curiously.
"Aye," Jamie replied with a smile.
"Oh my God!" Ellie shrieked with excitement. Both Jamie and Claire laughed at her enthusiasm. "This is so friggin cool!"
"Friggin cool?" Jamie questioned.
"It's just an expression," Ellie replied happily with a giggle.
"Ellie, where are your parents?" Claire asked.
"Dead," Ellie replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "They were in a car accident when I was five. My grandma took us in, but then she died too, so my sister took care of me."
"I'm sorry Ellie," Claire said gently.
"Thanks," the child responded. "I have so many questions for you Ms. Claire."
"And you can ask me anything, but not tonight, it's time for bed," Claire replied gently. "We'll have lots of time to talk about it. I'm happy you trusted us enough to tell us."
"Yeah," Ellie agreed. "Now I can finally be myself," she sighed with relief.
"Ye havena been acting yereself?" Jamie questioned with surprise.
"Heck no," Ellie replied.
"Is yereself more complicated than yere old self?" Jamie questioned.
"I guess you'll find out," Ellie giggled.
"Aye," Jamie sighed.
"I'm really tired," Ellie commented after a long yawn. She tried to scoot off the counter, but Jamie stopped her, and Ellie quickly remembered the incident that had occurred a few minutes before.
"Yere behavior was unacceptable," he stated firmly.
Ellie felt worried. "I know," she replied quietly, "And I really am sorry. Please Mr. Jamie, give me another chance, I'll behave, and I'll do everything you tell me. I was upset and I didn't know how to tell you and Ms. Claire." She grabbed his hands. "I'll be good from now on."
"Aye, we dinnae expect ye to be perfect, but we expect ye to be respectful," Jamie explained. "If ye behave like that in ma home again, ye willna get a second chance and ye will be punished. Do ye understand?" Jamie's voice was firm. He felt like he was being manipulated by the child but decided he would give her another chance.
"Yes," Ellie replied with a sigh. She turned to Claire. "I'm sorry if I hurt you."
"I'm fine, you didn't," Claire replied. "Come on, let's get you to bed." Jamie lifted Ellie from the counter and set her on the floor. He found her to be an interesting child. Not only did he find her confusing but challenging as well. At times he felt like he was talking to another adult, but then there were times he felt like he was talking to a young child. He wondered if all children from the future were like her.