[ Claire drops her hand at the reminder and looks pained for a moment. ]
Christ, I can't believe you went through the stones. I understand why you did it, I don't fault you for it. I'm not angry, but I am worried for you. Bree, the 18th century is...dangerous. For women, especially.
[ She doesn't want to go into the finer details, not right now and maybe not ever. But it's important to her that she knows. ]
I trust that you're strong and brave and very quick-witted and smart. Do you know what your plan is yet?
[ She says it like the most obvious think in the world, then she gets up and goes to the cloak she was wearing and pulls something out. Returning to the bed, she takes her mother's hand and drops the Scottish pearls into her palm, the pearls that had been a gift from Jamie. ]
I thought these might be proof enough, that this random red-headed girl from the colonies really is the daughter of James Fraser.
[ Claire takes the pearls, her wedding gift from Jamie such a long time ago now - 24 years ago - and she looks at them with a soft smile. ]
May I keep these for a moment? Just to show Jamie.
[ It's not as long as it has been for her, if they were the same age it would have been just as long since he'd seen them. But still, she wants him to know their daughter has them now. ]
And that is smart, Bree. You look just like Jamie's mother did.
You no doubt saw the message on the network from Alice? That means something is coming. An event, like I was telling you about. That's all the warning we receive, and I don't know what to expect. No one does, not really. It could be something where our memories are played with, or it could be something that tries to harm us. I can't even be sure we'll all know one another. But if we do, please. Stay close, Bree. This isn't me trying to coddle you, things can be more dangerous than they seem when it's calm.
[ Christ, other than bleed out and pray for salvation? ]
The same thing I've done my entire life. Help people, the best I can if they're hurt or just need support. If we know ourselves, in any case.
[ Reaching out, she strokes Brianna's hair again, tucking it behind her ear. ]
A long time ago, Jamie promised me the protection of his body if need be. We both want you to know that extends to you as well. It will take time, I know, to get to know him, but he would still do anything for you.
[ Bree goes quiet at that, rolling the words around in her mind. She had a father who would have done anything for her that she knew and loved. Now she has Jamie, and she doesn't know him, she has no idea how she feels about him, but already he would step in front of danger for her. ]
I want to get to know him. I just thought I'd have more time. A long journey to prepare for the moment I saw his face.
[ Claire's hand goes to he daughter's shoulder, squeezing gently. ]
We know. He knows. This is a lot to come face to face with, and so suddenly. You can go at your pace. He won't push you, I promise. That you even want to get to know him right now is enough.
I can already tell, you know. The difference between you and daddy and you and Jamie. The way you're always touching somewhere, whether you're holding hands or his hand is on your back. You and daddy, you were...you were never that close.
[ Claire swallows heavily and then reaches for Brianna's hands, holding them in her own as she looks at her, right in the eyes. ]
Bree, I did love Frank. I loved the father he was to you. My love for him was a different sort of love than what I have with Jamie.
[ But she shows her now, the gold wedding band still on her finger. ]
There is a reason I've never taken this off. They're different reasons than why I've never taken off Jamie's ring. But they matter the same. And you never, ever, have to feel badly about loving the man who raised you with as much as your heart is capable of. It's what Jamie wanted, knowing he couldn't be there to do it himself. Frank was a good man, and there are things I will always love him for.
[ There's a part of her that wants to cry, right now, and she looks down, swallowing a sudden lump in her throat. She doesn't understand, but then she's never had the experience her mother has. How could she, really? ]
I was so angry at you. Not because you loved someone else. But because for twenty years, you let me believe a lie. I'm not...I'm not angry anymore, I just want to try and understand everything. Why you thought some lie was better than you and daddy sitting down and telling me the truth.
[ Claire's heart truly feels like it's breaking a little. She wasn't ready for this conversation any more than Brianna had been ready to meet Jamie so suddenly. ]
Frank wanted to be a father so incredibly badly, and we tried, before the war, after. It just never happened. But he wanted it, so much, that he never wanted you to know that you weren't his biological child. He never wanted you to believe you meant any less to him because he didn't help make you. We talked about it, once, if we would ever say anything to you but he was afraid it would push you away.
[ Claire sighs softly, knowing that would have been far from the truth. They could have simply told her anything; that there was a time when Claire and Frank were separated and it was a long road but they made it back to one another. ]
There isn't much we could have said anyway that wouldn't have been either unbelievable or hurtful. Neither of us wanted that. It was a lie, on both of our parts, and for that, I'm truly sorry Brianna. I don't know what I would change or if I could, but we only had your happiness in mind.
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I suppose I can't really say much about the clothing. Since it'll be my wardrobe too, eventually.
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Christ, I can't believe you went through the stones. I understand why you did it, I don't fault you for it. I'm not angry, but I am worried for you. Bree, the 18th century is...dangerous. For women, especially.
[ She doesn't want to go into the finer details, not right now and maybe not ever. But it's important to her that she knows. ]
I trust that you're strong and brave and very quick-witted and smart. Do you know what your plan is yet?
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[ She says it like the most obvious think in the world, then she gets up and goes to the cloak she was wearing and pulls something out. Returning to the bed, she takes her mother's hand and drops the Scottish pearls into her palm, the pearls that had been a gift from Jamie. ]
I thought these might be proof enough, that this random red-headed girl from the colonies really is the daughter of James Fraser.
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May I keep these for a moment? Just to show Jamie.
[ It's not as long as it has been for her, if they were the same age it would have been just as long since he'd seen them. But still, she wants him to know their daughter has them now. ]
And that is smart, Bree. You look just like Jamie's mother did.
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[ She's not really a pearls and lace type of girl, and with her new adventure, well. Marriage seems far off. ]
Did you come in here to talk to me about something specific?
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[ She smiles though, before going serious. ]
You no doubt saw the message on the network from Alice? That means something is coming. An event, like I was telling you about. That's all the warning we receive, and I don't know what to expect. No one does, not really. It could be something where our memories are played with, or it could be something that tries to harm us. I can't even be sure we'll all know one another. But if we do, please. Stay close, Bree. This isn't me trying to coddle you, things can be more dangerous than they seem when it's calm.
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I'll try, I promise.
[ If she even knows who she is, apparently. ]
What have you done during events in the past? What do you do?
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The same thing I've done my entire life. Help people, the best I can if they're hurt or just need support. If we know ourselves, in any case.
[ Reaching out, she strokes Brianna's hair again, tucking it behind her ear. ]
A long time ago, Jamie promised me the protection of his body if need be. We both want you to know that extends to you as well. It will take time, I know, to get to know him, but he would still do anything for you.
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I want to get to know him. I just thought I'd have more time. A long journey to prepare for the moment I saw his face.
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[ Claire's hand goes to he daughter's shoulder, squeezing gently. ]
We know. He knows. This is a lot to come face to face with, and so suddenly. You can go at your pace. He won't push you, I promise. That you even want to get to know him right now is enough.
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I can already tell, you know. The difference between you and daddy and you and Jamie. The way you're always touching somewhere, whether you're holding hands or his hand is on your back. You and daddy, you were...you were never that close.
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Bree, I did love Frank. I loved the father he was to you. My love for him was a different sort of love than what I have with Jamie.
[ But she shows her now, the gold wedding band still on her finger. ]
There is a reason I've never taken this off. They're different reasons than why I've never taken off Jamie's ring. But they matter the same. And you never, ever, have to feel badly about loving the man who raised you with as much as your heart is capable of. It's what Jamie wanted, knowing he couldn't be there to do it himself. Frank was a good man, and there are things I will always love him for.
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I was so angry at you. Not because you loved someone else. But because for twenty years, you let me believe a lie. I'm not...I'm not angry anymore, I just want to try and understand everything. Why you thought some lie was better than you and daddy sitting down and telling me the truth.
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Frank wanted to be a father so incredibly badly, and we tried, before the war, after. It just never happened. But he wanted it, so much, that he never wanted you to know that you weren't his biological child. He never wanted you to believe you meant any less to him because he didn't help make you. We talked about it, once, if we would ever say anything to you but he was afraid it would push you away.
[ Claire sighs softly, knowing that would have been far from the truth. They could have simply told her anything; that there was a time when Claire and Frank were separated and it was a long road but they made it back to one another. ]
There isn't much we could have said anyway that wouldn't have been either unbelievable or hurtful. Neither of us wanted that. It was a lie, on both of our parts, and for that, I'm truly sorry Brianna. I don't know what I would change or if I could, but we only had your happiness in mind.
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I need to...process this. I understand it, I just need to think about. Give me time.
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[ Standing, Claire leans down just to kiss the top of her daughter's head before stepping back. ]
I'll leave you to it, then. But if you ever...
[ She pauses, then just smiles softly. ]
Let me know if you have more questions. I'll answer them. We promised, after all: no more secrets. No more lies.
[ Going to the door, she steps through it but turns back and just before shutting it gently, says one last thing. ]
I love you. Good night, Bree.