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[givingback]

I'm not going anywhere my mother doesn't go.

[ And as far as she knows, Claire's never leaving Jamie again. So, he has them. Both of them, and she leans into his one-armed hug. She believes him; she doesn't know him, but she believes him, instantly. Maybe it's that she knows her mother trusts him, maybe it's because he's a part of her. Whatever it is, she doesn't doubt anything he's saying.

When she finally pulls back, it's to open the door and let him through ahead of her because he has the tray, and God knows how long he's been carrying it. ]

I found him. Loitering.

[ She teases. ]

drags Claire back in

[backlashing]

[For a man in his 40s, he does manage to look like a little boy about to be scolded as he steps into the room. Thanks for tossing him under the carriage, Bree.]

I just, ah, thought ye might need a moment or two to talk.

[He sets the tray down on the table in the room and pulls out a chair, nodding over to Bree. For her.]

Meat's still warm.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Claire pauses mid-pace when the two redheads make their return. So, just as she thought. There's a clear look of relief when they're back, and that's really all that matters.]

It's all right. [Jamie's in her good graces for the foreseeable future. As far as she can say, at least.]

While we eat, we should probably figure out how tonight is going to work.

[He had been leading her to where he'd been staying, but there's three of them, not just two. This room is small--Jamie alone could barely fit on the bed.]

[givingback]

Also, I was thinking about something.

[ Bree has no idea how much she's supposed to contribute to this, and she clears her throat. ]

If you're Alexander Malcolm here, it's for a reason. So mama and I should have the same last name as you.

[ Now, she looks at Jamie. ]

Right?

[backlashing]

[Clever girl. Once he's seated and he pushes in her chair, and Claire sits herself, he finally joins them. He gives Claire a pleased smile--they already fumbled over how to introduce her to others when he was handling business earlier.]

Aye, you're right. Claire Malcolm and Brianna Malcolm, for now. [He reaches for one of the rolls he was given from the kitchen.] I havena gone by the name Fraser in a verra long time. The English don't much like me, ye ken. [A smile now for Bree.] Save for ye mother. Never could figure that one out.

[nineteenfortyfive]

I'm glad you still have your sense of humor.

[And so does Claire, her eyes rolling before she reaches for some food for her plate as well.]

We could rent a bigger room here, maybe? [She's going back to that, oblivious to how Jamie's gaze shifts from her to the food. He's not at ease.] Unless someone takes the floor. I'm afraid we don't have too much coin with us.

[Transportation, Food, board, and new clothes cost a lot.]

[givingback]

[ Bree fixes her plate too, quietly as she thinks about it. It's not up to her to come up with a solution, she knows, but she can't help looking at him. ]

Will you stay here? I could even sleep on the floor, it doesn't matter.

[ Her mother should get to be in the same bed with him again, after all, maybe. She doesn't want to think about that much. ]

I'm afraid if I sleep again and you leave, I'll wake up in 1968 and this won't be real.

[backlashing]

The floor? Ach, no, ye won't be sleeping on the floor. [Preposterous. He does have a thought to take them to the brothel, but some flicker of foresight pulls the reins on that idea. Do you really want to bring your wife and daughter to a whorehouse, Fraser? No.]

I can see if they've got a bigger room with more beds after we finish up. I'm no' going anywhere, Brianna. I promised.

[He briefly puts a hand on her arm before going back to his plate.]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[He promised, did he? What did they talk about when Bree went to fetch him?]

And you shouldn't be sleeping on the floor, either, before you can suggest it. [Not at his age.] I'm sure they have another bed. [She's not betting on sharing one with Jamie any time soon. It's too much, especially with Bree with them.]

If not... we'll figure something out.

[Maybe they just won't sleep.]

[givingback]

[ At some point, she realizes, she'll have to make herself scarce so her mother and Jamie can...whatever. She won't think about it. Maybe Fergus can be her guide, but she'll wait to bring that up later. Instead, she focuses on eating the food on her plate. ]

It'll work out as long as we're together.

[ She smiles at Jamie then, because he did promise, and she knows he won't break it. ]

[backlashing]

[The thought of being with Claire isn't far from Jamie's mind, but in the face of having his daughter near, he can happily ignore it.]

Aye.

[A bite of food, and he makes a thoughtful noise.]

I'll have to get someone to watch the shop here, but we can see about visiting Lallybroch.

[... he should probably bring young Ian home before his father comes looking for him.]

[nineteenfortyfive]

I was telling Bree a little about sleeping out under the stars, like we used to. I also told her when we first met.

[She covers up her smile by taking a drink. There you go, redheads. Have at it.]

It was her request.

[givingback]

[ Bree smiles brightly at the idea of visiting Lallybroch, then ducks her head with a soft laugh before looking at Jamie, her eyebrow arched. ]

Are you still so accident prone? How many times has she patched you up anyway? Also, if it makes you feel better she's patched me up a lot, too. So many skinned knees.

[backlashing]

... I dinna think I should answer that. [He says with a grin, stuffing more food into his mouth as he relaxes. Twenty years has left him with a few new scars, and God, he had wished Claire had been there to fix his hurts. The wound on his leg almost killed him after Culloden, and Fergus losing his hand had been terrifying. It all would have been easier with her there.

But then, a little more seriously:]

I lost count of how many times yer mother fixed my wee scratches, but she always did a good job of it.

[And he dares to reach out a hand to cover Claire's, the scars on his fingers lighter, but still there.]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[The touch makes Claire smile. She can feel the fingers are still stiff, but they move a little easier than they once did. Her hand turns in his to give it a brief squeeze before she speaks.]

I hope a printer doesn't get into brawls or shot as if he's getting paid for it.

[givingback]

[ It's so amazing to watch the two of them interact, and Bree gets so caught up in watching them that for a second she doesn't realize the conversation has lulled. But it's comfortable this time, and she smiles at both of them. ]

Once, I fell out of a tree mama told me not to climb, multiple times, and I fell out and broke my arm. But she made me feel so safe. I was afraid, but it was okay, I knew it would be somehow.

[ When she looks at Claire, her smile is warm. It's a memory she hasn't thought about in so long, but to have her there taking care of her meant everything. A part of her thinks no matter how much time passes, she'll always need her that way.

Another (selfish) reason she wanted to come. ]

[backlashing]

I dinna much listen to her either. Got me into trouble more than I'd like to admit, but she fixed it up, always. Though she wasn't always gentle wi' it.

[Just like now, when she pinches his hand and he pulls it away with a smile and a soft ouch. He remembers how angry she could be when he got stabbed or got himself stepped on by a horse, or something like that. Sometimes she wasn't all that gentle but she made sure he lived.]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Claire's moved, but she's quickly distracted by Jamie's comment. So, he gets pinched.]

The both of you'd better listen, now. I've less patience these days. [Not true.] No skinned knees, no broken arms, broken toes, or anything that makes my blood pressure go up.

[Good luck.]

[givingback]

[ Brianna ducks her head and laughs softly. ]

I'll promise if he promises.

[ Now, she eyes Jamie, raising an eyebrow. ]

[backlashing]

[Jamie, popping a grape into his mouth, lifts both his brows and looks between the two women.

He can only give a playful shrug of his shoulder. The man doesn't make empty promises.]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[That just earns Jamie an audible kick under the table.]

Already a terrible influence.

[givingback]

[ Bree's laughter is loud and bright at the kick, and it's so genuine, a moment between a daughter and her parents being ridiculous as she tears off a piece of bread. And from there, information pours out of her. She tells him about the horse riding of course, about being so unsure about school and what she wanted to do or be. About her imaginary friend as a five-year-old, going on trips, how much she loves bunnies and always wanted one, and about going to the beach. It's so easy once she gets going and she very carefully omits Frank. It's hard, but she doesn't want to make the lightness leave either of their faces. ]

[backlashing]

[Bree has Jamie's entire attention. The food and drink is forgotten as he takes in every word, every expression. He's an active listener, making little noises here and there, nodding, and asking questions when she might mention something he doesn't understand. He knows there will be a lot of that.

He tells her some of himself. Of his studies in Paris, of when his father taught him to ride, of getting into trouble with his mother, of getting lost in the woods and Jenny scolding him worse than their parents.]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Claire could interject with her own commentary but for once, doesn't. She's happy to let Bree and Jamie talk. Catch up on lives that never got a chance to cross before now. It's everything she's wanted. It makes so much of the pain and suffering simply not matter in this moment.

She listens, unable to stop smiling.]

[givingback]

[ She decides to circle back to this whole Paris thing. ]

How old were you when you went to Paris all alone?

[ She's so intrigued, not getting any ideas at all, no, not her. ]