So I accidentally updated the last chapter and titled it Epilogue when that was just another chapter because once again the plot bunnies struck and it's not my fault. I always wanted Lord John and Ian to meet and so I when I saw that opportunity I took. And here, now, is the actual epilogue, starting out in Brianna's POV then teasing the upcoming story in Lord John's POV. Again my apologies for any confusion and I hope you by the end of this chapter you don't hate me (fingers crossed)
Dearest Brianna,
If you're reading this, then your answer to my question was yes. It will be difficult and unfortunately, I can't tell you precisely where to discover the item you requested as I have not even hidden it yet. In her story, your mother visited two locations while in Scotland on her honeymoon, I believe you know which ones. More than likely I will hide the item in one of those locations, although I will not be able to do it right away as you know the length of time it will take for me to travel.
I will not include any more specific details here; in case this letter is not read by you. I suppose there will be no way for me to know if you found it unless you and your son come back. Just know you both will never be far from my thoughts, and I eagerly anticipate your return. I have so much more to tell you.
Your servant always,
LJG
She reads the letter for the hundredth time, folding it up and putting it back in her coat pocket and lifts Jemmy into her arms as they finally exit the plane. Uncle Joe did exactly what Mama predicted, he inoculated her son for everything that could be a threat to him in the 18th century. Jem kept a stiff upper lip at the unfamiliar feeling of being stuck with a needle, but they got through all of them in one sitting. Uncle Joe not only purchased their tickets to Scotland, but also bought her a few new outfits and some clothes for Jemmy as well and then they stayed just long enough until he drove them to the airport. It made him sad to send her back but at the gate he pulled her into a tight hug, telling her to give his love to her mother and be safe.
She promised she would.
Brianna adjusts Jemmy higher up on her hip, he is almost too heavy for her but she does not want to put him down amongst all these people on their way to baggage claim. To her surprise, Jem had been remarkably quiet on the plane. Given how much he wanted to ride on one she had been afraid that he would be bouncing around the whole flight. But he sat in his seat secured by the belt, looking out the window in awe of what he was seeing and not in fear of the height. It made him tired though, which is the other reason she is carrying him. He is getting so big so fast that she takes every opportunity to hold her son as close and as tight as she can.
Pulling the small suitcase from the conveyor belt she joins the crowd in heading outside, not having to wait too long for a cab to arrive. She instructs the driver to take them to Mrs. Bairds Bed and Breakfast, the Inn where her mother and father stayed while they visited Scotland, the place where Brianna originally left her letter for Roger.
After they check in and drop off the suitcase she'll go to Reverand Wakefield's. The last thing she wants to do is see Roger, but seeing for herself that he is actually doing well and letting him and Jeremiah have a proper goodbye may help her feel less guilty. If Roger wasn't there Fiona would be, and she would know how or where to find him.
"Here we are, Ma'am," announces the driver. She unbuckles Jemmy's seat-belt for him and holds his hand while the driver gets her suitcase from the trunk.
"Thank you so much," she says as she hands him the cash for the fare. They continue holding hands and Brianna looks up at the old building that has not seemed to change. Then Jemmy is pulling on her hand, swinging them back and forth. "Come on, big guy…"
"Oh hello, dear!" The same woman sits at the front desk, not looking any older or greeting them with any less enthusiasm or kindness.
"Hi, I'm not sure if you remember but I was a guest here a few years ago,"
"Of course, I havena forgotten your face. And who is this handsome lad?" she asks, looking over the counter.
"This is my son, Jeremiah,"
"Hallo there, young man,"
"Hi," Jemmy waves politely but hugs her leg even tighter.
"How sweet, the third generation arrives…" she says to herself, getting the registration book ready.
"I'm sorry?"
"Och, I just meant your parents were guests here first, then you were, and now you've brought the newest addition," It makes Brianna smile to realize the woman is right. While she never had the chance to meet Mrs. Graham her family has a special connection to this unique place.
"Um, I know I didn't plan ahead but is there a room available, by chance?"
"Certainly, how long will ya be needin' it, then?"
"Um, a few days at least, possibly a week."
"That's no' a problem at all…" once she finishes writing she grabs the key and turns back with a smile, "Follow me to your room...and as always don't hesitate to ask if there is anything ya might need."
"Thank you,"
Once Miss Baird unlocks the door, she finally releases Jemmy's hand letting him run inside ahead of her. With a smile and polite nod, Brianna closes and locks the door. Suddenly exhausted, she falls to the edge of the mattress of the nearest bed. It's making her more tired just thinking of everything she has yet to do and the idea of seeing Roger in the midst of all that makes her want to pull the blankets over her head. Thinking better of it, she picks up the phone, dialing the number to the Manse.
"Hallo?"
"Hi, is this Fiona?" she asks hesitantly.
"It is indeed, may I ask who is callin'?"
"This is Brianna Ran, er Mac– um, it's Brianna. I was wondering if Roger is there or if you know where he is?"
"I ken who ya are well enough, and at the moment Roger's no' here. He is a professor at the university again, but if ya'd like I can take a message for 'im."
"Sure, uh, just let him know I'm in Scotland, at the same Bed and Breakfast as last time. He can call me here if he'd like to see me."
"I'll let him know."
"Thank you." She hangs up the phone with a heavy sigh, falling back against the mattress. Jemmy is standing by the window, seeming off in his own little world. It took quite a few days after they arrived through the stones for him to act more like himself. Now he is much the same, seeming more and more quiet as the day drags on and she hopes it is just residual shock from the plane ride over the ocean, "Hey, Jem…what do you think about taking a nap?"
"Good idea. I'm tired, Mama." He says emphatically, followed by a large yawn as if she needed proof and it makes her laugh.
"Me too." Jem jogs over, jumping up on the bed and kicking his shoes off. Normally she would tell him to pick them up and put them aside so no one trips, but right now she herself is too tired. She doesn't bother changing clothes or making him put on his pajamas, they won't be sleeping that long. There is too much to be done for her to waste time.
After seeing Roger she'll have to start searching for the sapphire so they can go back. Her mother only mentioned Lallybroch and Castle Leoch as the places she was brought to, by both Frank and Jamie several centuries apart. Then after she does find it, she'll have to have it cut into much smaller pieces and find a new hiding spot for them so they can make more than one trip if needed. But for now she pulls the blanket over them, kisses Jemmy's head whispering 'I love you' and turning out the light.
When she wakes it's to the incessant sound of obnoxious knocking on the door. Jemmy is sitting up on the bed beside her, looking startled and she is grateful he didn't go and open it before she woke. Switching on the bedside lamp, she sees the time is much later than she intended to sleep.
"Just a minute!" she calls, swinging her legs off the bed and setting her feet on the floor. The knocking stops and with a sigh of relief at the sudden silence she goes to open the door. "Miss Baird?"
"My apologies, Ma'am, about an hour ago a gentleman arrived – the same one you left that letter for. He said that you told him to meet you here and he is getting increasingly agitated."
She scoffs and rolls her eyes, "I'm sorry for the disruption, just tell him I'll be down in about ten minutes."
"Very good, thank you, Ma'am."
Brianna smiles as the woman walks away and locks the door once more. All she can see and hear is the disgust and anger in his eyes and voice just before he left through the stones. It sounds like he is still angry and only getting more so for having to wait longer to see them.
"What is it, Mama?" he asks anxiously.
"Jem, let's get freshened up and brush our teeth and change our clothes. It's time for dinner." Luckily, she doesn't have to ask twice.
But even after all that, they are still ready to go faster than she feels ready to see Roger, and already her heart rate is speeding up. She takes hold of Jemmy's hand and kneels down to his level.
"Listen, Jemmy, part of the reason we're here is because this is where your Daddy is. This is the place we were all supposed to go to together."
"Daddy's here?!"
"He is waiting downstairs. Are you ready to go see him?"
He doesn't quite shriek but it isn't far off, not even responding to her with actual words. She has to grab hold of his hand once more before unlocking and opening the door. He is pulling on her with an impressive amount of strength and she pulls him closer, having to tighten her grip as they descend the staircase one step at a time. When Roger comes into her view he is pacing, and she imagines he's been doing it the whole time he's been here. She swallows hard, trying to control her breathing as she does her best to not cry or run.
"Roger…" her voice isn't as loud as she intends, but he still hears her and whirls around in search of her. Their eyes lock, and instead of looking angry like she feared he looks wrecked, and utterly relieved.
"Bree…" he breathes, his eyes tear up and he starts heading their way. She lets go of Jem who is trying his hardest to escape.
"Daddy!"
If his eyes were teary when he saw her, the look of surprise and elation that takes over near shatters her heart, making it even harder to breathe. Jemmy is laughing as he's lifted off the ground, Roger near crushing him in a hug. She takes longer than necessary to walk such a short distance, giving them time to just say hello and hug.
"Hello Roger," she says, standing close enough to touch them.
"Brianna…" he starts, but he can't say anything else, his arm reaches out and pulls her to the two of them. The three of them stand in a quietly emotional hug, for how long she doesn't know. When his breathing evens out and he relaxes his hold, Roger meets her eyes, "I thought you – when I came through alone I didn't know what happened. I thought you were both dead."
"I thought the same about you, but it doesn't matter. We're here now,"
Lord John is standing on Craigh Na Dun, staring at the stone circle that started it all. His hand reaches out, shaking, but the closer he gets the more he feels as if he is being pulled. Rather than touch the intricately carved pagan symbols he pulls his hand away. He steps back, grabbing the reigns of his horse to return to Lallybroch. Just before he could get on, something comes flying out of the stones, rather someone. Two someone's. His heart near stops in his chest and blood runs cold as the little boy stands up and looks around.
"Lord John!"
In his entire life, John has never moved faster than in this moment to get to Jeremiah. He is taller and a bit bigger but still the boy reaches his arms up towards him, eyes wide and visibly frightened. John lifts Jemmy easily into his arms and the boy hugs him, instantly hiding his face in John's shoulder. John is squeezing him perhaps a little too tightly, and he has to force himself to loosen his hold, pushing the hair back from his face to make sure it is really him.
A man is groaning in pain, a man who is not Roger and still there is no sight of him or Brianna in sight.
"Get your hands off 'im! He's mine!" the man yells with a familiar Scottish brogue. He is clearly disoriented from the trip through the stones, trying and failing to stand and fight him.
The words make John take slow, measured steps backwards, not turning his back to the man or the stones.
"What happened, Jeremiah? Where is your mother?" he asks, keeping his fear out of his voice as he rubs the boys back in slow soothing circles.
Without lifting his head, he answers, "He took me. Daddy helped him." John's heart constricts and he tries to breathe to continue to mask the ever-increasing panic surging through him. There is a heart-breaking detachment in his quiet voice and it only makes him worry more.
"Roger helped him take you from Brianna?" he clarifies, praying he heard him wrong. But the boy only gives a nod of his head. "Do you know why?"
"They want gems and gold…" Jeremiah lifts his head slightly and leans in closer, "Grandpa buried it in our secret place." He whispers.
"Alright, I am going to sit you on my horse's saddle. Do you think you can sit still for a moment?" John is relieved as the boy nods with enthusiasm, adjusting his position to prove his point.
"Grandpa taught me…"
"I am sure he did…" John gives an encouraging smile and though he doesn't want to step away, he turns his attention to the blackguard who is now on his knees, slightly more coherent. Letting his faux mask of calm courtesy dissolve, John punches him and kicks him square in the chest, pushing him back against the stones.
"Who tha bloody 'ell're you?!" the man demands, doubling over as he coughs for breath.
"I am someone who is well acquainted with the boy and his mother." As the man regains his balance once more, John removes his sword from its sheath, "Where is she?" he turns sheet white, terrified and stock still as John sets the blade against the pulse point in his neck.
"She's safe with 'er husband…" the man spits the words along with the blood from his mouth.
John's jaw clenches, swallowing hard the lump rising in his throat, "Will Brianna be joining you along with her husband?"
"No, that wasna the plan…" his eyes go wide, cutting himself off. John can only assume he had no intentions of saying those words out loud.
Immediately his mind is filled with the worst possible scenarios, the most disturbing of which is that this man had intentions of abusing Jemmy way out here where no one would find them. If Roger truly assisted this man, then Brianna is either entirely unaware of the situation or she is being held against her will and kept from her son.
John presses the blade even closer to his neck, "What is the plan?" Defiance flares in the man's eyes and when he doesn't answer, John returns back to Jemmy.
"How would you like to see your Grandpa, Jeremiah?" he lights up at that.
"Is he here?"
"Not right here but he is nearby. I know he is going to be delighted to see you."
"Is grandma with him?"
"Indeed she is…" John mounts the horse behind him, placing a protective arm over him as he grabs the reigns. Moving his horse to block the man's path, John once again points the blade at his face. "You are going to join us. I am sure Brianna's mother and father will be only too eager to hear about what you had planned for their grandson..."
He motions with the blade that the man get moving in front of them, and still full of defiance in his eyes he starts walking. It's going to be a slow journey back to Lallybroch, but John has nothing to secure the man with nor did he want to let him out of his sight. Once John sets the sword back in its sheath, Jeremiah adjusts his position to side-saddle, wrapping his small arms around him in an attempt to either hug him or hide. John suspects it is the latter of the two as he secures his one arm around him, bringing his head closer and whispering that he will keep him safe until they can reunite him with his mother.
A/N: As stated in previous notes, don't worry it will be ok I swear!
