oh, dinna fash, lad. i'll remember you } OPEN + CLOSED

[1743]

Who: Jamie Fraser + ALL
Where: Around Wonderland
When: Early December
Rating: PG-13 (will edit if needed)
Summary: Old man Jamie returns to Wonderland, wiser and with questionable hair.
The Story:

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[beautifullies]

"She's still here," Claire says quickly to reassure him. "She's here, and she was maybe more upset than I was when she realized you were gone."

Not really, no one was more upset than Claire, but it was a significant amount. "She was afraid the two of you would have to start over again already."

[1743]

"My wee lass," he breathes out, with so much tenderness and love in his voice, finally letting out the tense breath he'd been holding. "I've ached to have her in my arms for so long, Claire. And now, here, I'm granted that small mercy."

[beautifullies]

Claire knows this is all he wants, to have his daughter, to be able to hold onto her, gaze upon her and know that she's his.

It isn't fair, it will never be fair, that Jamie has never held either of his daughters, at least at home. So here, at least, there's something.

"We have time, here," she says softly. "We have enough time." She finds his lips and kisses him tenderly, then again and again.

[1743]

"Aye. That we do," he murmurs softly, nuzzling her cheek before kissing her again. Then he just runs his fingers through her hair so lovingly, breathing her in despite having just held her in his arms but an hour ago.

"Come, Sassenach," he murmurs, kissing both her hands. "We should return to our room. Our home, here."

[beautifullies]

"That's a good idea, Jamie Fraser," she murmurs. "Because I've missed you. Very much," she murmurs. "But I need my basket first," Claire says with a smile, nuzzling the side of his nose with her own.

[1743]

"Aye. I'll fetch it," he offers, kissing just the tip of her nose tenderly before grabbing the basket for her. Then he offers her his arm, leading her back to the mansion.

"Before my mind is too preoccupied," he smiles over at her. "Fergus, Marsali, Ian. They survived the shipwreck, Claire. That was...the last ye'd remembered, aye?"

[beautifullies]

For a second, she feels like her knees might buckle. She'd thought they were lost to the sea, and hearing that they're safe is such a relief that she has to pause for a second, closing her eyes. At his question, she nods, but has one of her own.

"'Survived' but are they all right?"

[1743]

"They're well," he smiles broadly. "More than well, Claire. We're to be grandparents," he breathes out, tugging her hand to his lips.

[beautifullies]

Whatever she was expecting to hear, it wasn't that, and her eyes widen, filling with new, bright, happy tears. "Marsali..."

She laughs in sheer joy at the idea, and once, maybe, it would have filled her with a twinge of aching, knowing she would never be there for Bree's first child. But Bree is coming to them, and everyone, all of them, will be together.

"Jamie, we're finally getting everything we always wanted," she whispers, voice breaking a little.

[1743]

"All that we deserve, Sassenach," he smiles with so much joy at her, kissing her. He couldn't have possibly imagined that his life would be filled in such a way, even just a year ago. That Claire returned to him at all was the most incredible blessing, but that life - though not without its obstacles before them - also continued to give them so much was truly a miracle from the Almighty. Brianna coming back to them is the height of their joy, and though he'll always worry about his daughter being stuck in the past, out of place and time, he's so happy that their family will be together at last.