Title: Charlotte's Tumbling Time Travel

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters on Outlander.

Author's notes: Thank you all so much for your reviews and support for me to continue this story. Here is another chapter.

CHAPTER 9

When it was finally time for recess everyone stormed out of the school building and into the sunlight and grassy field outside, eager for their break to start. Lottie couldn't wait to get out of the classroom herself but she didn't run. She more or less scoffed outside with a sigh. This was going to be a very long day, and she was only halfway through it.

She squinted against the sun and descended the small stairs down to the grass and headed over to the barrel with fresh water by the corner of the school house. Turning her palm up she saw the red welts visible there and gingerly touched them with her fingertips. They hurt badly and she hurried to put her hand into the cold water. She kept it there for a couple of minutes. It was a temporary relief because when she pulled it out again it seemed to hurt just as badly. A sniffing sound made her look up and see the small brown haired boy over by the next corner close to the back of the house. He was crying and hiding his face in his hands. It was a surprising sight to her. Not the crying boy but who was consolingly patting him on the head. It was Coinneach Shaw.

"Ye were verra brave, Bearnard. Dinna let Fordyce get ye down. Ye did yer best and next time it'll go better with yer spelling."

Coinneach and Lottie's gazes met and they shared a moment of sympathy towards Bearnard. He couldn't be more than seven years old and Lottie could see Fordyce hadn't been any easier on him than he had been on her, even though she was older.

After a while Coinneach made his way over to his two friends and left Bearnard by himself. Lottie dipped her hand in the water one last time and then walked over to him.

"Are you all right?"

Bearnard looked up and saw Lottie, blinked a few times to clear his green eyes from tears and nodded.

"Aye, I'm fine." he glanced down at the palm of his hand." But it hurts though." he sniffed. "Does yer hand hurt this much too?"

Contemplating whether or not she should say that it was impossible for her to know exactly how much his hand hurt she just nodded.

"Yeah, it hurts plenty. But we'll be all right. It won't hurt as much tomorrow. I know, remember?" she winked at him and he gave her a small grin.

A shadow appeared next to them from behind Lottie's back. She could see from looking at it that the person behind her was a girl wearing a dress. She turned her head and saw Anella McNab standing there looking smug.

"Nursing yer palms? Do they hurt? They should. I cannot imagine not being able to spell properly. Such a disgrace!"

Lottie felt her temper flare up and stared with overwrought eyes at Anella standing there with her greasy hair and wearing a trite dark green dress.

"You mind your own business and stop sticking your nose into other people's problems."

Bearnard avoided looking at Anella and studied his shoes instead.

Anella clicked her tongue as if to say they were indeed a sad sight.

"Problems is something that the two o ye ye definitely have. I've never seen such poor spelling in all my life. And yers is actually worse than his," she scoffed.

Lottie had had enough. Knowing she could hurt this awful girl badly if she wanted to she knew she had to hold back a lot. But she wasn't about to just let her get away with her insults without some retribution so when Anella bent her neck backwards a little and laughed Lottie hurriedly grabbed Bearnard by the arm and marched by her as fast as she could. While passing she threw a fast uppercut under Anella's chin, making her fall and hit the dirt.

"Oh, clumsy me, " Lottie said with a click of her tongue. "Sorry, I must have accidentally bumped into you."

Anella ran a hand under her chin and spilled some tears onto the ground.

"That was no accident! Dinna think ye can deceive me into thinking it was!"

"Oh, how could you think I could do anything like this on purpose. Here, let me help you up," Lottie said and extended her hand to help her to her feet. Aneella didn't seem to want any help so Lottie grabbed her upper arm instead, despite her will. Lottie was strong and when she had lifted Anella halfway off the ground she let go and let her butt hit the ground with a thud.

Bearnard stood there looking shocked at first, but after a while he couldn't help giggling at the scene.

Anella McNab spit at the ground and cursed.

"I hate ye, Charlotte Dawson."

Lottie put her hands on her hips and giggled.

"Well, I'm not very fond of you either to be honest. You just stay out of my way. And leave Bearnard alone too. Do that and I don't see why we should have any problems with each other."

Anella now had a face like thunder and she practically growled at Lottie. It suddenly hit Lottie what Anella had called her. Dawson. Why had she called her that? She had introduced herself as Fraser when she had registered at the school. She was Jamie's ward so why shouldn't she go by that name? She assumed that's what he called her too.

"Why did ye call me by that name?" she asked with a confused frown.

Anella McNab smirked through her anger.

"I ken that's yer real name. Ye're not the laird's daughter. Yer real name is Dawson."

Lottie rolled her eyes at the girl.

"I never said I was his daughter, did I? I'm his ward, you idiot. But my name is Fraser, not Dawson."

She shook her head at how stupid it was to be arguing this with this stupid girl, turned around and stalked away with Bearnard in tow.

"What did she mean Dawson is yer name? Ye did say it was the same as the laird of Lallybroch, aye? Fraser."

Lottie and Bernard took a seat on the stairs. From there they could see the other children playing in the field or relaxing underneath trees.

"How should I know? My name is Lottie Fraser. She must have been dreaming or something. I wish I was dreaming right now," she added with a sigh, resting her head against the wooden bannister.

The small brown haired boy peered up at her with big curious eyes.

"Why?"

"Because soon we have to go back to class and then Fordyce is going to realize I forgot my slate today. I'll probably get a whipping for that. "

"Ye dinna have yer slate? Why?"

"I told you. I forgot it this morning. I overslept."

"Oh. But ye can borrow my extra slate, if that will help? I have it in my satchel."

Lottie couldn't believe her luck. A smile lit up her face and she put her arm around Bearnard's shoulders and squeezed.

"Thank you, Bearnard, really. I think I might get through this day after all."

To be continued

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please send me some thoughts in a review.