#Teenage Jamie and Claire AU

[imagineclaireandjamie]

Lord!!!' I am so in love with The Gateway!!! Thank you for this AU. It is so magnificent. I cannot wait for the next installment. Thank you. This blog is my jam. You all rock!

anonymous asked:

I am eagerly waiting for The Getaway! I love it!

anonymous asked:

Loved the latest Getaway. Those crazy kids.

diversemediums asked:

Could we get another installment of The Getaway please?

anonymous asked:

Any plans to continue The Getaway?

Wrapping her large scarf around her neck, Claire waited in the draughty bus station walking from end to end as she tried to decipher the local routes. Hungry and cold, it’d been just over two days of heavy travelling and the extended journey was beginning to take its toll on poor Claire.

“Ma’am...madam?” Calling out, the conductor waved his hands in front of Claire’s face as she shuddered and focused her energy back onto the poor man who was trying to give her advice.

“S-sorry, what did you say?” she returned, blinking the haze away as she rubbed her hands together in the frigid station.

“The next bus, miss, it’s ready to leave in five minutes from stand two, alright?”

Nodding her head, she glanced the length of the building, her chest constricting as she faced the prospect of finally reaching her intended destination. The whole way here she’d been convinced of her decision, certain that Jamie’s presence would fix the fear that had taken root deep in her bones the moment her suspicions had been realised.

But now, being so close to fulfilling that desire, Claire wondered if she was putting too much pressure on poor Jamie.

“Thank you,” she whispered to the kind gentleman as he tipped his hat and turned on his heel in the opposite direction.

Walking towards the waiting bus, Claire clenched her hands together, trying desperately to warm her frozen digits.

Sitting on the cheap plastic flip-down seats, Claire settled herself, pulling her full rucksack from her shoulders and resting it at her feet. There would be another bus along in thirty minutes, and she’d rather give herself that extra time to settle the uncertainty that was now bubbling inside her belly than set off in such a state.

“Ye look fair fashed, wean…” came a small voice to her left as Claire twisted her head to look at her mystery friend.

Sat on the bench beside her, an older lady sat, her knitting abandoned in her lap as she bent her head to the side, appraising Claire with a kind look in her eyes.

“Ye love him, aye?”

Shocked, Claire jumped a little as the words hit her.

Forced into a corner, there was nothing to say but an honest reply.

“...yes, and I’m about to ruin his life,” she almost choked out, her throat pulsing in time with her pounding heart.

There it was. The facts in black and white.

It wasn’t that she didn’t think Jamie would stand by her, that he wouldn’t do all he could to be her rock --hers and the baby’s.

But the crux of the matter was just that, whatever his plans for the future, she was about the stride into his life and tear them all down.

True enough, they were both responsible for what had happened. But Jamie had been a gentleman. He would have waited. He had forced her to actively contemplate what they’d been committing themselves to and she had thrown caution to the wind.

“I can see the cogs turning, lassie,” the lady broke in, snapping Claire from her maudlin thoughts. “And afore ye dig yer own grave and cover yerself over in the dirt, let me tell ye something…”

Raising her brows, Claire turned herself fully to face her new friend and relaxed her tense shoulders, thankful for the distraction.

“It isne just yers to take on, ken?”

Wetting her lips with her tongue, Claire blinked slowly before speaking. “H-how? Do you...is it obvious?” she stuttered, assuming the lady had guessed her predicament just from the look of her.

“I’m a mother, wee one…and yer rubbing your belly unconsciously, my dear.” Winking, she smiled pleasantly as she picked one stray knitting needle from a bag filled with wool and looped the long scarf-like material around the fresh metal.

“It was an accident, I’ve only just finished my exams.”

“--and ye dinna want an abortion?” The woman asked, playing devil's advocate with Claire’s emotions as she watched the horror play out on her face.

“No...no, I...that was never. No.” Claire returned, absolute certainty lacing her strong words. “She’s a part of me now, I couldn’t do it. Even if he sent me away.”

“Go to him, darling girl. Yer brave, I can see it in yer face. You are here, and ye didna spring it on him over the phone. Whatever ye feel inside,” she continued, standing as she repacked her small wool bag, brushing her short gray hair behind her ears, “going to him is the right thing. I believe in ye.”

Brushing passed Claire, she handed her a small piece of paper with a number written on it in beautiful cursive script.

“I had my son at seventeen, out of wedlock. My husband, the man who fathered my son, he was devastated that I hadna thought he would step up. We were married soon after and not a day goes by that I dinna think how much easier it would ha’ been had I just allowed him to bear some of the burden from the beginning. Trust me, dearie, I ken.”

Tapping her nose, she rested her bag over her arm and shuffled off in the direction of the exit, leaving Claire alone once more.

Folding the tiny strip of note paper, Claire slid it into her jeans pocket just as the next bus pulled into the bay and opened its doors.

Reaching into her jacket pocket, she pulled the last of her change and picked up her rucksack. Taking a deep breath she stepped onto the bus and paid her fare before sitting in the closest seat, her knee jiggling up and down as the engine idled, the constant whirring keeping her grounded.

Finally, the doors slammed shut and the driver reversed, the bus leaving the safety of Inverness behind.

Taking her book from the side pocket, Claire busied herself, hardly paying attention to the beautiful scenery as they began to pass along the length of Loch Ness.

It would be nearly an hour before she arrived in central Beauly, and then she’d have to find her own way to Lallybroch.

The kind man in the bus station had assured her the big Fraser house wasn’t too far from the main stop in the middle of the small village. But until she got closer, she decided not to add another worry to her ever expanding list.

It was nearly midday by the time the little passenger bus reached Claire’s intended destination, and the driver had to purposefully stop to remind her that she had arrived.

Thanking him, she slung her backpack over her shoulders once more and typed in the address to google maps on her phone.  

The automated voice read out the directions in her computerised voice as Claire wandered slowly along the main road before turning off when instructed. Her battery was low, but with any luck, she’d have her bearings before it completely died on her.

As it was, luck was on her side and just as the phone beeped to signal its near demise, Claire saw the large sign for ‘Broch Tuarach; Lallybroch’ pinned to a small hand-built wall.

Holding tightly to the straps of her bag, Claire began the meandering walk up the long drive, the sound of her feet crunching against the smattering of gravel keeping her on task.

As the familiar arch came into view, she slowed her pace, her eyes darting here and there as if anyone of the Fraser’s might suddenly appear before she’d had chance to solidify her thoughts and prepare herself.

“Pull yourself together, Beauchamp,” she chastised herself, her words floating off into the surrounding trees as she passed under the arch, “you can do this.”

Clattering rang out from the kitchen, the sound of dishes being washed coming from the open windows as Claire stood in front of the large wooden door. She could hear Ellen humming, the light airy song drifting through the air as she finally knocked, her mouth dry as a bone.

Waiting for someone to open up and let her in seemed to take an age, and by the time the door had begun to open, Claire had all but zoned out.

Ellen’s eyes grew wide as she saw her best friends daughter huddled on her stoop, a large bag filled to the brim hanging from her right shoulder.

Claire looked bedraggled.

Before Ellen could muster the words to ask how she’d travelled here from Oxford, Claire and dropped her rucksack and launched herself into her arms, clinging tight as she buried her face into Ellen’s neck.

“Och, Claire lassie...wha--” she began as she rubbed her hands over Claire’s back. It was as she pulled her off the step and into the main hallway that she felt it, the slight protrusion of Claire’s belly against hers. A sure sign of the babe that grew beneath her almost-daughter’s skin.

“Oh...my…” she muttered, the air leaving her lungs in a massive gust as she swayed Claire from side to side, taking in the unspoken truth of what had actually possessed Claire to make her way to their little home.

Claire said nothing.

Certain that Ellen knew exactly what was going on, she simply accepted human contact for the first time in a while, basking in the closeness she so desperately craved.

“Is he at school?” Claire whispered, her words muffled in Ellen’s woolen jumper.

“Aye, my dear. He is. Dinna fash though,” Ellen replied, her heart breaking for poor Claire; who’d obviously endured so much on her own, “I’ll make ye some willow-bark tea and run ye a bath, how does that suit?”

Stepping away, Ellen held onto Claire by the shoulders with one hand and let her other rest gently against her tear splattered face, her eyes soft and warm.

“I s-should have called, I should have--” Claire began, the words falling from her lips so quickly that Ellen almost didn’t catch the underlying meaning.

“Nay, Claire,” she broke in as she realised why Claire was werriting, “ye did the right thing. Yer alright. This is your home, a leannan, always.”

Nodding, Claire hiccuped and swallowed the last of her apologies, her heart finally calming as Ellen walked her into the sitting room and removed her coat for her.

“Now, do ye want to talk?” Ellen asked, a soft kindness in her voice as she sat next to Claire, holding her cool hands between her warm ones and rubbing her fingers gently.

“I do,” Claire replied, a tiny burst of life fluttering in her stomach as the first feelings of joy began to flow through her veins.

‘I’m going to be a mother.’ She thought, the image of a tiny baby with Jamie’s vibrant red locks appearing before her very eyes just as the feeling subsided and she shook her head.

“But I want to tell Jamie first...please.”

A small smile tugged at Ellen’s lips as she clenched Claire’s hands between her own.

“O’ course, Claire. But I have to ask,” Ellen finished, a glint of happiness sparking behind her eyes, “my darling girl, have ye told yer mam and da that yer here wi’ us?”

Letting her eyes fall to her lap, Claire shook her head. “No, but I can phone them now. It wasn’t that I was a coward, Auntie Ellen, I promise,” she pleaded, her words clear now as let all the anguish leave her system, fatigue taking root in her bones, “but you must understand-- I needed Jamie to hear it from me first.”

Chuckling, Ellen plucked the landline handset from its charging spot and passed the device to Claire.

“That I do, Claire. But now ye must tell them. And all o’ it, ye ken?”

Nodding, Claire began to key in the number of her father’s mobile, her sweaty fingers slipping on the plastic keypad as it started to ring out.

“I’ll be right here,” Ellen whispered, as she crept out of the large sitting room, closing the door behind her until it sat nearly level with the frame.

Taking a deep breath, Ellen listened only for a moment to ensure Claire had reached Henry and Julia before returning to the kitchen for the tea.

Looking out of the window, she gazed down the drive as the clouds began to lower, a soft pattering of rain falling and speckling the clean windows.

“Grandma Ellen,” she muttered, her fingers rapping against the marble countertop, her eyes watering at the prospect. “A wee bit young, weans,” she continued, a grin spreading across her mouth as she pictured Claire holding an infant as she paced in front of the fireplace in the lounge. A stunning image to be sure. “A bit young, aye. But no less perfect.”

Waiting for the kettle to finish its whistling, Ellen poured the boiling water into two cups before straining the decoction of willow-bark through the small infuser, swishing it around in each mug and watching as the faint traces of purple and brown swirled in the heated liquid.

Looking up at the ceiling, Ellen closed her eyes for just a moment and placed her palms together, an almost silent prayer falling from her lips as the family scene disappeared from her subconscious.

“Dear Lord,” she began, unaware of Claire as she peeked into the large kitchen, her eyes fixed on Ellen, “take care of them. Of Jamie, Claire and baby.”

Leaning her head against the wood, Claire smiled at Ellen’s words, the depth of the Fraser matriarch’s feelings for her warming her blood as she stepped backwards and returned to the sitting room.

This journey, she reasoned, would not be an easy one. But with the support of Jamie’s parents --and her own-- she was certain they would all prosper.

Secure in the knowledge that she had Ellen’s blessing, Claire tucked her legs under the throw on the sofa and closed her eyes, the effect of forty-eight hours on the road finally catching up to her as she dozed off.

“Sleep well, beautiful Claire,” Ellen sing-songed, pulling the blanket around her shoulders as she snuck back into the room and kissed her god-daughter on the forehead lightly, “dream sweet dreams, Sorcha…our fair English rose.”

#Anonymous #;Mod MBD #The Getaway #Teenage Jamie and Claire AU #teenage pregnancy

[renee-writer]

Teenage Daughters Chapter 24 A Good Night?

“So mam, did you have a good night?” Rory is asking before her eyes are even fully open. She stands by the brewing coffee waiting for it to get done and help with the lack of sleep.

“Good morning Rory. Coffee first.”

“Because it looks like you did. Like you haven’t had much sleep at all which can be a good thing. Not that I've had experience with that subject, it is just….”

“Rory Julia Fraser, mum needs coffee.” She tries again.

“I know mam. That is the point, why you need coffee. Lack of sleep means you had a real good night or a real bad night. Of course I am hoping it is the former. You deserve to have a good night mam. You and daddy.”

Claire groans as she pours the finally brewed coffee. After a few restorative sips, she is able to answer her.

“A good night. A grand night. For both of us.” Rory's squeal is a bit much for the early hour. But she has to smile, to see her so excited. “Your daddy and I,” Jamie enters the kitchen unseen by either lass, “well we are together. What that means practically when we head home, is still to be determined. But we are very much a couple.”

“Brilliant! I knew it. I just knew it! We will be a family, you, daddy, and I. Maybe even have a baby sister or brother?”

“Rory, I am 45. A bit past that.”

“I know you are old mam but you still can. I would help. I swear. I am good with my little cousins.” She looks at her pleadingly.

“A few step ahead, my love. Your daddy and I must discuss whether we will be living together, if then when, things like that before we even think of…”

“I want to live with you. Your place or mine matters not. Would also love to make another baby with you. You didn’t want Rory to be an only child. I would love to see you grow with life. Our life. Aye we will need to discuss it but I am on Rory’s side.”

“Jamie, I didn't know you were standing there.” He walks over and hugs his daughter good morning before kissing her mam.

“I didn’t wish to interrupt.” He pours his own coffee. “How was your night Rory?”

“So much fun. We all talked for hours. Did you know Maggie wants to be a veterinarian and Kitty wishes to join the military?” He nods and holds Claire to his side as they have coffee and listen to their daughter excitedly tell them all about her sleep-over. “Janet doesn’t know yet but she has time. They all love the fact I want to be a writer.”

She continues to talk as Jamie whispers in Claire’s ear, “I want this every morning.” She smiles, nods, and kisses him. A good morning.

#my writing #outlander fanfic #jamie and claire #cannon divergence #modern au #teenage daughters #a good night?

[itsafanficthing]

The Paper Boy - Chapter Six

Un-Beta'd, spell-checked (which doesn't particularly like the Scottish accent) and ready for reading. Enjoy! (also your comments inspire me to write more, so thank you for that!)

A03 is here

Jamie shifted uncomfortably next to Claire. He was bound to run into Laoghaire eventually. The school wasn’t that big.

“Hi Jamie,” Laoghaire greeted airily. She’d tucked up her skirt to a length Jamie was sure was going to get her in trouble. Her tie was loose around her neck and her shirt- she’d definitely filled out over the summer and Jamie could see some of the buttons on her blouse being held together by a breath.

“Alright, Laoghaire, Megan, Liz.” Jamie nodded at the three girls. He saw Laoghaire’s friends look over at Claire with curiosity.

“How’s yer first day of school going, Claire?” Laoghaire asked, but Jamie noticed that she was still looking at him as the words left her mouth.

“Very well, thank you Laoghaire. Jamie’s been a big help.”

“Aye, told ye he was a gentleman, did I not?”

“You did.”

Jamie smiled at Claire. It was only brief but Jamie saw Claire’s eyebrow twitch as she spoke to Laoghaire. It could have been nothing. Just a muscle moving in her forehead as she spoke but Jamie had a very clear memory of his own mother’s eyebrows doing the exact same thing when she was annoyed with his father. Jenny told Jamie that he did the same twitch when he wanted to thump her and that’s when she knew to get away from him when he was a bairn.

Curious that he should see it on Claire now but perhaps he was reading into things and it was just a perfectly natural facial movement. Still Jamie couldn’t get the image of his mothers eyes narrowing the exact same way.

“Jamie?” Laoghaire repeated his name impatiently and he looked back up at her.

“Sorry, what?”

“I was askin’ if ye are goin’ to eat lunch in the usual spot,” Laoghaire repeated what Jamie had missed when he was stuck in his thoughts of his mother.

“I hadn’t thought about it. Probably,” He shrugged nonchalantly.

“I might stop by on the way to dance- If I have time.”

“Sure,” Jamie shrugged again, he didn’t care. Laoghaire could have lunch wherever she liked.

“Dance?” Claire asked curiously. “You have dance here?”

Megan and Liz both snorted in laughter as Claire spoke and Jamie frowned at them as Laoghaire nudged them with an elbow while smiling.

“Aye, we have tryouts first day of school. There’s competitions throughout the summer. Do ye dance, Claire?” Laoghaire explained and it was then that Jamie realised what had made Liz and Megan laugh as Laoghaire exaggerated the word “dance”.

“Oh, no, not at all. I’m far too clumsy.” Claire immediately started blushing and shifted (unconsciously) closer to Jamie.

Laoghaire saw the shift that brought Claire closer to Jamie and she grimaced.

“Ye should come and have a try. Ye dinna need to have experience.”

“I don’t think so, but thank you for the invitation,” Claire answered politely.

“Nay bother.” Laoghaire was watching Claire carefully now and Jamie couldn’t help but feel like there was something sinister there. He cleared his throat as the bell rang.

“Weel, I suppose I’ll see ye at lunch, Jamie.” Laoghaire’s tone immediately changed as Jamie stood up from the bench, pulling Claire up with him. He grunted in response, turning his back on the gaggle of girls to fetch his things from his bag. “It’s a date, then,” Laoghaire continued, taking his reply as acceptance.

Jamie didn’t turn back around until he was sure that Laoghaire and her friends were gone. Claire was silent beside him as she took out her own books.

Jamie wasn’t sure what it was he was feeling, he just knew that he didn’t like the way that Laoghaire was looking at Claire. It was brief and he could be reading into things, but something just didn’t feel right. He wasn’t sure that Claire had picked up on it and he wasn’t about to tell her about what he was thinking.

He felt protective over Claire. She was new to the school, to the town, to Scotland and the last thing she needed was a silly school girl with a chip on her shoulder. Jamie would need to say something to Laoghaire about how she acted around him and Claire.

Him and Claire. Not that they were a “thing”. But they were friends and Jamie always stood up for his friends. He would do the same for Rupert. Or at least - that’s what he told himself.

Jamie let Claire take the lead into the classroom. She seemed unsure of where she should sit and looked back at him for help. Jamie smiled at her and swept his arm over the many empty desks in a “wherever you like” action and she laughed before rolling her eyes at him and plonking herself down at the set of desks directly in the middle of the room. Not the seat that Jamie would have chosen, but he sat next to her anyway. He would have sat next to her if she had chosen the teachers desk if he was honest.

“I wasn’t sure if you had a specific spot you liked to sit,” Claire explained as the rest of the class started to file in.

“Aye, next to you,” Jamie said before his brain caught up with him and he spluttered as Claire’s eyebrows rose into her hairline. “I mean, that I, I mean, I said I would’na leave ye, if I could help it. Just keepin’ my promise, to ye. That’s what I meant.”

Claire hummed as she grinned at him- there was a faint blush on her cheeks and Jamie was sure that his were bright red. Thankfully Mr Sandringham walked in at that moment and started the class and Jamie didn’t have another chance to stick his foot in his mouth.

—

It was only a single period class, mostly introductions to the new year and what they were going to be learning over the coming term. Claire took studicious notes while Jamie doodled in the margins of his page. He wasn’t sure what Claire was writing about- Sandringham wasn’t really saying anything of substance.

Mr Sandringham was an older teacher, but new to the school. He’d arrived in the last term of Jamie’s previous year when Miss Wellington had taken maternity leave. The town gossips had had a field day with that one. The supposedly single math teacher with a sudden pregnancy. Accusations were flying left, right and centre of who could possibly be the father. Miss Wellington had taken a leave of absence before anyone could find the answer and her small cottage had been on the market the week after she’d gone.

Jamie was absentmindedly fiddling with his pen, thinking about the circumstances of Mr Sandringham coming to the school, wondering if he thought that it would be a temporary assignment, only to then move permanently into the town, when Claire knocked his elbow and looked pointedly at her page.

Jame sat up quickly sat up straighter and read the note in the top right corner.

“Why aren’t you taking any notes?”

Jamie grinned as he pulled her book toward him and scrawled a response.

“What notes are there to take?”

Pushing the book back to his desk-mate, he stifled a laugh as she rolled her eyes when she read his reply.

“He’s giving us the course outline.” - the paper pushed back over to his side of the desk as her fingers tapped impatiently on the desk.

“Then I suppose I’ll take some notes when we’re learning something.”

He heard Claire sniff as she read as he wrote his response.

Sandringham turned towards the whiteboard and started to write dates of upcoming exams (not due for at least two months). Claire feverishly grabbed back her book and copied down everything that he wrote.

Jamie stifled another laugh before looking back at his book and also copying the dates.

—

The bell rang and Claire quickly packed up her desk.

“Ye like to take a lot of notes then?” Jamie asked as led her toward her next class.

“I don’t like missing details or not knowing things,” Claire answered quickly.

“Aye, so ye’ve said.”

“When?”

“Last week. When ye were worried about school. Ye said that ye dinna like to be behind.”

“Oh,” Claire breathed, “well, yes. I like to be on top of things.”

“Did ye learn anythin’ from yer obsessive note taking?” Jamie asked as they arrived outside her next classroom.

“I learned when our exams are and what the syllabus is going to include,” she answered as she removed her backpack and started to get out her books.

“Aye, so did I, but I still have an empty book,” Jamie laughed- laughing harder as her eyebrows narrowed at him.

“Well,” Claire huffed with annoyance, “what are you going to do when you forget and need to know what we’re studying next or when an exam is?”

“I’ll ask ye, Sassenach,” Jamie smirked at her. He could see the annoyance building behind her eyes before it broke and she laughed at him.

“Good luck with that. I’m not sharing my notes with you for anything.”

“Ye cut me!” Jamie exclaimed dramatically clutching his heart. “Here I thought that we were friends.”

“Hmm, friends.” Claire arched a single eyebrow at him and Jamie couldn’t help but smile at her.

“Truly, though, I appreciate yer work ethic. I think ye’ll be a good influence on me,” Jamie said seriously. “At least that’s what my Da and Jen will say if I start taking notes the way ye do.”

“He thinks I’ll rub off on you?” Claire asked as she grinned at him and Jamie tried to ignore the fact that her saying “rub off” made his body have a physical reaction to her.

“Somethin’ like that,” he grunted as he shifted away from her.

“Who’re ye rubbing off on?” The loud voice of Gellis sounded from behind Jamie as she threw her bag next to Claire’s.

“No one,” Jamie answered quickly as Claire looked between them with a sort of curious amusement. “And this is where I leave ye, in the safe hands of Gellis for Biology.”

“What?” The amusement immediately fell from Claire’s face and Jamie saw her grip her textbook a little tighter.

“Aye, I have Physics now. But ye’ll be with Gellis, so not totally alone,” he explained as he adjusted his bag straps.

“You’re not in Biology?” Claire repeated faintly.

“Not smart enough,” Geillis inputted helpfully as Jamie made a face at her.

“Because Physics is so easy.”

“Shoo,” Geillis laughed turning away from him. “Leave us to learn.”

“Ye’ll be fine, Claire. I’ll be right here waiting for ye when the bell rings again.” Jamie almost reached out to her- nearly squeezed her hand in comfort or brushed the curl off her cheek, but he could feel Geillis studying him so he didn’t dare.

“Mr Fraser.” The voice if Mrs Loboscar sounded from behind him. “I dinnae remember seein’ yer name on ma roll call.”

“Aye, Miss. I’ll be on my way.” Jamie nodded once more to Claire before he was off and running to his class.

—

Jamie arrived to his class, panting and throwing his bag on the racks. It was only a single period, then he would run back to Claire to make sure she made it through biology. At least she had Gellis in the class with her. She had a double of history that afternoon and Jamie couldn’t think of any of his friends that were in that class. Not close friends anyway. He was sure that Rachel and Denzel Hunter were in it, but he didn’t know them well. There was Frank Randall, of course, but again, Jamie didn’t really know much about the lad.

Jamie tried to shake the worry from his mind as Mr MacWeather started to speak to the class about the coming term. Claire would be fine. It wasn’t like she’d never been to school before.

—

Mr MacWeather didn’t believe in taking things easy. He didn’t believe in a slow warm up and introduction into the year.

“Physics.” He said before he repeated the word several times. “Let’s get to it.” And then his back was turned to the class and he was sprouting off information and writing things on the whiteboard and Jamie was barely keeping up.

As soon as the bell rang for lunch, Jamie was up and out of his seat, grabbing his bag and tearing across the grounds back to where he had left Claire.

He arrived just as Claire was packing her bag. She was listening to something Geillis was saying and laughing as Geillis shook her head. Jamie tried to stand casually, dropping his bag at his feet, as if he hadn’t just sprinted across half the school to wait for her. He saw the moment that she noticed him and her shoulders seemed to relax slightly as her face broke into a wider smile. Jamie also saw Geillis look quickly between them before grinning smugly, but he chose to ignore that.

“Hi,” Claire said somewhat breathlessly as she approached and Jamie picked up his bag again.

“How did it go?” He asked as Geillis fell into step with them.

“Fine,” Geillis answered before Claire had the chance.

“How was physics?” Claire asked quietly.

“Physiciky,” Jamie answered with a shrug. “I took notes, ye’ll be proud of me.”

Claire snorted with laughter as they saw Mary, Rupert and Angus waving at them over.

“Did ye bring lunch?” Jamie asked, sensing a fresh wave of nerves run through Claire.

“Yes, I just erm…”

“Go ahead, Geillis. We’ll be there in a sec.” Jamie stopped as Geillis waved her hand in acknowledgement before yelling something absurd to Angus.

“Are ye alright?” Jamie asked quietly, stooping slightly to meet her eyes.

“I’m fine. I’m just… I just got very anxious all of a sudden. I’m not normally an anxious person,” Claire said quickly.

“It’s the first day of school, makin’ new friends and all new lessons. It would be overwhelmin’ for anyone. It’s no’ so strange to be a bit worried.”

“I know. I know.” Claire nodded. He could see her fingers wringing together as her gaze shifted around the quad quickly. “It’s just that. It’s my first day of my last year of high school and you just… you have in your mind how it’s going to go…”

“Is it no’ goin’ how ye thought?” Jamie asked. He’d tried to make it as easy as possible on her. He couldn’t help that they had different classes. “Did something happen’ in Bio?”

“No, not at all. It’s fine. I’m fine. Truly. I’m alright.”

Claire suddenly stood up straighter, squared her shoulders and strode away from Jamie, leaving him confused. He watched her walk toward his group of friends, trying to figure out what could have suddenly upset her, only for her to shake it off so quickly. Jamie didn’t understand what was going on, but as Rupert called out his name Jamie decided that it was a worry for another day.

—

True to her word, Laoghaire and her friends stopped by Jamie on their way to dance auditions (was her skirt shorter?) to say hello- that was all they really said.

Laoghaire said hello. Claire wished her good luck. Laoghaire smiled at her. Megan looked at Rupert. Liz looked at Jamie and Claire. And then they were gone. It didn’t really seem worth the trouble, auditions were over the other side of the school.

—

“What class do you have after lunch?” Claire asked as she tossed her rubbish in the nearby bin.

“PE,” Jamie answered through a mouthful of his lunch. “What about you?” He asked after swallowing several times (though he already knew the answer).

“History,” Claire seemed to huff. Dare he hope that she was disappointed that they didn’t have another class together? “I thought that they made you stop doing PE after ninth year.”

“Aye, this is Advanced Physical Education.” Jamie wiped the crumbs from his mouth as Angus picked up his soccer ball. “It’s more ‘an just runnin’ laps- It’s sports physiology.”

“Isn’t that biology?” Claire asked as Jamie stood up from the grass and brushed himself off.

“Biology is plants and things. This is about the human body and movement. Sporting injuries, cardio, muscular training- stuff like that,” Jamie said as Angus and Ruper spread out on the field to start kicking the call.

“Do you still run laps?” Claire asked as she picked some grass absentmindedly.

“Aye, more often than no’, we do,” Jamie grinned before he ran out into the field with his friends.

—

A few other lads came out onto the field to kick the ball with them and soon they had an impromptu game of football. Jamie looked back to Claire constantly and was pleased to see her chatting with Geillis and Mary. Louise de La Tour had joined the trio after a while and had engaged Claire in a conversation that seemed to centre around the boys on the field. Jamie didn’t know Louise that well, only that she had drama with Geillis and Mary.

Claire was looking over at Jamie and smiling shyly at him. He waved in acknowledgement before he tore after the ball, stealing it from Angus and tripping Adam McLean in the process. Jamie ran down the field (jogged was more accurate. Jamie was very fit but this was just a fun scrimmage) and quickly scored against the other team. Rupert thumped him on the back, breathing heavily as Angus swore loudly at Adam for getting in his way.

Jamie jogged off the field to wear the girls were sitting.

“Show off.” Geillis was grinning as she glanced up at him from her phone.

“Canna help it that Adam was’na looking where he was goin’,” Jamie grinned as he dug through his bag looking for his water bottle.

“You’re very quick,” Claire commented as Jamie took a long drink.

“Jamie here is on the track, rugby, football and swim team. There is’nae much he canna do,” Geillis answered before Jamie could reply.

“So I’ve heard,” Claire said quietly and Jamie looked at her curiously. They’d spoke about the sports Jamie was in, he was sure that they had, still he was curious to know what she had heard about him.

“Jamie!” Ruperts voice called from across the field and Jamie pushed the second puzzling thing about Claire Beauchamp of that day to the back of his mind as he ran back into the field.

—

They didn’t have much longer to play. The bell was about to ring, Jamie knew it- but he also couldn’t help it. He just wanted to impress Claire. Show that he could score another goal, or at least assist on one.

The ball was high in the air, right in front of the goals. He could head it in. Impressive alright- he’d have to jump for it. Unfortunately for Jamie, Simon Gibbons had the except idea, except to defend the ball from the goals.

Jamie jumped. Simon jumped. Jamie hit the ball. It soared into the goal. Rupert cheered. Simon had jumped late. Jamie was landing. Simon was arching forward. Simons forehead connected with Jamie’s right eye, throwing him off balance. Jamie landed on his back- hard- and the air was forced from his lungs in a powerful whoosh. Jamie was winded and coughed, trying to catch his breath.

He might have had a rock solid head, burn holy cow, that had hurt. Simon has stumbled with the collision but Jamie could see that he was still standing. Jamie rolled onto his side, trying to catch his breath and feeling a pulsing ache radiating from above his eyebrow.

“Ouch,” he breathed as he tried to sit up, before strong bony fingers were forcing him back to lying down.

“Stay down,” the voice of Claire Beauchamp commanded. “You might be concussed.”

“Where’d ye come from?” Jamie asked stupidly, his eyes blinking from the blinding of the midday sun above them, before it was blocked out by the face of Claire. She looked like an angel, or at least what Jamie assumed angels looked like. The sun was casting a halo around her wild curls. Although, Jamie assumed that angels looked far less concerned in heaven, and Claire’s forehead was wrinkled as she studied him.

“I ran over when you both cracked skulls. I swear the sound echoed around the school. Are you alright?” Claire was checking his pulse, though Jamie had no idea why. One of her hands was on his cheek and she was directing his eyes to look at her own.

Whisky. She had whisky eyes. Caramel but lighter. And swimming with life. Like molten lava, swirling depths that someone (Jamie) could get lost in.

“I’m fine, Sassenach. I’ve had worse. Can I sit up?”

Claire reluctantly sat back and let Jamie sit up slowly. The initial pain was subsiding, all that was left was a throbbing where he was sure a bump was forming.

“Are you okay?” The concern in Claire’s voice was evident and he hoped that none of the lads surrounding them would pick up on it.

“Aye- Just a bump. Is Simon alright?” Jamie asked, looking around.

“Aye Jamie, I’mnae hurt, ye went down like a sack o’ tatties though,” Simon replied from beside him.

“Yer head’s like a pound o’ rocks, no surprise I went down. Can ye no’ aim for the ball next time?” Jamie laughed as he stood up, Claire’s hawk eyes watching him carefully.

“Yer head’s sae round, ye cannae blame me for the mix up.”

“'Haud yer wheesht,” Jamie shook his head at Simon as the bell rang and the crowd that had surrounded Jamie when he fell started to disperse.

“I have no idea what both of you just said to each other,” Claire said as they left the field together to collect their bags.

“Och, it was nothin’, just banter.”

“It was like you were speaking another language,” Claire grinned as she swung her bag over her shoulders.

“Aye- Scottish. Ye’ll have to get used to it around here, given yer proximity to the Scottish… in Scotland.”

--

Jamie dropped Claire to her history class, (he could see her getting more and more nervous as they approached) before he left for his double PE Class.

He’d located the Hunter Twins and introduced Claire to them before he’d left, so hopefully they would help her out and introduce her to a few more students.

Mr Langford, similar to the other teachers, had written the course outline on the whiteboard and was waiting for his students to take their seats.

The first of the double period was spent outlining the coming term (sports injuries) as well as deciding on the sport they would play for the physical aspect of their class (football). As always, their double period would be split between theoretical and physical. The first period being the theoretical. Jamie felt on edge, maybe it was getting hit in the head or maybe it was being away from Claire but as soon as the bell rang for the last period of the day, Jamie was up and out of his chair ready to let loose on the field.

He chuckled to himself as Mr Langford had them run two laps of the oval as a warm up- Claire’s voice echoed in his head about PE being just about running laps. Jamie still had more nervous energy bubbling in his system, the warm-up hardly making a dent in his pent up adrenaline and so when they actually started some training drills, Jamie threw his all into it.

He was lucky. He certainly had good genes that helped him with a lot of his sport, but working on a farm and having a paper route afforded Jamie the ability to keep in extremely good shape. Many of the other students in the class couldn’t keep up with him, except for one lad who had clearly been training over the summer - Tom Christie.

Jamie and Tom had grown up together and there was a sort of friendly rivalry between them. Both very intelligent and also skilled sportsmen, they should have been best friends, the only major difference between them came down to money. Jamie’s family weren’t exactly rolling around in wealth, but they were comfortable. Sure there had been occasions where Jamie had had a smaller birthday or Christmas than he would have liked, but he was never wanting for anything.

Tom however, came from extreme wealth. Jamie was sure that he had never “wanted” for anything in his life, though he seemed to “want” everything. He always came to school with the newest, most expensive shoes that one could buy. He spent his weekends either at his family’s elite horse riding club, or flaunting his exorbitant wealth. Jamie was sure that Tom wasn’t aware that he had a lot of money. One of the perks of growing up around a lot of money was that people that did never really recognised that they had it. Things that Tom took for granted (a lunch from the school canteen, new clothes) Jamie saved and scrounged to have (home packed lunches of leftovers from the night before and sometimes his father’s hand-me-downs). Where Tom trained in his family’s private gym and rode only the most expensive pure-bred horses from a championship race winner, Jamie hauled bales of hay on the farm and jumped on the back of demon horses to try and train them. Both were effective methods of getting fit and training, there was no question, however arguably one was significantly better than the other.

Jamie didn’t begrudge Tom for having money, that was none of Jamie’s business, it was just that Tom was so obtusely unaware of how privileged he was. They got along fine, but Jamie knew that they would never be friends. They were friendly enough with each other, but no, they would never be friends.

It was because they were so evenly matched that Mr Langford always put them on opposing teams. Jamie was competitive- he liked to win, but there was something so satisfying in winning against Tom. For all of Tom’s money, he couldn’t buy Jamie’s talent. Yes, Tom was quick on the field, and he could maneuver the ball without much trouble but Tom had really only been intensely training for the past few years. Jamie had been in training since he could walk and hold a pitchfork. There was something to be said about someone's agility being built over the fear of being kicked by a horse rather than strategically jumping over cones.

Mr Langford blew the whistle and Angus kicked the ball backward to Jamie who tore down the field before passing it back to Angus. Tom stood back at centre staring dumbly at the place Jamie had been a moment ago before he shook his head and ran after the ball.

--

Jamie had been running constantly for the past 20 minutes, trying to pass the ball to as many of his players as possible. The other issue with Tom, that Jamie had studied over the years, was that he liked to do things himself- often to his own detriment. Tom assumed that Jamie was the same way and continually came at him for attack, only to be caught off guard when Jamie would pass the ball to one of his team mates. It didn’t always work out in his favour- the ball would be stolen by the other team and Jamie would have to work hard to get possession of the ball back to his team, but there was no denying that Jamie’s team had dominated Tom’s.

Jamie could see the frustration rising in Tom as Angus stole the ball, passed it to Phillip Wylie, who missed it entirely, to then be picked up by Jamie and passed back to Phillip. No one expected Phillip to score a goal, but with Jamie and Angus’s help, he did and Phillip nearly collapsed with relief. Mr Langford called the game to a halt and gathered his students.

“Alright. Ye certainly ken how to play well enough. I’m seein’ a lot of good things oot there, but ye are’na playin’ as a team.” Mr Langford looked directly at Tom as he spoke and Jamie couldn’t help but smirk as Angus nudged him in his ribs. “Right, we’re gonna finish off the day with some drills. Jamie, be a lad and run these cones out for me.”

--

After a painful session of drills (of which the competition between Tom and Jamie seemed to intensify) Jamie was well and truly pooped. He collected the cones and balls for Mr Langford with Rupert and Angus in tow, dumping the gear in the equipment sheds as the bell rang, signalling the end of their first day.

Jamie picked up his school bag and swung it onto his back as Rupert and Angus gave a play by play of the competition between Jamie and Tom.

“And then when ye overtook him at the final cones, I thought he was goin’ tae explode. Ye should’ha seen the face he gave ye,” Angus laughed loudly.

“I’m goin’ tae ask tae be on yer team next time we play. Tom does’na pass the ball tae anyone, it’s infuriatin’. Ye ken I would’ha scored if he passed it to me before Langford blew the whistle,” Rupert complained.

“Competition is certainly on between the two of ye- I thought it might’a died down after last year,” Angus hummed in contemplation as the trio walked together.

“‘Cause I’m so much older and wiser?” Jamie laughed as they rounded the corner.

“Yer aff yer heid if ye think that they will’na try tae kill each other in e’ery class,” Rupert snorted as he shook his head.

“Ah umnae tryin’ to kill the lad, truly. It’s just pure dead brillian’ seein’ him lose at somethin’ he thinks he ought tae win,” Jamie replied, his voice softening at the end as he saw Claire walking toward him.

“Och, it’s his girlfrien’, best leave him be,” Rupert commented seeing the reason for Jamie’s sudden change in tone.

“She is’na my girlfriend,” Jamie bit back, smacking Rupert over the back of the head as Angus started to sing ‘Claire and Jamie, Sitting in a Tree’. “Haud yer wheesht!” Jamie yelled as Angus ducked out of the way of Jamie’s fists, cackling with laughter with Rupert as they left him alone to face Claire.

“Hi,” Claire greeted happily as Jamie saw both Rupert and Angus make kissing faces at him behind Claire’s back.

“How was history?” Jamie asked as they fell into stride with each other and out of the school gates.

“Rachel and Denzel were nice, they sat with each other, which was fine. I sat next to a girl, Emma I think her name was. She didn’t say much. Mr Randall was the teacher again, he recognised me from English, but didn’t make me introduce myself to the class, which was good. You’re right, I didn’t really have anything to be nervous about. You know when you were a kid and they made you introduce yourself to the class and it would be like, say your name and something about yourself starting with the first letter of your name. I always hated that game. Thank goodness we’ve moved on from doing things like that. Anyway, I also met Frank Randall, the guy you told me about, his Dad is Mr Randall. Imagine having your father as your teacher. I can’t imagine anything worse.” Claire spoke quickly and happily.

Jamie relaxed. When they had hung out (however briefly it was) over the summer, Jamie had noticed that when Claire was particularly excited over something she spoke rapidly. It brought Jamie a sense of comfort that her first day at a new school hadn’t been a total train wreck.

“I could see you in your PE class out of the windows,” she continued on, not waiting for Jamie’s acknowledgement. “You did laps,” she said smugly.

“Aye, for warm up.” Jamie grinned.

“You’re very fast out there. I saw you running. Of course I was a fair way away, but it looked fast. Who was the blonde guy that was trailing you?”

“The blonde guy?” Jamie repeated feeling his heart thump heavily in his chest, though he wasn’t sure why. “Oh, that’s Tom.”

“He was right on your heels the whole time. Even in some of the… you know the things you were doing at the end. The back and forth thing,” Claire said using her hands to try and illustrate her point.

“The drills? Aye, we keep on top of each other most of the time.”

“Are you friends? Do you train together?”

Jamie let out a chuckle as he shook his head. “No, I would’na say that we were particularly close. There’s always been a bit of competition between us. We just like to get the best of one another as much as we can.”

“Oh,” Claire hummed, “why?”

Jamie paused as he thought it over. It was just what they had always done, for as long as he could remember. “I dinnae ken to be honest wi’ ye,” he said as he rubbed the back of his neck. “We just always have.”

“Is there a definitive winner?”

“No’ always. I’m a faster runner than Tom, but he’s got better footwork for football. He just needs to learn to share the ball. We’re pretty evenly matched in the pool, I think. It’s been a while since we’ve raced,” Jamie shrugged trying to think if there was something that truly separated them in their skills.

“Do you get along at all?” Claire asked curiously.

“Och aye, we’re fine. It’s all in good sport,” Jamie smiled over at her. “It’s just something we’ve always done since we were wee bairns.”

“It sounds exhausting.”

“It’s truly all in good fun, we all have our strengths and weaknesses.”

“What’s yours then?” Claire asked as she stopped and made Jamie face her.

“What’s my weakness?” Jamie clarified as Claire nodded. “You” he nearly answered before he stopped himself. “If I told ye that lass, I’d have to kill ye.”

“I’d like to see you try,” Claire laughed before she started walking again.

—

“So the first day of school was’na too bad then?” Jamie asked as they approached her front gate.

“Not nearly as terrifying as I thought it would be. I think I can thank my guide for that,” Claire answered as she made her way to her front door.

“Yer welcome, Sassenach. Happy to be at yer service.”

“My service, hey? Could you come in and make me some dinner while I relax in a bath?” Claire joked as she unlocked the front door.

Jamie tried to ignore the immediate visual that came to his mind of Claire slippery and covered in bubbles as she had a bath and he cleared his throat to try and stop the inevitable break that would come when he tried to use his voice to reply.

“Unfortunately this is where my services stop. I have to get home and finish my chores.”

“Didn’t you have chores this morning?” Claire asked in surprise.

“Aye, that’s the joy of livin’ on a farm. The work ne’er stops. I’ll be here tomorrow mornin’ same time to pick ye up,” Jamie said as he picked up his bike from where he had parked it that morning.

“Oh, okay then. I will see you tomorrow.” Claire sounded slightly disappointed and Jamie couldn’t help the smile that came to his face.

“Bye Claire.” Jamie wheeled his bike back out of the front gate and started pedaling away, sure that he had heard a faint “bye Jamie” in return from Claire.

#The Paper Boy #Chapter Six #Chapter 6 #Outlander #Outlander fanfic #Outlander fanfiction #Jamie Fraser #Claire beauchamp #Jamie x Claire #Au #Fluff #Teenage au #Outlander teenager au #first day of school

[fergusandmarsali]

Fluffbruary 2022: Masterlist + Recap

The Finer Points  ❘  blanket

While Jamie and Claire are off trying to convince Old Fox to join the war effort, Fergus is left in the care of one Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser. Luckily, Murtagh doesn't need to be a genius to see that Fergus isn't sleeping… or to set things to rights. 

Misguided Reactions  ❘  soup

Fergus comes down with tonsillitis for the nth time, panics, gets into a fight at school and his new foster mother, Doctor Claire Fraser, gets called down to the Principal’s office. A Modern-Day AU where Fergus learns that even the most troublesome of teenagers deserve to be cared for and doubly so when they’re feeling unwell.

A Sweeter View  ❘  dance

Five times Fergus got caught in the rain alone and one time he and Marsali danced in it together.

Silk Cloaks & Tailored Coats  ❘  surprise

Fergus, Faith and Brianna uncover a trunk filled with clothing from Jamie and Claire's time in France resulting in a surprise dinner party, shared memories and a unconventional lesson about the use of language. A canon-divergent AU set during Voyager / Season 3 where everyone lives happily ever after at Lallybroch. No war. No arrests. No time travel. Just fluff.

A/N: I actually started February with the intention of fulfilling a number of prompts for Febuwhump but found myself procrastinating, unable to put any of the characters through more trauma when they’ve already suffered so much in canon (...looking at you, DG), and I happened upon @fluffbruary​ . I wish I had have discovered it sooner, because there’s still so much more fluff to write! Still, I’m pleased to have written anything at all 💚

#fluffbruary #masterlist #outlander #fanfic #fan fic #fergus fraser #marsali fraser #fergus x marsali #claire fraser #jamie fraser #faith fraser #brianna fraser #murtagh fraser

[takemeawaytocamelot]

Bashful Beauchamp - Teenage AU

Finally! We got to see Jamie over for dinner with Claire and Lambert. Now we get to see Claire meeting the Fraser clan! How will she do? Will they treat her kindly? Read on to find out! 

Shout out to @diversemediums for helping me edit this and @outlandishchridhe for helping me with a new title!

Catch up on Jamie’s dinner in Flustered Fraser

Jamie had worn his kilt when he’d come to dinner with me and my uncle. Now it’s my turn to impress his family. So I’m standing in front of my wardrobe, trying to decide what a sensible English girl would wear. Uncle Lamb is in the living room, waiting for me to dress so we can leave.

I have my red dress, a black dress, and a blue dress all laid out on my small bed.

“Uncle Lamb!” I cry, my voice sounding frantic to my own ears.

After a moment, I hear him come down the hall to my room. He knocks and walks in.

“What is it, Claire Bear?”

“I’m having a girl moment,” I tell him. “I don’t know what to wear!”

Uncle Lamb takes a long, deep breath and looks at what I have.

“Wear the blue one.”

“Should I put on makeup?”

“No, darling,” he says with a soft smile. “Your Scot likes you the way you are.”

I nod and put the other dresses away.

“Thanks Uncle Lamb.”

“Your parents would be proud of you.”

I stare at him in shock. He never talks about my parents and I rarely ask. It’s still painful for both of us.

“You think so?”

“Maybe not proud of you getting caught snogging in the cupboard, but yes. Your Scot seems to be a very kind young man.”

“Thanks,” I say softly, trying to keep from crying.

I’m not wearing makeup, but crying will flush my face and my nose will start running.

Lamb leaves and I dress quickly. I decide to pin my hair back, but leave most of it down. I’ll keep it from falling in front of my face, but the curl was too nice to hide away. I grab my coat and walk out to where Lamb waits. We follow the directions Jamie texted me until we reach Lallybroch, the Fraser estate.

It’s a cute house, I think, and it looks old. But it’s a fully functional farm and it looks well used. Jamie is waiting for me on the front steps, which he descends when he sees us pull up.

“Ye made it! I was worriet,” he says, beaming at me.

“We did. Uncle Lamb only had to turn around once.”

We stare at each other awkwardly before Lamb clears his throat.

“Aye! Sorry. Would ye like to come in for a moment, Mr. Lamb?”

“If it isn’t too much trouble. I won’t stay long,” he says when I give him a pleading look. “But I’d like to meet your parents.”

Jamie hops nimbly up the stairs and holds the door open. As I walk past him, he grabs my hand and squeezes it briefly before leading us further into the house. His home is incredible. Everything looks like it belongs in a museum, but it’s all obviously in use.

“My God!” Lamb squeaks behind me. “Is that an eighteenth century pistol?”

“Aye,” Jamie says. “We’ve kept a few artifacts o’er the years. Perhaps ye and Miss Beauchamp should come back out here and let Da show ye around. He loves to talk about the Fraser history.”

Uncle Lamb stares longingly at the pistol before getting a hold of himself.

“Perhaps we shall.”

Jamie stops by a doorway and motions us inside.

“I’ll introduce ye to Mam and go find Da.”

I come around the corner and see exactly where Jamie gets his looks. The woman, who’s pregnant belly is huge, is a mirror image of him. She struggles a little to sit up and Jamie rushes to her side.

“Careful, Mam. Ye’ve yer appointment in a few days.”

“I ken that, love. But I need to get a good look at this lass ye canna stop talkin’ about.”

The tips of Jamie’s ears turn deep red and he hastily looks at the floor.

“Mam, this is Claire Beauchamp and her Uncle Lambert. Miss Beauchamp, Mr. Lambert, this is my mother, Ellen Fraser.”

Ellen puts her hand out to shake and, after a moment, Lamb steps forward to greet her.

“Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Fraser.”

“I’m sorry I canna get up just now. Gettin’ down the stairs is hard enough and Brian, my husband, would be verra cross wi’ me if I strained myself.”

“Of course, of course.”

Ellen’s beautiful eyes turn to me.

“Come here into light, love. Let me see ye.”

I do as she asks and she smiles.

“I think Jamie’s got the right of it,” she says sweetly. “You are verra beautiful indeed. Just as he described.”

“Mam!”

“Hush, lad. Take yer lass to the kitchen to meet Jenny and Willie, please. I’d like to speak wi’ Mr. Lambert for a bit. And call yer Da, please love.”

Jamie offers his arm to me and I take it, casting a worried glance over to my uncle. As we weave through the halls, Jamie pulls out his cell phone and punches a number.

“Da? Mam’s in the sittin’ room wi’ Claire’s uncle. She’s askin’ for ye.” He’s quiet for a moment. “Aye. I’m takin’ her to meet Jenny and Willie.”

He slips the phone back into his pocket and turns to me.

“I’m glad ye’re here, Claire.”

“Me too.”

“I ken you’re probably a wee bit scairt. But ye dinna need to fear anyone here, especially when I’m wi’ ye.”

I shake my head.

“I’m not scared.”

He smiled and cups my cheek in his broad hand.

“Everything ye think and feel is written across yer face, mo nighean donn. It’s okay. No one will question your bravery in coming.”

He licks his lips and looks around quickly before leaning in to kiss me. I’m rather proud that I haven’t bitten him (on accident at least) in some time. We don’t let it go too long, not with my uncle and his mother only a few feet away.

“Isn’t that how we got into this mess, Mr. Fraser,” I ask quietly, smiling up at him.

“Aye. But I havena kissed ye in several days. I need to be sure ye dinna forget me.”

Taking his arm again, I lean on him a little while we walk. In the kitchen, a few people bustle around, one of them very obviously related to Jamie.

“Jenny, Willie, I’d like ye to meet my girlfriend Claire Beauchamp.”

Two faces turn to look at me and I take a step back, into Jamie’s body. The one I knew was related to Jamie is as tall and broad as he is. The other is a bit shorter than her brothers, but I can see a bit of them both in her face. She doesn’t have Ellen’s bright red curls, but rather seems to take after her father with dark, straight hair.

“H-hello,” I say, taking a deep breath and hoping my hair isn’t sticking out funny.

“Ooohhh,” says Willie.

I’m surprised that his voice is so much deeper than Jamie’s.

“This is her, then?” Jenny asks.

“Aye,” Jamie says, giving my hand a squeeze. “Be nice to her, aye?”

“Of course we will, mo bhràthair!” Willie says. “You’ve never brought a girl home before!”

Not knowing what else to do, I stay quiet.

“It’s lovely to meet ye, Claire,” Jenny says, giving me a polite smile. “Ye’ll have to excuse me. I’ve got to help finish gettin’ our dinner ready.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” I offer, needing to do something.

“Oh! Weel,” Jenny looks around the kitchen. “If ye wouldna mind cleaning the lettuce and preparing the salad, I’d appreciate it.”

I smile and wash my hands before getting to work. Jamie stares at me for a moment before joining me.

“I don’t mind at all. I do most of the cooking at home. Uncle Lamb almost burned our flat down trying to boil water.”

Jenny, Willie, and Jamie all laugh.

“Willie’s no’ verra good wi’ the cooking either,” Jenny says. “Claims it’s women’s work. But I taught Jamie better before Willie could corrupt him. My wee brother is a fair hand when he wants to be.”

“I’m no’ your wee brother anymore, Janet. I’m taller than you.”

“Aye,” Jenny says, pulling a tray of rolls from the oven. “But I’m still older than ye.”

We subside into giggles as Jenny and Jamie exchange good-natured insults. I always hate being an orphan. Not only because I no longer have my mum and dad around, but because I’ll never have siblings. I’ll never have a sister upset with me for borrowing her clothes or a brother to scare off boyfriends. But instead of allowing myself to drown in the sadness, I decide to enjoy the family Jamie invited me to join.

“Claire?”

I stop laughing, hearing my Uncle’s voice.

“Uncle Lamb? I’m in the kitchen with the others.”

My hands are full of veggies to put in the salad, or I would go out to him. Lamb finds his way into the kitchen and smiles at me.

“Ah, I should have known I’d find you elbow deep in something. I’m popping off now. Call me when you’re ready to come home. No later than nine.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

A strange expression comes across his face, something I don’t recognize. He walks around the large wooden table in the middle of the kitchen and hugs me.

“Have fun, lovie,” he whispers in my ear.

My breath catches when he uses that word. He told me, when I was younger, that ‘lovie’ was what my mother had always called me, something she’d picked up from her own mother. Whenever he used it, he did so to include my parents in my life.

“Thanks Uncle Lamb.”

He straightens up and looks Jamie in the eye.

“You take care of her.”

“Yessir.”

Then my Uncle is gone. Jenny and Willie go about their duties, getting dinner ready. Jamie and I keep nudging each other while we prepare the salad.

“Alright you two,” Jenny says with a smirk. “Go on and take that out to the table. Mam and Da should be ready by now.”

I follow Jamie out to the dining room but we both stop when we hear quiet voices.

“Dinna fash, my love. I’m doing everything the doctor said.”

“I ken that, mo nighean ruaidh.”

I don’t eavesdrop on people. It’s rude and intrusive. But I can’t help but peek around Jamie to see what he’s staring at. Brian is sitting in a chair beside his wife, one hand caressing her stomach while the other is rubbing her shoulder.

“If I got through gi’ing birth to that giant ye call a son, this one will turn out fine. Just have faith.”

Brian takes a deep breath and kisses his wife’s cheek.

“Ye better keep fighting, then. Ye’ve been a Fraser long enough to be as stubborn as the rest of us.”

“Aye, and so I have. I promise I’ll keep fighting for me and for our bairn.”

Jamie takes a step back, out of sight and takes a long breath. I follow him, waiting for him to pull himself together. I know how worried he is about his mother, he’s told me more than once. But this isn’t the time or place for him to talk about it, so he goes into the room and I follow.

“Ah! James Fraser!” Ellen scolds, her eyes wide and mouth tight. “Tell me ye didna force this sweet lass into workin’ in the kitchen!”

“No, Mrs. Fraser,” I smile at her. “I offered. I hate just standing around. But Jenny’s kicked us out, so I expect there’s not much more to do.”

“Aye, probably not. Come here and sit so we can talk. Your Uncle is a very lively man.”

I sit down in the seat to her left, Jamie taking the empty one beside me.

“Yes, he’s quite a character, my Uncle.”

“I want ye to ken ye have an open invitation to join us for dinner at any time,” Ellen says. “And I suspect your Uncle will also want a grand tour of the estate.”

I can’t help but roll my eyes.

“He’s an anthropology professor, so he’s a little obsessed with historical artifacts.”

“A little?” says Brian before Ellen swats him.

Before I can say anything else, Jenny, Willie, and another woman I wasn’t introduced to, come out with dinner.

Unlike the dinner with my Uncle, the Fraser family doesn’t interrogate me. Rather, they seem more interested in telling the most embarrassing stories about Jamie. His face is flushed red all through the meal.

“No!” I say as everyone sits back in their chairs after dessert. “That’s not how it happened at all!”

“Weel that’s what he told us,” Ellen said. “He said it was the worst presentation he’s ever given.”

I shake my head at Jamie in disbelief.

“Not at all. I think it was the best of the whole group. And I thought that before he asked me out.”

The table chuckles and Jamie gives me a small smile.

“Claire, darling,” Ellen says gently. “Ye should call yer uncle soon, I dinna want ye to be late for curfew.”

I glance down at my watch and gasp. Talking with the Frasers had completely distracted me from watching the time.

“Excuse me. This has been a lovely evening.”

I get up and move away from the table, calling my Uncle as I did.

“I was about to call you,” he answers after the second ring. “Ready to come home?”

“Yes,” I say. “It’s been great fun. They said I could come back any time.”

“I’m sure you’ll tell me all about it on the ride home. I’ll be there soon.”

I hang up and turn to see Jamie waiting for me.

“They like ye,” he says quietly.

“I like them too.”

“I think Mam wants to adopt ye. But I’m glad ye got to meet everyone.”

Jamie steps forward and wraps me in a warm, solid hug. He smells clean and a little of the outdoors.

“My Uncle is on his way. I should go and make my goodbyes before he gets here.”

Jamie takes my hand and leads me back to the dining room where Willie is beginning to gather plates.

“My Uncle will be here soon,” I tell everyone. “This has been… This has been absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much for having me over.”

Ellen, hands folded over her belly, gives me a sweet smile.

“It’s been a pleasure to meet ye, Claire. I meant what I said. Ye can come back any time ye like. We’d love to have ye again.”

“I’d like that very much.”

Jamie walks with me to the front door where we can watch the drive. The rest of the family decided to give us these few minutes, which I appreciated.

“Are ye alright, a nighean?”

“Yes, I’m okay. It’s just… It’s hard, sometimes. I’ve never had a family like this.”

“Aye, I ken it must be difficult.”

I shrug.

“But it’s beautiful. You’ve got such a lovely family, Jamie. It’s wonderful to see.”

“I hope ye take Mam up on her invitation. Willie will go back to uni soon, but I’d like to have ye back.”

“I’ll talk to my Uncle.”

Lights draw my attention and I see my Uncle’s car pulling down the long drive.

“Do I get a kiss goodnight?” I ask, biting my bottom lip.

He smiles and leans down to do as I asked, his mouth still tasting strongly of the dark chocolate from dessert. Our kiss comes to a slow, happy end just as my Uncle gets out of the car. Jamie presses his lips to my ear.

“I forgot to tell ye how beautiful ye looked tonight, Sassenach. Took my breath away when I saw ye.”

“Like you took my breath in your kilt.”

Uncle Lamb knocks on the door. Jamie opens it and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

“Thank ye for a lovely evening, Miss Beauchamp,” he says, giving me that same bow he had when he’d come to dinner at my flat.

“Thank you, Mister Fraser,” I say, offering a slight curtsey.

I follow my Uncle out to his car and collapse into the front seat.

“Did you have a good time then, Claire Bear?”

I sigh, smiling as I wave back at Jamie.

“Uncle Lamb… I think I’m in love.”

#outlander #outlander fanfic #teenage au #takemeawaytocamelot #jamie x claire #also featuring: brian fraser #also featuring: ellen fraser #also featuring: jenny #also featuring: willie #also featuring: uncle lamb

[thesassenachswiftie]

An introduction and what I’m working on

Hi Outlander fandom.  My name’s Mandy and I’ve been creeping around reading some amazing fanfic on here and I’ve been inspired to write my own eventhough I probably havent written fan fiction in 15 years.  I was inspired by Taylor Swift’s album lover and I’m trying to craft a story that weaves lyrics from the album into a modern AU.  I’ve actually mapped out an arc for prequels with Reputation and 1989 as well (though that would have to be a Claire/Frank story 😬). Maybe I’ll tackle Folklore someday but that will be a unique challenge.  Anyway.  If youre still reading this, I was inspired to start writing chapter 7 today and here’s a small excerpt.  I’d love any feedback from the fandom or just a welcome.  I honestly have been such a lurker I feel like an outsider. I have no idea when I’ll be ready to “premiere” my fic. I wrote chapter 7 today and will probably start Chapter 1 tomorrow. It might be bad timing as I am a teacher and I start school tomorrow.  This will either get put on the backburner or become a catharsis during what I’m sure will prove to be a stressful school year.

Chapter 7: Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince

“Sassenach, you ken what I’ve heard about American teenagers” he spoke softly, close to her ear so only she could hear him.  It made the fine hairs on her neck stand and gave her the sensation of something stirring deep within her.

“What American stories have you been hearing?” she giggled, trying to imagine the insight she was about to gain.

“I heard... that they go underneath these bleachers and make out.” he rasped, his voice feigning concern.

“Shocking. What is this world coming to.” she gestured as if she were clutching an imaginary string of pearls.  Flirting with him came so effortlessly, she couldn’t bring herself to stop.

“See those bleachers o’er there, Sassenach?” she nodded as he gestured to the opposing team’s bleachers across the field.  “If I were an American teen, I would bring a lassie underneath those bleachers, much quieter you see than with these wee monkeys crawling about.”

“I see” she smirked and raised an eyebrow, daring herself to get lost in those blue eyes.

“You know, as a member of the faculty of this school, isna it your responsibility to check to see the teens aren’t doing anything… unsavory?”

“I suppose it might be part of my job description.” she was wondering where this flirty banter was headed.  She felt alive again for the first time in a month since she had seen him last.

“I must admit I have to use the facilities, perhaps you should do that while I’m gone.” He was sure to catch her eye as she said it, blinking like an owl in an attempt to wink at her.

He arose and announced to his family he had to use the toilet and he might leave from there and meet them at home.  The team was losing disastrously, the other team was full of brutes and the wildcats were left battered and bruising, the cheerleaders were a collection of depressed damsels, and the crowd was already starting to thin, so this came as no surprise to anyone as Jamie took his leave.

#outlander #outlander fanfic #jamie x claire #jamie fraser #claire beauchamp #outlander fic

[thelallybrochlibrary]

Best Friends to Lovers: Category

Here is another Category List for you. Today we have the classic best friends to lovers trope. Most of these fall within a modern AU timeline. We hope you enjoy! 

When the Lights Fade by Counting_the_Stars

Best friends for so long, could they ever be anything more?

Sweet Creature by @three-drink-amy​​

Claire and Jamie have been best friends since they met at university. When Claire decided to leave medical school to pursue her dreams, Jamie was the first to support her. Five years later, they're still best friends. But two conflicts stand poised to hurt their friendship: Jamie's stake in her business and Claire's secret enduring love for him.

Beauchamp Riots by @kalendraashtar​​

Jamie and Claire have been best friends for five years. When Jamie announces his impending marriage, Claire is forced to finally confront her true feelings.

The Hike by @renee-writer​

Jamie and Claire have been friends since childhood. Jamie was tasked with looking after Claire after the death of her big brother and his best friend. But is there more? As they hike and talk, will hidden feelings be revealed?

I’ll be there for you (IBTFY II)  by @abreathofsnowandwaffles​

I knew I was in trouble when he moved in. I had known somewhere deep inside, that sharing an apartment with Jamie Fraser was going to be a problem. But, I had needed the help to pay the rent and he was the only suitable person who met my obscene standards.

He was clean, respectful, and didn’t mind my coming and going at odd hours. He was a hard worker, Adso loved him, and all the references on his application had stellar reviews about him. He was also extremely charming and good-looking. I had started to fall for him the moment he came over for a tour of the apartment, though, I hadn’t wanted to admit it to anyone- let alone myself. The problem was, I was with Frank, and he had a girlfriend—But Jamie Fraser was my best friend, and that was all.

The Getaway by @mybeautifuldecay​​ for @imagineclaireandjamie​

A teenage Claire and Jamie AU. The Frasers and Beauchamps are lifelong family friends. What happens when Jamie and Claire find themselves in a rut when they are more than friends.

*As always, let us know what else we need to add! 

XX, The Librarians

#Outlander #Outlander Fanfic #Jamie x Claire #*Category #*Category: Best Friends to Lovers #Fic: When the light fades #Author: counting_the_stars #Fic: Sweet Creature #Author: Three-drink-amy #Fic: Beauchamp Riots #Author: Kalendraashtar #Fic: The Hike #Author: renee-writer #fic: I'll Be There For You #Fic: I'll be there for you II #Author: Abreathofsnowandwaffles #Fic: The getaway #Author: Mybeautifuldecay #Feat: Imagineclaireandjamie

[afaimsblog]

Die neueste untreue Verfilmung - Sie haben mir das Herz gebrochen um politisch korrekt zu sein

Seit meinen Teenager-Jahren war Anne Rices “Vampire Chronicles” meine Lieblingsbuchreihe. Diese Bücher haben mir in schweren Zeiten sehr geholfen, und ich habe immer von einer ordentlichen Verfilmung geträumt und nie ganz verstanden warum es in all den Jahren nur ganze zwei Verfilmungsversuche gegeben hat, die nie Forstetzungen nach sich gezogen haben. Im Grunde war die Haupterklärung immer die Kostenfrage, doch nun im Goldenen Zeitalter des Fernsehens, in dem man Westeros und Mittelerde in Fernsehserienform zum Leben erwecken kann, wäre doch wohl auch der Zeitpunkt gekommen endlich eine Fernsehserie zu machen, die auf der Romanreihe basiert.

Das dachte sich auch Anne Rice, als sie vor ein paar Jahren versuchte zusammen mit ihren Sohn Christopher eine Serienversion basierenden auf ihren Büchern auf die Beine zu stellen. Es war ein ambitioniertes kollaboratives Projekt, denn die beiden Rices hörten sich via Social Media die Gedanken und Wünsche der Fans zu diesem Thema an, diskutierten diverse Fragen in Bezug auf Casting, inhaltichen Aufbau, und vieles mehr. Das Projekt fand sogar  Interessenten und war im Grunde schon ziemlich weit gediehen, bis der Geldgeber doch absprang und der Stoff mit einem Schlag wieder ohne Besitzer war, was die Verfilmungsrechte angeht. Hulu verzichtete auf eine Bestellung von auch nur einen Piloten.

Das damalige Projekt hätte nicht alle Romane umfasst, da die Rechte zur Schwesternserie um die Mayfair-Hexen anderweitig vergeben waren und deswegen die drei Crossover-Romane “Merrick”, “Blackwood Farm” und “Blood Canticle” nicht hätten verfilmt werden können.

Deswegen war es eigentlich ein Grund zur Freude als sowohl die Rechte an den Mayfair Hexen als auch die an den Vampir-Chroniken einen neuen Besitzer fanden und dieses Mal sogar unter dem gleichen Dach. AMC erwarb alle Rechte, und es lag nahe anzulegen, dass sie im Zuge der Suche nach einem Nachfolger für “The Walking Dead” getan hatten.

Doch nach dieser Nachricht wurde es zunehmend still um dieses Serienprojekt. Anstatt das bereits weit gediehene Projekt zu nehmen wie es war, entschied sich AMC offenbar noch einmal von Vorne anzufangen, was die Entwicklung anging, denn vor wenigen Monaten wurde bekannt, dass offizielle eine Serienversion von “Interview with the Vampire” in Auftrag gegeben worden war. Das war nun doch etwas erstaunlich für die Fans, da es sich eben nicht um eine “Vampire Chronicles”-Serie handelte, sondern um “Interwiew with the Vampire”. Offenbar plante AMC die Romane entweder alle einzeln zu verfilmen oder den bekannteren Markennamen zu verwenden. Das Problem damit war nun, dass die Rices im vorherigen Serienprojekt ziemlich klar gesagt hatten, dass sie “Interwiew” zwar im Rahmen der neuen Serie neuverfilmen würden, aber eben nicht mit dem Roman beginnen würden. Dafür gab es zwei schlagende Gründe: 1. Wollten sie Lestat als zentralen Protagonisten etablieren und der kommt in “Interview” über weite Strecken der Handlung nicht vor und wird nicht immer als besonders sympathisch vorgestellt und 2. Gibt es bereits eine bekannte und beliebte Verfilmung des 1. Romans zu der Anne Rice damals sogar das Screen Play verfasst hatte.

Noch seltsamer war, dass weder Anne Rice noch Christopher Rice seit die Serie offiziell angekündigt wurde jemals wieder etwas zu diesem Thema sagten. Laut einigen Artikeln sind sie zwar immer noch als Executive Producers beteiligt, doch ihr Input dürfte nicht mehr im selben Maß vorhanden sein wie zuvor. Anders als GRR Martin oder Diana Gabaldon sah es auf einmal auch nicht mehr danach aus als ob die beiden auch nur einzelne Skripts für die Serie verfassen würden. Das seltsame Schweigen war ein beunruhigendes Zeichen, und es stellte nur das Vorspiel zu dem dar, was danach kam.

Vor einiger Zeit wurde das Casting für Lestat bekannt gegeben, was niemanden besonders glücklich aber auch niemanden besonders unglücklich machte. Die meisten Fans nahmen es mit “Aha” zur Kenntnis und waren bereit abzuwarten, bis diese Woche AMC einfach so eine Bombe auf ihre Serie und das Vampire Chronicles Fandom abwarf.

Jacob Anderson , bekannt durch seine Rolle als Grauer Wurm in “Game of Thrones”, wurde als neuer Darsteller von Louis de Point du Lac bekannt gegeben. Und die Showrunner versicherten im Rahmen dieser Bekanntgabe auch, dass sie die Serie einfach entsprechend an die Tatsache, dass der weiße Plantagen-Besitzer und Sklavenhalter aus dem New Orleans des 18. Jahrhunders nun von einerm schwarzen Darsteller gespielt werden würde, anpassen würden.

Jetzt könnte man meinen, dass wäre ein Witz auf unser aller Kosten. Stattdessen dürfte es erklären warum Anne Rice diese neue Serien-Adaption inoffiziell nicht mehr als Irgendetwas, das mit ihr zu tun hat, ansieht.

Die meisten Protagonisten der “Chroniken der Vampire” sind weiß, dafür gibt es allerdings einen guten Grund, ein großer Teil des Inhalts spielt in der Vergangenheit, in historischen Settings, in denen sich die Charaktere nur deswegen so frei bewegen können wie sie es tun eben weil sie weiß sind. Deswegen sind die meisten Protagonisten auch Männer. Wenn es um Frauen geht, dann wird auf die damit verbundene Problematik eingegangen, wenn es eine gibt, oder sie sind Mitglieder Matriarchalischer Gesellschafststrukturen. Wohl gemerkt, gibt es auch POC-Charaktere, die aber ähnlich wie die Frauen dem Kontext ihrer jeweiligen Existenz angepasst sind, sie wachsen und gedeihen unter den Umständen unter den sie wachsen und gedeihen können.

Und das führt uns zu der Frage mit welcher Einstellung man an einen gewissen Stoff heran geht. Die meisten Romane der Chronik der Vampire sind in erster Linie historische Romane. Ja Vampire, Hexen und Geister kommen vor, aber Anne Rice setzt diese Elemente in ein historisch akkurates Umfeld. Die Realität, in der die Vampir-Charaktere leben, ist unsere Realität. Kein fiktives Parallel-Universum, im Gegenteil die Tatsache, dass es die Vampire Chronicles-”Romane” gibt ist ein Teil der Narration der Reihe, auf den immer wieder verwiesen wird. Als Lestat im zweiten Roman im 20. Jahrhundert erwacht, ist er erstaunt, dass man seinen Namen kennt, bis er herausfindet, dass vor einigen Jahren ein Roman namens “Interview mit einem Vampir” erschienen ist, in dem er eine nicht zu verachtende Rolle spielt. Sprich die Reihe lebt davon, dass sie ihre Horror- und Fantasy-Elemente in realistischen Kontext der echten Welt setzt. Je weiter sie fortschreitet, desto mehr tritt dieser Aspekt zu Gunsten einer Art vampirischen Parallel-Gesellschaft in der Hintergrund, aber das kann geschehen eben weil die ersten vier Romane die Reihe in der Realität verankert haben.

Eine andere beliebte und bekannte Romanreihe, die so vorgeht, sind Diana Gabaldons Romane um Claire und Jamie Fraser. Diese wurden vor ein paar Jahren von Ron Moore als “Outlander” in einer Serie umgewandelt, die bis heute erfolgreich auf Starz läuft. Wir warten wegen Covid momentan schon recht lange auf Staffel 6. “Outlander” besitzt Zeitreiselemente, ist aber in erster Linie eine historische Serie. Ja, der Ausgangspunkt ist, dass Claire Randall durch einen Steinkreis ein paar Jahrhunderte in die Vergangenheit gerät, aber es ist unsere echte Vergangenheit. Ron Moore und seine Mitarbeiter sind “Outlander” daher als historische Serie mit phantastischen Elementen angegangen. Sie sind teiweise sogar so weit gegangen “Fehler” aus den Romanen zu korrigieren, so historisch akkurat wollten sie sein.

Die Leute hinter der neuen “Interview with the Vampire”-Serie gehen diese offenbar nicht so an. Sie denken, dass es eine Serie ist, um der es um Vampire gibt, und deswegen müssen sie nicht mehr realisitsch sein. Denn wenn wir ehrlich sind, dann kann so gut wie nichts aus “Interview with the Vampire” funktionieren, wenn Louis ein schwarzer Mann ist.

Ja, es gab freie Schwarze in New Orleans schon vor dem Bürgerkrieg, Anne Rice hat sogar einen ganzen eigenen Roman zu diesem Thema geschrieben, der übrigens auch schon mal verfilmt wurde, aber sie hat darin immer betont, dass sie trotzdem immer noch schwarz waren und meistens nur dank ihren Verbindungen zu Weißen von der weißen Gesellschaft respektiert wurden, das waren illegitime Kinder von weißen Männern, Geliebte beides Geschlechts von weißen Männern etc.

Hinzu kommt, dass Lestat in dieser Serie bereits als weißer Mann gecastet wurde, was uns vor das Claudia-Problem stellt. Nach Lestats scheinbaren Tod reisen Louis und Claudia durch die Welt auf der Suche nach anderen Vampiren. Unter anderem verschlägt es sie nach Transylvanien, wo sie sich mit einem Engländer anfreunden, außerdem sind sie auf Schiffen, in Kutschen etc. unterwegs, bis sie schließlich in Paris landen, wo sie Armand und das Theater der Vampire treffen. Wenn Claudia ein weißes Kind  ist, verlangt die Serie von uns zu schlucken, dass ein schwarzer Mann mit einem weißen Kind alleine durch die Welt reist und trotzdem in keinerlei Schwierigkeiten gerät. Und sie verlangt von uns zu schlucken, dass ausgerechnet ein Engländer in diesen schwarzen Mann die zivilisierte Welt in barbarischen Transylvanien sieht. Wenn sie schwarz ist, dann lebt ein weißer Mann - Lestat - Jahrzehnte lang mit einem schwarzen Mann und dessen Tochter zusammen, was offenbar niemanden wundert, und das in gehobenen gesellschaftlichen Kreisen. Überhaupt würde die gesamte Beziehung zwischen Louis und Lestat seltsam umgeschrieben werden. Ursprünglich zieht Lestat mit seinen blinden Vater bei Louis ein. Angenommen Louis hätte noch eine Plantage, dann würden zwei weiße Männer zu einem schwarzen ziehen, was für gewisse Annahmen und Probleme in ihren sozialen Umfeld sorgen würde. Wenn das in der Realität passiert wäre, wäre klar wem die Plantage in Wahrheit nun gehört.

Grundsätzlich behauptet Louis immer, dass Lestat ihn nur deswegen verwandelt hat, weil er seine Plantage wollte, die er ihm aber niemals übertragen wollte - das ist nicht wahr, ist aber seine Sichtweise. Das Problem mit diesem Casting ist aber, dass es damit automatisch wahr wäre, und Lestat automatisch der wahre Besitzer dieser Plantage in den Augen der Umgebung wäre. Ähnlich problematisch bis unmöglich wäre Louis vorsichtige Romanze mit seiner Nachbarin - eine weiße Frau, die einen wenn auch freien Schwarzen auf diese Weise interessant findet - nope, das würde nie funktionieren. Louis sieht sich oft als Lestats Sklaven, wenn er schwarz wäre und Lestat weiß, wäre er das auf gewisse Weise tatsächlich - sie könnten niemals wirklich gleichberechtigt sein und niemals in so in der Gesellschaft auftreten, nicht nur am Land, sondern auch in New Orleans selbst. Louis wäre entweder der offizielle Babysitter von Claudia oder er wäre Lestats Diener, immer und überall.

Wenn man jetzt hergeht und all das aber ändert, dann hätte dieser Charakter nichts mehr mit Loius de Point du Lac zu tun. Nehmen wir an Louis ist ein Sklave, den Lestat befreit, wenn man davon absieht, dass das eine Kopie des Klaus/Marcel-Verhältnis aus “The Originals” wäre. wenn auch hoffentlich ohne Sohn-Aspekt, wieso hätte Louis dann irgendein Problem mit Lestat? Und was hätte Lestat in irgendeiner anderen Hinsicht als der emotionalen davon?

Schlimmer noch, Louis ist der depressive schuldgeplagte Charakter. Er kommt nicht über den Tod seines Bruders hinweg, denn er seiner Ansicht nach verschuldet hat. Das hat alles mit seinem Status als Plantagen-Besitzer und Familienoberhaupt zu tun, kann aber natürlich ersetzt werden. Im Film wurde diese ganze Backstory durch den Tod seiner Fraun im Kindbett ersetzt. Ähnliches könnte man wieder tun, aber ein Teil davon warum Louis denkt das Leben wäre sinnfrei und Menschen und besonders Vampire schlecht ist implizit sein Hintergrund - er war ein Sklavenbesitzer, der von der unbezahlten Arbeit anderer profitiert hat, so wer er sich von Lestat gefangen gehalten und dominiert fühlt, hat er andere gefangen gehalten und dominiert, als Mann seiner Zeit hat er darin damals aber nichts falsches gesehen, sondern wurde sich erst im Laufe der Zeit unbewusst darüber bewusst wer und was er ist, seine Dunkelheit geht Hand in Hand mit dem, was er schon in seinen sterblichen Leben getan hat. Ein ehemaliger Sklave hätte sich in dieser Hinsicht nichts vorzuwerfen. Louis diskriminiert niemanden, wenn er tötet, weil er nicht zwischen Schuld und Unschuld unterscheiden kann, aber vielleicht auch, weil er das nicht möchte, vielleicht will er endlich alle gleich behandeln. Außerdem ist er ein gebildeter Mann, er kann lesen und schreiben, ist überaus belesen, ein großer Philosoph, er ist “Pflanzeradel” - er hält sich für gebildeter und intellektueller als seine Umgebung, was ein weiterer Grund für seine Konflikte mit Lestat ist, den er für einen ungehobelten Bauern hält, obwohl er wie sich später herausstellt der Sprößling eines verarmten Adelsgeschlechts aus Frankreich ist. Ein ehemaliger Sklave kann niemals so ein gebildeter Philosoph sein, der sich zu viele Gedanken über Gut und Böse gemacht hat. Das wäre einfach sehr sehr unwahrscheinlich.

Damit fallen alle Aspekte die Louis zu dem geplagten Philosophen, der er ist, machen, zum gebrochenen Herzen seiner Zeit, weg. Falls sie aber trotzdem auf ihn zutreffen, sind wir wieder bei dem “sie nehmen die historische Realität der Bücher nicht ernst, weil Vampire darin vorkommen”-Argument angekommen.

Was uns zum letzten Aspekt des Problems führt: Warum verfilmen sie einen Stoff, der sie scheinbar kein bisschen interessiert? “Outlander” hat Claire sehr bewusst als weiße Frau gecastet, weil das für die Story, die erzählt wird, notwendig war. Und auch alle anderen Charaktere waren weiß, weil sie es in ihren jeweiligen Rollen sein mussten. Und niemand hat sich darüber beklagt.

Wenn die Macher hinter der neuen “Interview with the Vampire”-Serie unbedingt eine POC-Haupfigur haben wollten, um politisch korrekt zu sein, dann hätten sie entweder irgendeinen freien Schwarzen als Freund für Louis oder Lestat dazu erfinden sollen oder irgendeinen anderen Charakter, der eben nicht gerade dar reichte Plantagen-Besitzer ist, schwarz casten sollen. Aber wenn man einen Stoff verfilmt, der über weite Strecken in der gehobenen Gesellschaftsschicht von Louisiana im 18. und 19. Jahrhundert spielt, dann sollte man eigentlich vorhersehen, dass die schwarzen Rollen vor allem die der Sklaven und Bediensten und Hintergrundscharaktere bzw. in diesem Fall Vampiropfer sein werden. Wenn man damit nicht leben kann, dann sollte man so einen Stoff eben gar nicht erst verfilmen.

Claudia, Lestat und Armand, selbst Antoine und Madeleine, wären aus verschiedenen Gründen, die vor allem mit späteren Romanen zu tun haben, ebenfalls schwierig als nicht-weiß zu casten, aber nichts, wirklich nichts, spricht dagegen Daniel Molloy, den Reporter aus der Gegenwart (bzw. dem 20. Jahrhundert, ich gehe aber nicht davon aus, dass diese Serie so korrekt vorgeht, dass sie den Rahmenhandlung in den 70ern ansiedelt), als POC zu casten. Wenn sie also unbedingt divers sein wollten, hätten sie das tun können.

Aber vermutlich war ihnen die Rolle nicht groß genug. Kleine Änderungen hätten aber zumindest im Rahmen dieser Serie selbst ein Race-Bending von so ziemlich allen anderen wichtigeren Charakteren gestattet, eben mit Ausnahme von Louis.

Und wenn jemand genau den einen Charakter, bei dem es aus Plotgründen einfach nicht möglich ist, mit einen POC besetzt, dann zeigt das, dass sie nur den Markennamen benutzen wollten und kein Interesse an der eigentichen Story haben, die sie verfilmen.

Ich meine, kein weißer Darsteller hätte sich für die Hauptrolle in “Twelve Years as a Slave” beworben. Da hätte es noch mehr Sinn gemacht, wenn diverse Frauen für Louis vorgesprochen hätten (die vermutlich die Rolle besser auf den Punkt bringen würden als jeder Mann, immerhin ist er die Verkörperung der trauernden Mutter, die ihr Kind im Alter von fünf Jahren begraben musste). Schlimmer noch wäre aber die Idee, dass Jacob Anderson die Rolle einfach so angboten wurde, damit ein bekannter Name in der Serie vorkommt.

Wie auch immer, ansehen werde ich mir diesen Scheiß jetzt nicht mehr.

Ich bin nicht nur wütend, nein, es ist schlimmer, mir wurde im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes das Herz gebrochen, weil diese neue Serie mir jetzt jede Chance darauf die “Vampire Chronicles”-Verfilmung, auf die ich mein Leben lang gewartet habe, noch zu Lebzeiten zu sehen geraubt hat.

Und das ist einfach nicht fair. Nicht nach all den Jahren der Entwicklung dieses Serienprojekts. Hätte AMC nicht einfach einen anderen Stoff versauen können?

(Übrigens AMC ich kann mich nicht daran erinnern, dass sie die Grimes-Familie im “The Walking Dead” schwarz gecastet hätte, und dabei gäbe es viel weniger was dagegen spricht als im Fall von Louis, aber das nur so nebenbei).

#Blog #Anne Rice #The Vampire Chronicles #interview with the vampire #AMC #Interview mit einem Vampir #Die Chronik der Vampire #Outlander #louis de pointe du lac

[outlanderpromptexchange]

OUTLANDER PROMPT EXCHANGE: ONE-SHOTS

Welcome to the Outlander Prompt Exchange: One-Shot Challenge, a fandom event designed to be quick, simple and something new(ish) to help get us through another month of Droughtlander. The rules are simple: be kind and patient with both yourself and others... and get creative! ♥

1 - 7 SEPTEMBER 2020: PROMPT EXCHANGE

SUBMIT A CLAIM: From the 1st of September readers and writers alike are invited to submit a prompt via the blog’s inbox. This month’s theme, one-shots, is quite broad and it only follows that prompts can be too! This means any character, relationship, scenario, location, quote, etc. are eligible so long as they are (or can be) Outlander-related. Submit a prompt now! 

CLAIM A PROMPT: Prompts are available to be claimed from the Prompt Masterlist below at any time. Simply send a message via the blog’s inbox with the prompt # and it’s yours! Note: each prompt can only be claimed once and will be allocated on a ‘first in first served’ basis. Claim a prompt now!

8 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2020: PUBLICATION

PUBLISH A ONE-SHOT: From the 8th of September through to the end of the month writers can publish their work at any time and in any space. Please remember to use #OutlanderPromptExchange where possible, tag @outlanderpromptexchange​ and/or send through a link so that we may also share your work.  

Do you still have questions? FAQ available here!

PROMPT MASTERLIST

1.  Jamie and Claire are hippies who met at Woodstock.

2.  Student Exchange - High school student Claire comes to stay with the Fraser family for 6 weeks while Jenny goes to stay with the Beauchamp family in Oxford.

3. Fake Relationship AU: Jamie Fraser wants to formally adopt his foster son Fergus but his application isn’t likely to get approved... unless he’s married and/or in a committed relationship. Enter one Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp (Randall?).  claimed by @underthewingsofthblackeagle​

4. The first time Fergus and Marsali meet

5. I’m Concerned for her brother’s welfare Jenny pushes Jamie to leave Lallybroch\Scotland after Culloden. Where does Jamie (and Fergus?) go? What do they do?

6. Imagine Claire only promised to return to the 20th century and to see their baby safe. What if Claire refused to promise to go back to Frank? What if Claire successfully argued that she couldn’t promise to return to Frank because she has no way of knowing Frank’s circumstance after 3 years or if he will even take her back. Will Claire make different choices as a result?

7. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

8. To the victor the spoils.

9. Haste ye back claimed by @jamiemackenziefraser​

10. Cruel is the snow that sweeps Glencoe.

11. Adso to the rescue!

12. Jemmy copies his Granda.

13. Ghost 👻

14. Physician, heal thyself.

15. Tall tale.

16. Karma’s a bitch.

17. Imagine BJR does not travel to Paris. There is no duel. There is no pardon.

18. What if Simon MacKimmie had survived prison?

19. Brianna Ellen Beauchamp 

20. In A. Malcolm, Jamie was surprised to find out he had a daughter named Brianna... imagine if Claire had actually given birth to twins.

21. Upon returning to the 20th century and searching frantically for evidence that Jamie survived, what if Claire begged Mrs Graham to read her palm/tea leaves again. What does Mrs Graham see?

22. A pickpocket named Claudel. Imagine Fergus writes a book of his adventures.

23. In 1x01 Jamie’s ghost is looking up at Claire through the window. What was Jamie thinking as he stood there?

24. ‘We thought you were dead until we received your chest from castle Leoch’ -- Lallybroch, Season One. Imagine Jenny’s reaction to discovering her brother is still alive.

25. Kid Fic! Claire goes through the stones as a young child (or teenager).

26. More of Jamie POV pre, during and/or post wedding.

27. Coffee, tea or me?

28. Courage under fire.

29. Whilst in Paris Claire tells Jamie, Fergus and Murtagh the story of The Three Musketeers.

30. Murtagh hates the thought of Jocasta marrying anyone but him. A sudden proposal leads to Jamie and Claire witnessing a secret and romantic handfasting. 💕

31. Imagine an AU where Frank only tolerates Brianna. He’s not cruel just indifferent and emotionally unavailable. Will Claire stay? Go? Overcompensate?

32. Thunderbolt and lightning, very very frightening....

33. Penance

34. Sixth sense: Brianna has ‘the sight’ and knows much more than Claire and Frank realise. What if Brianna is asked to give Claire a message? What is the message and who sends it?

#outlander #outlanderpromptexchange #outlander prompt exchange #fandom event #fan fiction #fanfic #challenge #challenge: one shots

[imagineclaireandjamie]

I am so obsessed with The Getaway and can't wait to see Jamie's reaction!!!! Thank you for this beautiful story!!!

Oh my gosh The Getaway!!!! What happens when she tells Jamie?????? Brian will NOT be happy with his son….

Claire stood nervously at the door, her fingers tapping out a quiet rhythm against the white plastic as she awaited the familiar hum of her father’s car.

 “You’ll wear a hole in the floor if ye keep that up, Claire.” Jamie whispered, causing Claire to notice the uneasy shuffling of her feet against the thick carpet that lined the halls of Lallybroch.

A swift breeze blew the moment an eerie sound of tyre hitting gravel echoed under the main arch that led to the front drive and Claire shuddered.

“Do you think they’ll be really mad?” Wrapping her cardigan around her shoulders, Claire stood rigid in the entranceway, not daring to close the small gap Jamie had left between them. She wanted to lean against him and draw support from the warmth of his body close to hers, but the fear that her parents anger might be further ignited if they immediate saw any physical intimacy between them kept her from doing it.

Jamie smiled, a cautious little thing that exposed his unease. “I think you’ve watched one too many soaps, Claire.” His hand came up and took hers, wrapping around her cool digits as he tried to offer her some measure of calm.

The pair watched as the sleek black mercedes pulled up beside Brian’s mud splattered Land Rover. Claire slid back a little as she watched her mother jump from the car, her hair more disheveled than she’d ever seen it before.

 “Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp!” She cried before launching herself at her daughter, tears gathering in her eyes as she pulled her close.

 Jamie stood back as he watched Claire and Julia embrace. Henry kept his distance, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips. As he caught Jamie looking his way it dropped a little, as if Jamie himself was a solid reminder of what had occurred between them. It was a glance that said - ‘I know what you did with my daughter’, but in an instant it was gone, replaced with a glint of acceptance at the situation.

 Reaching out, her arm letting Claire go for just a moment, Julia took Jamie’s hand from where it rested at his side and pulled him forwards once more.

“You don’t get away that easily, Jamie.” Tugging him into the embrace, she bent to kiss his cheek, “but I could shake you until your teeth rattle, Claire, for leaving that note and not trusting us to get you here! On a bus, for christ sake, halfway across the country…alone!”

Claire let out an almighty sigh and laughed through her tears as she realised she’d never once heard her mother take the lord’s name in vain before.

“I second that,” Henry interjected, his tone soft and low as he finally locked the car and came up and into the house. “To think, you bore this weight all by yourself makes me frustrated at your stubbornness and in awe of your strength all at the same time. You’re as bad as your uncle Lamb.” The chastisement only made Claire laugh harder as the group wandered further into the big house in search of Ellen and Brian.

Knowing the emotional reunion that was about the occur, the Frasers had hidden away, keeping themselves busy firmly inside the large living room with the drinks at the ready. Ellen was certain that Julia and Henry wouldn’t be mad, but she knew Claire needed some space. Nothing she could have said would have convinced the young lass that her parents weren’t going to turn up and tear her apart - limb from limb.

But, as predicted, they had been supportive and relaxed and both Claire and Jamie now seemed far more tranquil.

“So,” Henry began, drink in hand care of Brian as he perched on the edge of the plush sofa, “have you any idea what you want to do about September…both of you?”

The room fell silent for a moment. Claire had thought about it, but she hadn’t discussed it with anybody. Butterflies twisted in her stomach as she swallowed back the trepidation that began to rise in her gut.

Jamie nudged her shoulder gently with his own, seeing the sudden pallor as it took over her usually fresh features. *It’s alright,* he said without words, *you’re alright.*

Licking her dry lips she dropped her eyes to her knees, nodding as the fabric seemed to blur the longer she focused on it. “Yes, I have.”

“It’s your choice, Claire,” Julia and Ellen both piped up, their voices almost perfectly timed with one another.

“Aye,” Brian continued, “yer mam’s are right. Just talk to us, tell us what you’re thinking.”

Henry nodded, swilling the small glass of port, creating miniature waves to cascade against the side of the glass as he waited to see what she would say.

“I think…” stopping for just a moment, Claire gathered herself. She didn’t *think* at all, she knew. Now was no time for half-hearted statements. This was it for her, if she was going to properly bring another human life into this world she needed to be an adult herself and make courageous decisions with conviction. “No,” she rerouted, sounding certain now, “I know that I want to have year out. I want to offset my course, start next September - depending on how I feel. I don’t think it’s plausible or fair to start this year knowing that I’ll have to stop before the first year exams even come around.”

Jamie held back a smile, wrapping his arm around Claire now as she joined her fingers with his free hand.

“…and you, Jamie lad?” Brian coaxed.

“The same,” squeezing Claire’s hand firmly he bent to kiss her forehead.

Hearing his words shocked Claire. She knew he was committed to her and the baby, he didn’t need to prove that by following her. She knew the heavy costs of their new situation and had been completely ready to sacrifice anything she needed to in order to raise their daughter or son. University would wait, she could always go back, her A Level results weren’t going anywhere after all.

“B-but…” she stuttered, her eyes meeting his as her astonished haze began to dissipate, “you don’t need to–”

“O’ course I do, Claire.” His voice was serious, stern even.

The adults that surrounded them maintained silence, all determined to let Jamie and Claire come to the decision that worked best for them by themselves.

“I told ye it was us together, and that means every aspect of it. Why should you sacrifice your education and allow me mine?”

“Well…” There was an argument for it, Claire realised, but it was a patriarchal one and there was no way she was about to eschew her views to voice it. Nor would she demean Jamie by suggesting that he shouldn’t witness those precious first few months with their child.

He was right.

This was something they did properly. Something they did together – or not at all.

Leaning his forehead against hers, Jamie looked straight into her eyes and held her knuckles to his lips as he spoke, clearly and decisively. “Together, aye?”

“Alright, together.”

Ellen breathed out a long sigh and nodded at Brian. Julia and Henry looked on, a little confused but relieved that Jamie and Claire had come to a mature decision.

“Then it’s settled. You’ll both waylay your university start date until a more appropriate time.” Ellen said, standing before walking to the small bureau that sat in the corner of the lounge.

“Will you stay here, do you think?” Henry’s voice was small, the slight hint of regret that he might be so far away from his daughter seeping into every word as he twisted Julia’s wedding ring around his large finger.

“Weel,” Brian perked up, obviously heading towards some sort of offer, “I ken yer job’s keeping you in Oxford, Henry, and if you think they should come wi’ you then we’ll try our best to help out. But we have some ideas, if you’re all amenable?”  

“We couldn’t–” Claire began, already contemplating their options. Work, housing, benefits - everything and anything. She hadn’t thought for one moment that relying on anyone else was an option.

“It willna diminish your ability to care for the bairn, Claire, if we offer you some help and you accept, aye?” Ellen came back from the desk, and envelope sitting neatly between her hands as she passed it over to Jamie and Claire. “Whatever you decide to do, wherever you decide to stay…we will always help you both. We’re your parents, we ha’ a duty of care and we willna see ye slogging your guts out when we have the ability to lend assistance.”

“Aye, you can pay us back when we’re all auld and infirm!” Brian joked, slapping Henry on the back as he chuckled to himself. “Grandparents annex it is!”

Taking the envelope and tipping out the contents, Claire and Jamie were surprised to see a key twisted between the leaves of two sheets of paper.

“It’s not ready yet, but the garage out front hasna been used for years. We want to convert it for you, have it decked out wi’ a small nursery and a main bedroom for you both. You can come and use our kitchen should you need anything massive, but we’ll make sure you have a small area to cook and a nice bathroom.”

Claire couldn’t breathe and she shook slightly as Ellen reeled off a rather large list of things she and Brian wanted to do for her - for *them*. Her heart beat out a shallow rhythm in her chest. She felt overwhelmed, unable to take it all in.

“We’ll all help,” Julia agreed, shimmying closer to Claire as quiet descended upon the lounge once more. “Your father and I. And as soon as we’re able we’ll move back up here. Won’t we, Henry dear?”

Henry scratched his head and nodded, his relief palpable. He’d never been good at making decisions, Julia had always had the strength for the both of them. “Gosh, yes. Of course. Claire, I’m so proud of you,” he whispered, lifting his feet slightly as he shifted from foot to foot, “scared,” he laughed almost silently, “ but so very proud.”

“Then it’s settled!” Brian raised his glass and stomped his foot in celebration. “A year to prepare, ha’ the wean and settle ye pair into parenthood. Cheers!”

– — –

Jamie nipped at Claire’s ear, the whisky thrumming in his veins as he snuck her away from the festivities. The Beauchamp’s and the Fraser’s were too busy now, championing their home DIY annex plans with way too much liquor to pay much heed to their children.

As they crept away, Claire looked back on the scene with some awe. Not so many hours ago she’d been in knots over her parents reaction and now it seemed she’d had nothing to worry about. She could still see some marks of stress around her father’s eyes, but those were fading as the night wore on. In the morning, she was certain they’d have vanished totally.

“Do you think it’ll work, us both having a year out to raise her – or him?” Claire asked with some trepidation. Patriarchal or not, she still wanted Jamie to have the chance to continue on with his studies. Some societal norms were harder to stamp out than others, it seemed.

Tipping his head, his face alight with a look of amused consternation, Jamie tapped her nose playfully as he slipped his pinkie finger along her exposed collarbone. “I think it’ll be perfect, sassenach.” Tracing her pearlescent skin, he toyed with the small pendant she wore around her neck - some ancient tribal symbol her uncle had sent back from Egypt most like.

“Just,” he placed one kiss on her shoulder, “like,” …and another under her chin, “our,” …and another just at the corner of her lips, “bairn.”

Moaning gently, Claire slipped her tongue from her mouth, tasting the pungent whisky on his lips as they came together slowly. Her body ached, heated tingles slithering over her flesh as their mouths moved fluidly together for what felt like hours.

“Perfect,” she echoed, her hands edging beneath the elastic material of his jeans until she was able to cup his arse and pull him flush against her.

“Perfect,” Jamie parroted, his voice barely audible as he gasped, laying Claire flat against his clean sheets allowing his body to do the rest of the reassuring.

#Anonymous #ask #The Getaway #teenage jamie and claire #teenage love #young pregnancy AU #Jamie X Claire #;Mod MBD

[renee-writer]

Teenage Daughters Chapter 25 More Than Mam and Da, Then?

A contented Rory leaves to find her cousins and help them with the chores. Jamie pulls her between his open legs and kisses her. She is soon lost in it, her hands twisting in his hair, her body flush against him. She fits like a perfectly shaped puzzle piece. Their tongues start to tangle when a deep throat clearing has them coming apart.

“So, you are more then just mam and da to my niece, then?” Jenny asks as a grinning Ian stands behind her.

“Yah, well ahhh.” Jamie is a tad mortified. To be caught making out like that.

“We are in love. A state we would have realized at Rory's conception if we wasn't so drunk.” A calmer Claire answers.

“Well, that is wonderful then. Congratulations!” Ian steps around Jenny and pats his mate on the back. “To you both.”

“Thanks Ian. She is the reason it didn't work out with anyone else.”

“Well bràither, you are sure going around this backwards. It is to be love, marriage, then a baby carriage. But then again, you have always been an unique man. I am equally happy for you. Welcome to the family again Claire.” She comes up and hugs her then her brother. “When shall we make the wedding then? You do want it here, right?”

“Jenny, you are a bit ahead of me. We haven’t discussed..”

“Haven’t we? You told me you wanted this every morning. I won't have a live in lover, even Rory's daddy. You want this every day Jamie, then we need to be married.”

He opens and closes his mouth for a minute. “Are you proposing?”

“No. Just telling you that when you do, I will say yes. I want this every morning too. Yes Jenny, I would love the wedding here. With all of your children and Rory, of course, involved.”

“Well bràither. You just need to propose. Do it romantically. She deserves that.” He looks between them as Ian freely laughs beside him.

“Well mate, looks like they got it all planned out. Come Jenny, let’s get coffee and leave them alone to talk.” He pats Jamie on the back again. They pour two cups and leave them alone.

#my writing #outlander fanfic #jamie and claire #cannon divergence #modern au #teenage daughters

[itsafanficthing]

The Paper Boy - Chapter Two

Un-Beta'd, spellchecked and splurged from my brain. Here you go!

You can also read on A03 if that’s more your thing here

Chapter One

“Yer late,” Murtagh’s gruff voice sounded from somewhere behind the counter as Jamie entered the shop with a yawn to pick up the papers to be delivered.

“Overslept,” he mumbled as he started to fill his satchel.

“Ye have a late night?” Murtagh quirked an eyebrow at him and Jamie could see a twitch in his beard, a sign that Murtagh might actually be smiling.

“Something like that,” Jamie said through another yawn as he heaved his bag across his body.

“Wouldn’t have to do with the new lass in town, would it?” Murtagh asked, openly teasing Jamie now. Jamie rolled his eyes. He should have known that word would have gotten round by now about the new Broch Mordha residents.

“No,” Jamie replied too quickly, resulting in something that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle from Murtagh. “I’m late,” he said as he stormed out of the small shop and jumped onto his bike, pedaling away quickly from his godfather who was still laughing in the doorway as he watched him go.

He hadn’t meant to have a late night.

He’d taken Claire down to the small stream close to his house. She’d become immediately fascinated by some plant down by the water and had made him stop so that she could take a closer look at it. Jamie used the opportunity of her distraction to simply look at her… well watch her would be a more accurate description. He was completely enamoured with her and he’d only just met her.

She spoke quickly, as if there wasn’t enough time for her to speak all of the thoughts that she was having.

“Do you think that’s Myrtle?” She asked as she made her way to the water. “You know I think it is. Look at how wild it’s grown here. No one must know what it is.” She pulled a leaf and crushed it between her fingers, smelling it. “It’s myrtle I’m sure of it,” she said more to herself than to Jamie, as she started to collect a few stalks. “You can use this if you have a fever, you know. I’ve also heard that you can use it to cure ulcers, but I don’t think that’s scientifically supported. If you boil it in some water, you can use it like a tea…”

Jamie nodded along as Claire spoke, but he hardly understood half of what she was saying. Using a plant if he had a fever? Usually his father gave him an advil and told him to lie down with the curtains drawn. Why use a plant when there were such things as paracetamol?

Claire spoke with her hands, waving the plant around as she spoke, a trail of soil following the path. Her pale skin shone in the morning sun and she looked positively ethereal.

Jamie had never thought of a lass as “ethereal” before, but he had read the word in a few fantasy books as they described fairies and he thought that the word described Claire quite well. There was a faint blush of excitement on her cheeks as she continued to talk about the plant. A cloud passed in front of the sun briefly and when it came back out, the sun highlighted a multitude of different colours in Claire curls.

Brown, auburn, even a streak of gold when she turned her head a certain way. Jamie had never really noticed a lasses hair before. It was just hair; what was there to be interested in? But when the breeze picked up and lifted the curls from around Claire’s face as she continued to talk about the plant she was holding, Jamie wondered why he had never noticed how bonnie as lasses hairs could look before.

“See the waxy texture of the leaves?” Claire was right next to him now, and holding out the plant to him. “When you boil the leaves all of that comes off. You can scoop it off and make candle wax. It smells lemony, see, smell it,” She continued holding the plant out for Jamie to smell.

It looked like any other pond plant that Jamie had seen, but for Claire he thought it might do just about anything, so he smelled it. She was right, it did smell lemony. He looked up to see Claire grinning triumphantly at him.

“I told you,” she said not waiting for any kind of response from him. “I think I should get some more, take some home and see what I can make with it.” She abruptly turned and left him with nothing but whiff of her shampoo.

That was when he saw her bend over, her arse high in the air as she pulled up some more of the plant. Jamie stepped back in surprise as his cock hardened and he quickly turned away from her to hide it better in his shorts. Good Lord. Had lasses arse’s always looked so bonnie? Claire’s was round and firm and Jamie was alarmed to realise that he wanted a handful of it. Just the thought of having her sit on his lap made his cock harden even further. Christ, the awkward conversation he’d had with his Da was coming back in full force and Jamie felt the heat of embarrassment rise from his navel to and flood his cheeks..

“Jamie? Are you alright?” Claire’s voice called out from behind him, completely oblivious to his male anatomy betraying his attraction to her.

“I’m fine,” Jamie’s voice broke embarrassingly on the second word and he cleared his throat before repeating, “fine.”

“I think that this is more than enough. Where to next, tour guide?” Claire was suddenly at his shoulder looking up at him, grinning with excitement.

Jamie picked up his bike where he had dropped it (discreetly rearranging himself as he did so) and led them to their next destination.

--

It wasn’t that he had spent a late night with Claire, it was that Claire had spent a late night with him. He had returned her back to her house around lunch time, Mr Beauchamp - Lamb, standing at the front door smiling at them both as they waved goodbye with promises to meet up again another time.

Jamie had come home (quite late) endured a scolding from both his father and his sister for not returning home after his route, and promptly thrown himself into his chores. But even as he was mucking out the horse stable, his mind couldn’t stop returning to the bonnie Sassenach that now lived in Walter Stuarts house.

The way she spoke, at a million miles an hour, without waiting for a response before jumping into the next thought put a smile on his face as he fed the horses.

The way that she laughed when he’d finally managed to get a word in, had him grinning like an idiot as he fed the cows.

The way that she had bent over to collect more plants, her arse high in the air, tempting Jamie like a pie on a windowsill had him once again adjusting himself, so as not to give himself away to his father and sister.

It was only at dinner later that night, that Jamie finally told him why he had been delayed.

“We should ask them around for dinner,” Jenny immediately suggested. “They’re new to the area, there’s been a lot of gossip in the town about the two of them, we should reach out a friendly hand.”

“Dinna be listenin’ to the auld hens in town, Jen,” Brian Fraser reprimanded his eldest.

“I’m no’, I’m just sayin’, we should ask them round.” Jenny shook her head emphatically at her father.

“Aye, I ken… Jamie, next time ye see the lass, ask her and her father for a meal.”

--

Jamie put himself to bed early that night, hoping to get a good night's sleep before his paper run in the morning, and hopefully seeing Claire Beauchamp again; they had, after all, made plans to see each other again. But sleep had evaded Jamie and instead his thoughts were replaced Claire Beauchamp.

Reviewing every detail of their morning together; her interest in the plants by the creek, and then in the field; the way that she spoke, so prim and proper with the occasional curse word; the way that she moved, or floated Jamie thought. She didn’t walk like a normal person, she bounced on the balls of her feet when she was excited about something, she constantly stopped to inspect things, a plant, a bug, a stone, which would inevitably end up in her bag as part of her collection. Claire laughed loudly, not worried about seeming crass or uncultured. Jamie thought about how the girls in his class laughed. Always for show, laughing too hard at something a boy said that they fancied, but Claire laughed just for the joy of laughing.

Christ. He’d only known her for a day and he was already making assumptions about her. He was fairly sure that he was in love with her. The thought of her arse bent over, picking up the blasted Myrtle or whatever it was, caused an ache in Jamie’s lower half that had him rolling onto his stomach and trying to think of other things to make it go away.

Jamie looked at his watch, seeing that it had passed 1am and he was nowhere near tired. He was aching and stiff, but he was not tired. Creeping out of his room he ran to the bathroom and ran a very cold shower. He almost yelped as he jumped under the icy flow and all stiffness of his manhood promptly disappeared with the shock. Jamie quickly shut off the water, dried himself and ran back to his room. His father and his sister didn’t need to know what he was doing, and he would be mortified if they did.

Shivering, Jamie jumped back into his bed and pulled the covers over his head, trying to think of anything but Claire Beauchamp and the possibility of seeing her again in the morning.

--

Jamie yawned through the first three houses as he threw the paper into the residents yards, aiming for front doors and coming up short every time. By the time his bag was half empty he was decidedly more awake, his muscles warmed up and his aim markedly improved.

Jamie sped around the corner and refrained from rolling his eyes as the Mackenzies house came into view. It wasn’t even 7am and Laoghaire was waiting by her gate waving eagerly at him.

“Mornin’ Jamie,” she called as he rode towards her house.

Mornin’ Laoghaire,” Jamie greeted wearily as he pulled to a stop.

“Ma asked if ye wanted to come in for breakfast, as we’re the last house on your route,” Laoghaire blushed at him, learning forward on the gate, and fluttering her eyelashes at him. Did she have something in her eye?

“Oh, ah, I canna. I have a few more houses to go. Thank her for the invitation though,” Jamie mumbled, hiding his nearly empty bag from her eager eyes.

“I thought that we were the last house? We are always the last house,” Laoghaire persisted.

“Aye, a few more houses signed up with Murtagh.”

“Oh, well, yer welcome to come back ‘round when yer done,” Laoghaire pressed.

“I canna. Chores,” Jamie answered shortly, adjusting himself on his bike ready to push off again. “I’d better be off, still got houses to get to.”

“Aye, aye, well, I’ll see ye around then, when yer finished yer chores. School does’na start for another week. We should, ye ken, do somethin’...”

“Aye, perhaps. See ye later.” Jamie quickly peddled off before Laoghaire could ask him anything else.

He supposed she was good-looking. She had long blonde hair and bright blue eyes that Jamie was sure the lads at school noticed. She certainly had drawn the eye of a couple of Jamie’s mates, but she was two years their junior and no one was game enough to ask her out. She certainly hung around his group of friends a lot, so he supposed the age difference wasn’t so bad. But the more that he tried to think about Laoghaire, the more his thoughts shifted toward the brown-haired lass that had captured his attention. Her whiskey eyes, curly hair and infectious laugh.

Jamie was so busy thinking about Claire that he had to loop the next street twice to remember to throw the Duncan’s paper to them.

Finally the papers were delivered and Jamie reported back to Murtagh.

“Yer ok with the extra houses?” Murtagh asked as Mrs McIntosh left the small shop with a bottle of milk and her weekly lottery ticket.

“Aye, I’m keepin’ pace. Why? Have ye got more?” Jamie asked he straightened the gum packets on the counter.

“Maybe, I dinna ken yet,” Murtagh grunted back, “Ye’d better get back home. Ye Da told me about ye going MIA.”

“When?” Jamie looked up at his Godfather in confusion. How fast did word in this town spread?

“He called me when ye finally did get home an’ started yer chores. Said ye’d met the new lass.”

“I showed her around, it was nothin’.” Jamie tried to shrug casually but he could feel his cheeks heating up.

“Aye, well, dinna be late again.” Murtagh could have been smiling at Jamie but it was lost under his beard.

“Aye, I’ll see ye tonight for dinner?” Jamie asked with a sigh, pushing himself away from the counter. “Jen’s makin’ a roast. She said it’s tradition now.”

“Sunday roast, aye?”

Jamie shrugged again in response and Murtagh scoffed.

“I’ll see ye tonight.”

--

Jamie couldn’t help it. It was part of his routine now. Admittedly he usually looked at the house before he went back to check in with Murtagh, so it was a bit out of his way to be going back to Walter Stuarts- well, Claire and Lamb Beauchamp’s house, but Jenny had said that they should ask them over for dinner, and there was no time like the present.

Jamie rolled to a stop at their front gate and carefully parked his bike, leaning it against the fence. Running his hands through his hair with nerves he carefully made his way to their front door and knocked.

There was an abrupt halt in conversation before heavy footsteps sounded towards the door.

“Jamie!” Lambert Beauchamp greeted cheerfully, almost too cheerfully for the early hour of the morning.

“Good Mornin’,” Jamie smiled awkwardly at the older man.

“I’m afraid Claire can’t come out just now.”

“Oh, no, I was erm… I was talkin’ to my Da and my sister last night, and my Da, Brian, that’s his name, was wonderin’ if ye want to come around for dinner? We’ll be having roast tonight, my sister, Jenny, makes it and it’s pretty good. Just if yer free and ye… wanted to meet a few more of the locals. Ye dinna have to say yes, it does’na have to be tonight. Just if ye and Claire were free… we wanted to welcome ye to the neighbourhood.” Jamie spoke very quickly, feeling awkward under the intensity of Lamb’s eyes as he studied him.

“That’s very kind of Jamie, very kind indeed. I will ask Claire and see if she… if we are free to come tonight.”

Jamie could hear movement behind Lamb and was sure that it was Claire moving through the house. He briefly wondered why she didn’t answer the door herself and if he had done something to upset her yesterday. He was sure that he hadn’t. They had parted ways with a “see you later” and that meant that, later… Jamie would see her. Didn’t it?

“Well I wrote my Da’s number down,” Jamie said finishing the crumpled piece of paper from his back pocket, sat on after many hours of delivering the paper. “Just give him a call if ye wanted to stop by. It’s got our address on it as well.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you. I will call your father… Brian,” Lamb read, squinting at the paper, “this afternoon.”

“Right… ok… bye then.” Jamie stood awkwardly at the door as Lamb smiled at him before turning away quickly. He looked over his shoulder as he left to see Claire in her pajamas rubbing her eyes and sniffiling as Lamb shut the door.

--

“Have ye heard anything from them yet, Da?” Jamie asked as he stomped his muddy boots by the back kitchen door.

“Nothin’ yet, it’s only been ten minutes since ye last asked me,” an exasperated Brian Fraser replied to his son.

“Maybe I did’na write down the number correctly…” Jamie wondered as he got a glass of water. “Maybe it was’na neat enough, should I go by their place and see?”

“No, for goodness sake, Jamie. They will call when they call. It’s only midday,” Jenny said from the kitchen doorway, holding a basket full of eggs.

“She’s right lad, calm down, they’ll call when they call.” Brian smiled at his youngest as he sat at the kitchen table and started to peel potatoes.

At that very moment the phone began to ring and Jamie raced through the house to answer it.

“Fraser residence, this is Jamie,” he answered on what must have been only the second ring.

“Waitin’ for a call lad?” The gruff voice of his Godfather echoed down the line.

“No, was just walking past when it rang,” Jamie lied slightly crestfallen.

“Aye, just callin’ to let yer Da know that Alistar McKinnon’s cultivator disc has snapped again and he might be wantin’ to borrow his for a few days. Can ye let him know?”

“Aye, why did’na ye just tell us at dinner tonight?” Jamie asked curiously.

“Because ye Da wants a heads-up on these kinds of things and McKinnon will likely be round in the next hour,” Murtagh replied roughly.

“Aye, I’ll tell him. See ye tonight then.”

“Aye, tonight,” Murtagh grunted in response, before the line went dead.

There was no use hanging by a phone that wasn’t going to ring when Jamie had to take the horses out to the east paddock for a run, so he passed on the message to his father and went to finish his chores.

--

Jamie was dirty and sweating by the time he returned home. He’d lost track of the time, adrenaline and excitement running through his body when he’d finally mounted the demon horse- Donas, bareback and not been thrown off.

Well. That wasn’t strictly true. Jamie had fallen off once but that was his own fault. He’d tried to mount the beast too quickly and had spooked him. Jamie was sure he would have a spectacular bruise on his right shoulder tomorrow, but right now he couldn’t feel it- too thrilled with the idea that his training of Donas was moving along quickly. He couldn’t wait to tell his Da.

“I lost track o’ the time but Da, ye’ll never believe it. I got him,” Jamie called through the house as he stomped the muck from his boots. “It took some time, but I got him. Bareback. I dinna think he’s ready for a saddle yet, but I got him.” Jamie started walking through the house looking for his father, knowing that he would be able to hear him, no matter where he was. “He was a bit skittish, but I think havin’ Molly in the same paddock calmed him down. I mounted Molly to show him what was happenin’ and he did’na take a nip like he usually does when I came close. That’s when I kent I could mount him. I fell off once but that was-” Jamie stopped talking abruptly as he entered the living room and saw his father sitting with Lamb and Claire.

Apparently they had called while he was working the horses… and he had well and truly lost track of the time as they were clearly there for the dinner he had invited them too.

“Oh, hi,” Jamie said nervously, accurately aware of the mud up the side of his body from his fall and his messed up hair, that was likely full of grass and hay.

“Jamie lad. Good to see you again,” Lamb greeted brightly. “Thank you for inviting us for dinner. You didn’t mention you lived in a castle.”

“Oh, it’s no’...”

Brian Fraser laughed heartily interrupting Jamie’s response. “It’s hardy a castle Quentin. Truly it’s more work than it’s worth but it’s been in the family all my life.”

Jamie looked between Lamb and his father wondering who on earth Quentin was.

“It’s wonderfully historic,” Lamb said with enthusiasm, looking back to Brian. The two men continued their conversation but Jamie wasn’t paying attention. His focus was on Claire who was looking around the room. Her eyes looked red and puffy, like she had been crying. Did she not want to come to dinner? Had Jamie truly upset her?

He just needed to pull her aside. Talk to her. Apologise for whatever he did to upset her.

“Jamie… Jamie.” His father's impatient voice interrupted his thoughts and he looked up to see his father grinning knowingly at him. “Why don’t ye go wash up for dinner.”

“Aye- Sorry Da, I lost track of the time.”

Brian gave him a stern look but with a small glint of something Jamie hadn’t seen since his mother died and he left the sitting room quickly to take a shower.

—

Another cold one, Jamie stood on the bathmat shivering. He had scrubbed himself raw, making sure that all the dirt was gone from his fingernails, hair washed and brushed away from his face. He had to look good for Claire.

Jamie looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror assessing himself. He was starting to sprout some blonde hairs on his chest, some darker than the others. He was even starting to get sprouts of whiskers on his chin and jawline.

He was also correct in thinking that the fall from Donas would cause a bruise, as a bluish shape was already starting to form along his shoulder and ribs.

The work on the farm kept him in pretty good shape but the paper route had done wonders for his legs. Used to lifting bales of hay for the horses and the cows, he’d always had a lot of upper body strength but as he got older he noticed that the sinewy muscles of his arms had started to fill out a little more.

Jamie shook his head at his assessment of his own body. Not that Claire would ever see it. He blushed bright red at the thought and scrubbed his face with his towel again. He shouldn’t be thinking things like that.

Jamie looked around the room for the fresh set of clothes he was sure that he had brought with him. Nothing. Just his dirty farming clothes shoves haphazardly into the washing basket. Jamie mentally chastised himself for his forgetfulness in his eagerness to clean himself and get back out to talk to Claire, entirely forgetting his clothing in the process. Come to think of it, he hadn’t even stopped by his room. He was quite sure that he had run straight for the shower without a second thought.

There was no help for it. He would wrap his towel around him and make a run for his bedroom. It was only down the hall and the Beauchamp’s were probably still with his father in the living room. He hadn’t been gone that long. They wouldn’t be touring the house- that would be ridiculous.

Jamie cautiously opened the bathroom door and stuck his head out in the direction of the living room. The general hum of conversation and laughter was a good confirmation and Jamie stepped out of the bathroom.

“How’s your leg?” The voice of Claire Beauchamp from behind him had Jamie jumping out of his skin and nearly dropping the towel in the process.

“Jesus feckin’ Christ, Sassenach. Scared the living daylights out of me,” Jamie panted, holding the towel tighter and praying that she wouldn’t look down and see his reaction to her.

“I was looking at the photos.” Claire answered innocently with a tilt of her head at the hallway which Jamie and Jenny affectionately referred to as the “Fraser hall of fame”. Photos of the Fraser family spanning several generations lined the hallway, including the not so subtle but very embarrassing baby and toddler photos of Jamie.

“Aye- Yes it’s the hall of fame. Generations of Frasers.”

“What did you do to your shoulder?” Claire nodded briefly in acknowledgement before her hawk eyes focussed on the bruise from Donas.

“It’s nothin,” Jamie shrugged. “Trying to train a demon of a horse and I fell.”

“You fell?” Claire repeated, “from a horse?” Before Jamie could move, her hands were on his bare shoulder and ribcage pressing and prodding. He suppressed a shiver as her nimble fingers pressed the outline of the bruise, before he squeaked in surprise at a particular ticklish spot.

“Does that hurt?” Claire asked, her eyebrows furrowed before she was looking back into his eyes.

“Nay, but it’s a wee bit ticklish if ye dinna mind,” Jamie replied gruffly, trying to sound much more macho than he felt.

“Did you hit your head or anything? You’re not dizzy?” Claire continued her assessment of him, her eyes running up and down from his eyes, chest stomach, legs and back again.

“I’m fine. Mostly just winded me.” Jamie stood gripping the towel at his waist, his knuckles slowly turning white. Hey eyes were definitely red rimmed and puffier than the last time he had seen her. She looked like she’d been crying and Jamie panicked that she hadn’t wanted to come to dinner after all and Lamb had forced her into it.

“You should be more careful. Out in the fields by yourself, trying to tame rouge horses. You could have seriously hurt yourself.”

“Why, Sassenach, anyone would think that ye cared about me!” Jamie said jokingly, hoping to make her smile, but mostly to tame the thought that she didn’t want to be at his house- with him.

“You’re my only friend in this… town. Of course I bloody care. I’d have to go make a new friend.” Claire huffed as she rolled her eyes at him.

“Friend am I? Good to know,” Jamie grinned before he noticed that her eyes were becoming watery. “Christ, are ye alright Claire? Was it somethin’ I said? Or did? I’m sorry.”

Claire waved him away but she couldn’t stop the lone tear that fell from her eye. “I’m fine. Really. Some days… are just harder… I’m fine. Sorry.”

“Is there… can I do anything?” Jamie asked awkwardly, wanting to reach out and comfort her, but too terrified to remove his hands from the towel at his waist.

“I’m fine,” Claire repeated taking a deep breath. “I’ll tell you about it another time.” She shook her head and it seemed like a shiver went through her before she looked back up at him with a watery smile. “Is that what you’re wearing to dinner? I wish I’d known there was a dress code, I would have dressed up myself.”

“I ahh, Aye- Well I was going to get dressed but some Sassenach scared the bleedin’ daylights out of me and distracted me.” Jamie smiled kindly at her and was pleased to hear her snort a laugh in return. Not to mention forcing all kinds of imaginative thoughts of Claire Beauchamp in only a towel out of his mind before his body would betray him. “Give me a minute and I’ll be back wi’ ye.”

Jamie stepped carefully around her and walked with his head held high to his room at the end of the hall. As he turned to open the door, he looked back at Claire who was watching him with a curious expression. He smiled at her before he entered his room and closed the door behind him, his towel dropping to the floor and his heart beating out of his chest.

#outlander #outlander fanfic #outlander fanfiction #teenager au #paper boy #jamie x claire #au #outlander au #fanfiction #jamie is a paperboy #Claire is just a little bit weird #with a past #jamie fraser #Claire beauchamp #chapter two

[scotsmanandsassenach]

OUTLANDER FAN FICTION: Murtagh

Here is an enjoyably long list of stories featuring Outlander’s one and only Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser! If you have written or know of a Murtagh-centric story (or moment) that’s not on this list please DM or comment below - there‘s no such thing as too much fanfic to read! SANDS x 

After Culloden by @phoenixflames12

Weakened by fever, Jamie struggles to come to terms with the loss of Claire and the child and the fact that despite his best efforts, he is still alive.

All It Takes by @lenny9987 for @imagineclaireandjamie

Prompt: Imagine the conversation in S4 between Jamie and Murtagh when he tells his godfather about his second marriage.

An Ardsmuir Man Found by @lenny9987 for @imagineclaireandjamie

Prompt: Would love to see Marsali and Fergus finding Murtagh and bring him and the baby home to Jamie and Claire. The old and the new x

An Extended Stay At River Run by cantletitgo

The moments immediately following the season 4 finale (if you haven’t watched it, there are spoilers in this work!)

Before Light by @westerhos

Murtagh comforts Jamie after Faith’s death.

Can’t Do it For Her by @lenny9987 for @imagineclaireandjamie

Prompt: Hiya! I was wondering if there could be any Murtagh POV from first book/season? Related to either Jamie’s, Claire’s or both’s actions or circumstances? Thanks!

Cross That Line by MooseDeEvita

While traveling from town to town to lure Jamie back to them, Murtagh and Claire turn to each other for physical comfort. After all, confessions of lost love go so well with an ocean view and a sky full of stars. A bit of a deleted scene in episode 14 “The Search” after they hug in the cave by the sea.

Every Breath by thatsoccercoach

“It was there with every breath.”

Explaining Geneva by @renee-writer

A missing scene from Blood of my Blood where Jamie explains what happened with Geneva to Murtagh.

Faith’s Story by Judybrandtner

Murtagh tells Faith the story of the night she was born.

For Love by @redstarfiction

Imagining a conversation between Murtagh and Jamie before the wedding when Murtagh realises his God-Son is in love with the Sassenach.

Guardian Scotsman by @writtenthroughtime

Prompt: What about a story about Claire as a child or a teenager and somehow gets raised by Murtagh?

Hold On by @abreathofsnowandwaffles

“Frank and Jamie are two very different men, but I can tell ye, they both loved ye. Jamie loved ye so much- he sent yer mam back to him, to see ye safe. He was willing to give up his life so ye stood a chance.”

Hope in Change by @lenny9987 for @imagineclaireandjamie

Prompt: Imagine that the first significant person Bree meets in the colonies is Murtagh. It is through Bree that Murtagh finds out that Claire and Jamie are also in the colonies. What if it was Murtagh rather than Lizzie who witnessed Roger being a bit rough with Bree through the window that day?

In This Together by Awilding

During their search to find Jamie, an untimely encounter compels Claire and Murtagh to return to the caves to seek refuge. Their pursuit interrupted, Claire and Murtagh’s companionship is put to the test as they must rely on each other to make it through several days of considerable challenges. Set within the 14th episode of Season 1, “The Search”.

Just the Same by @bonnie-wee-swordsman for @imagineclaireandjamie

A short Murtagh POV from 1x07 during the scene in the stables with Jamie.

Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by @abreathofsnowandwaffles​

Murtagh finds his way up to Fraser’s Ridge and is greeted by a family of *three* Frasers.

Laying Just Vengeance by @gotham-ruaidh for @imagineclaireandjamie

Imagine Murtagh’s thoughts as he saves Jamie at Culloden

Murtagh and Rebecca’ Fraser by @renee-writer

Murtagh and Rebecca’s courtship and marriage from the Marine universe. A sweet and fluff end to the story.

Murtagh on the Ridge AU by @lenny9987 for @imagineclaireandjamie

If Murtagh survived Culloden and wound up on the Ridge with Jamie and Claire and company.

Now You’re The Outlander by orphan_account

Reader travels back in time from 2016 to 1744 and is found by Claire, Jamie, Murtagh and Fergus. The Reader and Murtagh develop a relationship but it doesn’t start off very well…

Only Hope by @magnoliasinbloom

‘The dank prison cell rustled and heaved slightly with the coughs and snores and groans of its inmates. Jamie tugged the rough blanket tighter around his shoulders, turning to face the heat of the peat fire.’

Other Grandfather Tales by AbbyDebeaupre for @otheroutlandertales

OOT explores the fairy tales and Scottish stories for children Jamie Fraser may have used for Grandfather Tales.

Peace by @bonnie-wee-swordsman

A very, very short moment from Murtagh’s Death at Culloden.

Playing After Bedtime by thatsoccercoach

Faith gets up after bedtime to play with Murtagh.

Reborn by @xlisaleinx

“Ellen?“ he whispered. Her name sounded strange in his ears; he hadn’t uttered it out loud for many a decade, and yet his tongue still remembered the way to form the syllables, calling her picture to him until he could see her as clear as day, as if she was standing right in front of him.

Sir Prize by thatsoccercoach

Murtagh tells a story.

Sit Still by @lenny9987

Brianna wants to paint Murtagh’s portrait but it proves a more difficult task than she anticipated. Part of my Living It Up at Lallybroch AU series.

The Astronaut and the Lepidopterist by thatsoccercoach

Faith has a school project requiring her to find out what her family members wanted to be when they grew up.

The Gorilla Dance by Judybrandtner

Faith and Brianna Fraser have a new obsession and they want to share it with Murtagh.

The Horizon by @lenny9987

Gaps In Canon: The morning of the battle of Culloden finds Murtagh watching the horizon and waiting for Jamie to return from Craigh na Dun.

The Knife by @whiskynottea for @otheroutlandertales

Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser is asked to craft a knife and finds love in the new world.

The River Runs Again by @whiskynottea for @otheroutlandertales

After so many years with his life chained to another man’s fate, Murtagh was free again.

The Son He’d Never Have by @akb723  

Anon asked: “I wonder what Murtagh was thinking when he was watching Jamie and Claire the first time saw each other in their wedding finery outside the church and during the vow?”

The Storyteller by @thewhitelady

A collection of shorts, taking place during Jamie’s youth.

The Truth of You by Devildream69

When two people who’ve learnt the hard way what life could do to a person, find each other again- the inevitable happens. The truth of them becomes the only thing that matters.

To Sway a Heart by @lenny9987 for @imagineclaireandjamie

Can you imagine: Jamie’s reaction straight after Claire teases him about kissing Laoghaire, maybe brooding on it by himself or talking about it in a roundabout way with Murtagh? Maybe him deciding to do something about it? 

Two Red Hens by @written-rebellion

An open letter from Murtagh to his dearly departed… (aka the au where everything is okay and nothing went wrong ever)

White Roses of Scotland by behzaintfunny

December, 1754. Ardsmuir prison. James Fraser is constantly surrounded by hundreds of people, yet more alone than ever. There appears to only be a single light in the everlasting darkness, however faint it may be.

Whither Thou Goest by fardareismai for @imagineclaireandjamie

I was wondering I always thought it was sad that Murtagh never got to meet Brianna so maybe you could do a story about Murtagh being alive when Bree came to Fraser’s Ridge

#murtagh #murtagh fitzgibbons fraser #Outlander #fan fiction #fanfic #olffrec

[thetranquilteal]

The Gift [AO3] by @thetranquilteal​

Jamie has spent almost every night of his deployment yearning to be with his wife and newborn child. When he is given the opportunity to be home for Brianna's first Christmas, however, he unexpectedly finds himself torn between the past, present and future. 

A modern day short story inspired by @thelallybrochlibrary Holiday Prompt: "Soldier Jamie returns from his deployment in time for Brianna’s first Christmas” submitted by @becc127.

Part I: Home For Christmas

Jamie looked down at the photograph resting in the palm of his hand. 

There sat his beautiful wife, their brand new wean resting in her arms. The stark contrast between Claire’s dark and unruly curls lightly brushing their daughter’s red tuft was only highlighted by Claire’s dark blouse and the cream coloured crochet blanket she had wrapped Brianna in. 

He chuckled to himself and raised his eyes as if to follow the sound carrying away with the wind into the mountains lit only by moonlight shining through sparse clouds.

He could still remember the moment Claire had announced her name over the phone.

“Brianna,” the mouthed to himself and smiled again. He had made a fuss at the time but it had been token, half-hearted at most, as he hadn't truly minded. How could he? After what had happened with Faith -

He shook his head quickly in an attempt to dispel the thought.

He loved Faith. A Dhia, he loved her. So much so that it hurt to think of her - their first, a daughter born too early, too silent and too still - let alone speak of her out loud and, truthfully, he could only deal with so much heartache on a dark night like this, where stars were dulled by lingering clouds and death curled around them like unwelcome hot breath. 

His hold on the photograph tightened as his throat constricted and heart thumped in his chest. 

It had been a standard patrol. Standard. There was a scoff bubbling up from within but he hadn’t enough energy to dispel it, instead opting to let it simmer in the barely controlled but well-concealed anger that had been plaguing him for hours. It was supposed to be standard, damn it! Instead, they had stumbled across an IED. 

Unmarked. Unexpected. Deadly.

Now, instead of continuing their assignment as planned, they would be departing at first light to escort Angus' body home. 

Christ, how he wished he could speak to Claire. Touch her. Feel her. Wrap his arms around and just hold her. 

During her time as a Combat Medical Technician, she had been on two tours of her own and had seen such violent harm up close and intimately more times than he would wish upon any soul. Unlike any other Tech here in this God-forsaken desert, however, she had the ability to heal a lot more than just physical wounds. She had hands that wove stories across the skin, lips that formed words to heal the soul, and a heart more loving than anyone - including he - could ever deserve.

From the very first, when she had come and laid a hand on him to reset a dislocated shoulder, he had known - she was everything. 

Everything he knew he wanted.

Everything he hadn’t known he needed. 

Leaving her, just weeks pregnant with their second bairn, to go on this tour had been one of the hardest things he had ever done and news of a happy and healthy daughter had provided incredible relief. For a moment in time, he was devoid of the burden that had been tying him down ever since he had step foot on the aircraft and the weightlessness had left him giddy with the feeling he could do anything - achieve anything.

But all too soon that feeling had been replaced with something new. A yearning, almost.

A calling. 

On nights he managed more than an hour or two of solid sleep, he would dream of Brianna. Shifting within her swaddle, asleep in her crib. Small fingers wrapped tight around one of Claire's. Crying out blindly in hunger only to be soothed by her mother’s scent shifting closer. 

The following day the images would linger, there in the background of his mind, as they cleaned their rifles and organised equipment, long after shifts changed and there were no words to fill the silence that fell down upon them, and every time they paused to take refuge from the hot sun beating down upon them. 

Despite their continued occurrence, he resisted speaking of them out loud, too afraid that the sound might interrupt the ethereal connection that existed between the two of them. That he might be left even more alone than he already was. 

The mere thought made him grit his teeth. 

In his youth loneliness hadn’t bothered him - if anything he had welcomed it. First, it was the solitude that came with working in the Highland fields as a teenager and, then, the freedom that came with being an entry-level soldier travelling between various stations and training grounds, never staying anywhere long enough to put down roots or form any serious relationships outside of work.

Then he had met Claire. 

While, from that point onward, he had spent his days afield eagerly awaiting their next reunion, their intimate relationship had had very little impact on life in the Armed Forces. It was one that the two of them were used to and one that continued on even after they had wed. When Claire, pregnant and suffering from terrible morning sickness, was released from active duty, however, things changed. It was then he had come to truly understand what it meant to be ‘away’. Away from his wife. His family. His home. And now, another daughter. 

One that would be there when he returned. 

The thought gave him hope - a small flicker somewhere deep down beneath the bone-weary exhaustion and budding sense of desperation.

The sound of worn boots upon dusty gravel grew nearer and he turned slightly, more so due to a long instilled need to keep anything and everything within his line of vision than simple curiosity. 

He shifted again as Murtagh sat down next to him and waited. 

It wasn’t uncommon for the two to sit side by side in comfortable silence from time to time but he knew the man, both godfather and superior, had sought him out with purpose. 

"Received confirmation from Stuart - schedule remains unchanged,” Murtagh stated casually. “Dougal's putting together the last of the equipment. Thought it would be best to leave Rupert be fer now."

Jamie nodded his approval. While Rupert had not been severely injured by the blast, he remained in the medic station for a long while before making his way to Angus' cot to start packing his best friend's belongings and it had been second nature for the team to unofficially take the man off rotation, wordlessly absorbing any and all remaining jobs between them. 

"I should double-check the paperwork's been lodged," Jamie replied though he made no move to stand and Murtagh did the same, having obviously decided it was his own turn to wait. Minutes went by unchecked until he finally said aloud, “I always thought this job couldnae get any harder,” the words spontaneous and providing little to no detail for their use. 

Still, his Godfather understood.

“Tomorrow may be harder than most, aye," Murtagh brushed a hand over his bearded chin and then waved it towards Jamie’s own, "but at the end of it, you’ll be home. In time fer the bairn’s first Christmas, no less.”

"Christmas," Jamie echoed, mostly to himself, nodding his head slowly before looking back down at the photograph. “I'll be home for Christmas.”

When Murtagh put a hand on his shoulder and stood, he dipped his head in acknowledgement but continued looking a moment longer, before tucking it back into his chest pocket and rising himself. He rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck - a long practised method used to replace the battered armour he had worn for far, far too long but destined to wear a little while longer yet. 

He would be home for Christmas but until that day came, he reminded himself, he had a job to do. And a promise to keep.

A/N: For a lot of people, Christmas is not a time of joy but of sadness, anxiety and distress. There can be an overwhelming sense of pressure to be happy and this underlying notion that expressing anything different is not only inappropriate but harmful to those around us. It leaves many - like Jamie in this AU and myself in real life - conflicted, confused and, at times, hopeless and lost. This story is dedicated not only to all service-men, -women and their families but to all of those who struggle during the holiday season. Please know that I am thinking of you and hope that you, like Jamie towards the end of this story, are blessed with a sense of inner peace and many restful nights. A x

#llholidayexchange #outlander #fan fiction #outlander fanfic #I dinna ken how to tag fic #christmas #jamie fraser #claire fraser #brianna fraser #jamie x claire #modern day au

[lotussokka]

@ that tag game pls talk about the outlander au i’m so intrigued simply bc of the redacted fandom lmao u don’t have to reveal the fandom my monkey brain was just like forbidden information?? 👀

okay so its an a/b/o fic (i know im trash 😔) and its an a main a/o couple to represent claire and jamie but im using one of the other characters in the fandom to be an new character in the plot to make it super background gayBO

he (we’ll call him charC) is an alpha who is a timetraveler — like the main character (charA) who is an omega — except instead of being from the 1940s like charA, hes from modern day and knows charA is a timetraveler bc hes a fucking researcher of this timetravel phenomenon.

also previous to charA accidentally going back in time and having to have a quickie wedding with charB to exploit a legal loophole (as per outlander canon), charC and charB — both alphas — were lovers

charC is bi but only attracted to alphas. charB is attracted to men of any secondary gender. charA is ambiguous. theyve never thought about it bc theyre from the 1940s. of course theyre attracted to alphas, theyre an omega afterall.... they are pointedly looking away from that Close Summertime Friendship™ they with another omega as a teenager and the Close Wartime Friendship™ that they had with another nurse in france (its not going to be explicitly said but they’re attracted to all genders and all secondary genders bc thats whats truest their personality)

there is going to be so much worldbuilding and new timetravel lore to replace the canon shitshow that is the gaellis duncan/ottertooth/wendigo donner plotlines

heres a link to the complete wip list if you’re seeing this and are interested if hearing my other big brain thoughts (this is my only abodyn wip)

#i dont think im going to address the jacobite rebellion at all bc i dont feel like i could do it respectfully #also im completely removing the randall plotline bc that shit is so fucking biphobic 🔪🔪 #also its going to explore complex gender roles in omegaverse ✊✊ and address the effect of the victorian era on how we view 1700s culture #tag games #you dont care #answered #lorulerangi

[takemeawaytocamelot]

Master List Links

As always, if you find a link that doesn’t work, or takes you to the wrong story, please let me know. Thanks!

Modern AU:

Furniture Shopping

“We’ve all seen too much!”

“We’ve all seen too much!” Part 2

Strip Poker

Sweetness in Starlight

Honeymoon Movie Night

Unwedded Lodging

Tied Up

Bend it Like Beauchamp

Some Boudoir Photos

Tight Round Arse

Lovebites

Next To Her Heart

Modern Dougal

Crimson Dress and Jealousy

Brazilian Wax

Naughty Pictures

An Encounter

Angry/Jealous Jamie

Angry Jealous Claire

With the Fifth Wee Fraser

On A Beach Vacation

The One Where Roger Teaches Jamie

Straight Hair

Sweet and Smutty (Jamie Loves a Pregnant Claire)

Mile High Club

Love and Waterfalls

Sweet Torture

The First Time After Faith

James Fraser, Masseur

Naughty Church Service

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Canon Divergence:

Honeymoon Quiz

The Kama Sutra for Dummies by Dr. Fraser

Claire Gets Her Courses,

Jamie Tends Claire

Jamie is Visibly “Uncomfortable”

Honey Works Just as Well

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Multi-Part:

AU Honeymoon: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Home to Lallybroch: Part One, Part Two, Part Three

Virgin Bedchamber: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

First Bairn: Part One, Part Two

Exes AU: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five,

Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Drabble

Which is Better: Part 1, Part Two

Seen Too Much (Jamie and Claire Version): Part One, Part Two,

Part Three

Halloween Through the Years: Year One, Year Two, Year Three,

Year Four, Year Six

The New House: New House, Blurb, Willie, Tree House, Kitchen,

Breaking the House In, Shower, Garden Wall,

Snow Day: Snowy Day In

Secret Santa - Switcheroo: Part One, Part Two

A Wild Night in Vegas: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6,

Part 7, Part 8, Part 8-ish, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13,

Part 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, Part 15.1, 15.2, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18.1,

18.2, 18.3, 19

Red Jamie and the White Lady AU: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4,

Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Legend of the Faerie Wife, Part 8, Part 9,

Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17

Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, William, Part 24,

Part 25, Part 26, Part 27, Part 28, Part 29

Eight Seconds: Such a Short Time, But An Eternity, Family Ties, Morphine Rambles

Teenage AU: First Date, Awkward Conversations, Nervous Energy,

Study Session, Flustered Fraser, Bashful Beauchamp,

Patience Rewarded

Speed Dating: One, Two, The Morning After, Dinner Date,

Learning to Ride, Learning to Dance, The Next Step, For Keeps

The Runaways: The Funny Twist of Fate, The Elephant in the Room,

Sweet Deliverance, Epilogue

Expedition of the Heart (Young Ian and Rachel): Prologue, A Love Story Repeats, The Memory of My Name on Your Tongue, 3 AM Wednesday Morning and I’m Waitin’ to Finally Talk to a Girl a Little Cooler Than Me, It is a Risk To Love, Fashionably Nervous

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Collaborative Work:

Trading Wine for Whiskey (Bookshop AU):

Lovely to Meet Ye, Tea for Two, Captain Murray, Agony

JAMMF The Knight: A Collaboration with @thescarlettpeacock

White Knight, Trapped Knight

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Challenge: Sweet Affectionate Moments

A Kiss Makes It Better

No One’s Home!

Able To Breathe Again

A Sad Kiss

Anniversary Dance

Come Have A Bath

Caught in the Act!

Awkward Attempts at Kissing

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Secret Santa - Switcheroo:

Part One, Part Two

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Smutterday:

Jamie and Claire

The Sauna

The Scavenger Hunt

The First Time After Faith

James Fraser, Masseur

Naughty Church Service

Sleigh Bells Jingling

Murtagh Hears Too Much

Always Knock First

Building the Treehouse

Merry Christmas Indeed

Anatomy Lesson

Why’s There A Stocking on the Door?

Breaking in the Kitchen

Young Ian and Rachel

Hunting Wi’ A Quaker

Second Honeymoon

Cooking and Seduction

Murtagh and Suzette

Murtagh Appreciation Day

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Visual Prompts:

Negligent Negligee

Murtagh Appreciation Day

Breaking in the New Shower

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Missing Scenes:

Quiet Moment at Lallybroch

Butter Churn Incident

Love in the Glade

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One Shot:

Fast Learner

“I didna ken ye could do that.” (Or the One Where Jamie Learns it Can be Done Like Horses)

For SCIENCE

Microscope

A Pic Prompt

Punishments

Creeper Dougal (Again)

Printshop Drabble

Love in the Glade

Dreams

Taking Things Into His Own Hands

Wee Stockings

A Talk About Discipline  

The Grant Raid

Trousers

A Surprise for Claire

Headstrong Frasers: Mandy and Jamie

The Indians and The Frasers

Claire is my Wife, Not Yours

“No One Has Died From Abstinence!”

Through Murtagh’s Eye

Skinny Dipping

“So ye need me, to give ye a bairn?”

Drunk Claire is  “juuuust fiiiine!”

“Ye may kiss yer bride” (Or Jamie’s Thought During the Wedding)  

Barn Rendezvous

More Barn Love

Tickle Spot

A Kilt For Two

A Wee Basket From Mrs. Fitz

Caught in a Thunderstorm

Rupert and Angus Visits Lallybroch

“What’s to do next Sassenach”

Brianna’s Imaginary Friend

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Young Ian and Rachel:

Young Ian and Wee Rachel

Second Honeymoon

Cooking and Seduction

Hunting Wi’ A Quaker

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Ian and Jenny:

Ian Learns From Claire

Ian Ships It

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Short and Sweet One Shot:

Short and Sweet: To Lallybroch

Short and Sweet: We’d Found Each Other Again

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Fic Off with MBD:

Love at First Sight

Dinner Date

#Master List #takemeawaytocamelot