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Claire p.o.v.

I leave my hotel early in the morning and manage to rent a car very fast. So, it's almost noon when I arrive in Inverness. I'm very happy to see Mrs. Baird's bed and breakfast is still there. As I walk into the bed and breakfast Mrs. Baird is standing at the reception. As soon as she sees me, she seems to recognize me. I almost forgot that I was quite the story five years ago here in Inverness. I had hoped they'd forgotten by now, but judging by the look on Mrs. Baird her face that's not the case.

"Bless my soul! Mrs. Randall! How nice to see you after all these years." She greets me with a little more enthusiasm than I expected.

"Hello Mrs. Baird. It has been a while indeed. I was wondering if you have a room available for three to four nights."

"Yes of course my dear. Is Mr. Randall not with you?" She asks as she notices I'm here alone.

"No, it's just me this time." I think of Frank and how he might feel now that I've left, but I'm still confident I made the right decision.

Mrs. Baird hands me a key. I thank her and make my way upstairs. Luckily, it's not the same room as the one I was in with Frank. That would probably feel a bit uncomfortable. I put my suitcases down in the room but don't want to stay there for long. I feel restless at the thought of going to the stones at Craigh na Dun but I'm just curious if I'm still able to hear them, and I just want to feel that close to Jamie once again.

So, I put my coat back on and go back to the car to make my way to Craigh na Dun.

Jamie p.o.v.

When Ian told me yesterday that he and Jenny were going to Craigh na Dun today I didn't really know how to feel. A part of me hates that place and wants them to stay away from there, but another part of me loves it there because that's the last place I saw Claire at. I understand that they want to say a proper goodbye to Claire now that they know the truth, but goodbye is such a final word, and I don't know if I'm ready to say it just yet.

The whole night I've laid awake thinking about whether I'll go with them to Craigh na Dun or not, but I have decided that I will be joining them. I feel that Claire would have wanted me to go with them. She would have wanted me to be with my family and go through this with them instead of alone.

So here we are. We've already ridden for a couple of hours, and I suspect we'll be at the stones in about an hour or two. There's a nervous flutter in my stomach but Murtagh, who also decided to come, is doing his best to keep me distracted from it.

Ian and Jenny ride ahead of us. It was difficult for Jenny this morning, leaving the kids at Lallybroch. But some of the people working there have been there since we ourselves were little children, so they're in good hands. Jenny and Ian seem to be dealing well with all the information they learned yesterday. Although I have sensed a change in Jenny. I always knew she missed Claire, but it is now that she knows the truth and is on her way to say goodbye to the woman who was like a sister to her, that she finally shows a little bit of that emotion. And I'm very glad she has Ian to be there for her.

We make a quick stop to have some lunch and then we get on our horses again to ride the last few miles. Every few minutes I have to remind myself to just keep breathing.

Claire p.o.v.

I parked the car at the foot of Craigh na Dun more than half an hour ago, but I don't have the courage yet to get out. Just looking at the stones is giving me goosebumps all over my body. My mind has been flashing back to the day I first went through the stones. I just wanted to take a look at the forget me not's when I heard the buzzing sound and… well… the rest happened. I laugh a bit at the irony of the name of the flower. Forget me not. How fitting for everything that happened there.

I take a deep breath and get out of the car. The walk to the stone circle is short but to me it feels like the longest walk of my life. I'm only a few feet away from the outer stones when I start to hear and feel it, the buzzing sound. It's like it's echoing in my bones. I stop walking and really allow myself to feel this. Then I notice the little purple flower growing at the foot of one of the stones. I step forward and touch the flower lightly. Yes, forget me nots. It brings a smile to my face.

The big stone in the middle of the circle is buzzing loudly and draws my attention back to it. I take a few steps closer to it but stay far away enough to avoid any accidental time traveling. This is it right? This was my plan. I was going to come here and say goodbye to Jamie and then move on with my life. But standing here right now, it's almost like I can feel him standing behind me and putting his arms around me. I close my eyes to fully embrace that feeling for a moment.

I remember everything about him. I feel his touch, how he used to cup my face with his hands when he kissed me. His soft lips on mine. My hand running through his red curls. I feel so much at the same time that my legs buckle under the emotions. The images leave my mind. I'm on hands and knees in the grass, just a few feet from the stone.

I can't do it. Not today, maybe not ever. I can't say goodbye to Jamie. I let the tears fall, all of them. I cry over the loss of the love of my life. I know he wanted to protect me by sending me back through the stones, but damn it hurts. It still hurts so much to be the one out of the two to survive. Sometimes I wish I would have died when I had the miscarriage. Maybe then we would be together again in heaven.

My tears dry a bit as I try to shake these thoughts off of me. I have to get away from this place, before the darkness inside me consumes me.

"Jamie…. My Jamie…" I whisper. "You will always have my heart. I love you."

And with that said I manage to pick myself up off the ground and walk back to the car. The buzzing sound begins to subside, but my tears start running down my face again. In an emotional haze I start the drive back to the bed and breakfast. I'm planning to get in bed and not get out again today.

Jamie p.o.v.

Here we are, Craigh na Dun. Jenny and Ian are already standing in the stone circle. I didn't even realize my feet were frozen in place until Murtagh grabs my arm and pulls me forward.

"Come on lad. I'm with you."

I remember the first time I was here with Claire. She had just told me the truth about who she was, and although it hurt me, I thought she had to have the chance to go back to her own time. Back to Frank. But then she came back to me, she chose me. But then came Culloden and I forced her to go back through the stones, to give herself and our child the best chances of a good life. It was the single most painful thing that ever happened to me, but at the time I didn't have another choice. I did what I thought was best.

Before I know it, I'm standing in the stone circle together with Ian, Jenny and Murtagh. Jenny turns around and looks at me, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Is this it then?" She asks as she points towards the big stone in the middle.

"Yes. Yes, that's it." I answer.

Jenny leans forward and touches the stone. My heart makes a little jump as if something was going to happen, but of course nothing happens.

My mind starts wandering again. It's as if Claire is here with me. I can almost feel her. In a perfect world we would have told Jenny and Ian together and she would have traveled with us to the stones to tell them all about us. She would stand in front of me, and I would put my arms around her as she told her story. I would hold her partly because I always just want to be close to her, and partly to prevent her from touching the stones on accident. Standing here now it's almost as if she's really here. I can even smell the scent of her hair. But I know it's all just my imagination as Jenny's voice breaks through my daydream and I open my eyes again.

"I thought I was coming here to say goodbye, but that doesn't feel right." She says it while smiling through her tears.

She puts her hands on the stone once again and looks up towards the sky. My heart breaks a little more when she starts talking to Claire as if she would be able to hear it.

"Claire. Jamie told us, finally. I always knew you were special. Truth is I came here today to say goodbye, but it's not really goodbye is it. You were my first sister, and you always will be my sister I hope you're safe, and my niece or nephew too. Just know you'll always have a place with us Claire. I don't know how this works exactly but maybe you'll try to come back one day, and if you do we'll all be here for you. I miss you." Jenny's just full on sobbing now.

Before either Ian or Murtagh can move I'm already standing next to her and I'm wrapping her in my arms. I didn't notice at first, but my own tears are running freely down my cheeks as well. As much as it pains me to see Jenny like this, it's also kind of a relieve to me to finally be able to share my grief with someone. After a minute or two Jenny's sobs have subsided a bit. I make eye contact with Ian, who I can see has been crying too. He understands what I'm trying to say with my eyes, and I gently push Jenny in the direction of him. She looks me in the eyes and also understands. Ian puts an arm around her.

Murtagh, also with tears in his eyes, stands next to me. He lays his hand on my back.

"Talk to her Jamie. We'll be by the horses when you're ready."

And with that the three of them walk back towards the horses. Leaving me to have a minute to myself.

I lift my shaking hands up to the stone and put my forehead against it.

"Claire… mo nighean donn… I'm here." I say, my voice trembling with emotions. "I told Jenny and Ian everything. I wish you were here to tell them yourself. I hope you and our son or daughter are doing well." I pause for a moment.

"God Claire, I would give anything to see you again, to hold you in my arms one more time. I have always loved you and I will continue to love you for as long as I live and even after that. Forever, mo ghràdh."

I let go of the stone and wipe my tears from my face. I thought it would be too hard to do this, but it also felt good to talk to her. I take one last look at the stone and then I turn around to go back to where the rest are waiting on me. I am by the edge of the stone circle when the wind picks up. I have chills running down my spine and then I hear something like a whisper in my ear. Jamie. I love you.