[ For a moment there, she sounds exactly like Claire, and it makes him smile before reaching for her hand and squeezing gently. ]

If I could have raised ye myself, Brianna, I would have. There's nothing I truly wanted so much as to raise ye at Lallybroch, give ye brothers and sisters. But I kent it, the day I realized ye were in your mother's belly, it wouldna be possible.

[ Maybe the realization had come a bit later, like when he and Claire were plunging a dagger into Dougal's heart. But still. ]

I'm glad she went. She most likely would have been killed only for being my wife, and you along wi' her.