The Strength of a High and Noble Hill (An Outlander Story)

Chapter 2: Fist Months

Brian lives in this house for a few months along with Claire, Fergus, and Murtagh, who Claire refers to as being Brian's father's godfather, and servants before meeting his father.

Brian happily engages with his new, strange family. He greatly enjoys pulling on Murtagh's beard whenever it's in range causing the man to grumble and call him a "Diabhal beag", whatever that means. Despite his annoyance, Murtagh is happy with Brian as the new addition and, to his glee, enjoys lifting Brian high in the air much to his mother's displeasure.

Fergus is a lot of fun too. Not only does he play with Brian despite him being much smaller, but he also reads to him and talks to him in French. He says he's trying to teach Brian though Claire keeps telling him that Brian can't speak yet and doesn't know what any of them are saying. Oh, honey...

Brian is constantly trying to make his mother smile. He can see she seems saddened and distressed, particularly after she had returned from visiting the King (probably the French one considering how much the language is spoken around them along with English and that's another thing, it didn't take Brian long to work out that this is back in the past at some point, before the revolution based on people's dress and they way they talk though there's something different about their mother) and Brian has been doing his level best to make her smile and cheer her up. He can't do much as a baby but he can try his best and is pleased to say he's been quite successful.

——

August 1744

Things change when Brian meets his father. He can't tell much from where he lies in his cradle as the man leans over but Brian can see his father is tall, large and broad. His hair is more of a red ginger and his eyes are dark blue and slanted. Brian takes in these features seriously as he had headed his mother say he had gained those features from his father.

"Ah, there's the wee lad." He says softly. His Scottish accent is different from his mother's English one. The man that must be Brian's father, reaches down and picks him up in his arms. He frowns in concern. "He's a wee small. Dinna ken tha' he would be."

"He was early." Claire says. Brian is in his father's arms in a tilted position making it easy for him to see Claire. "But he's been strong and healthy, eating and moving well."

"Brian Ian Fraser." His father murmurs.

Brian can see that while there's a warmth between them, there's an awkward and tense air around them.

Jamie sighs. "I'm sorry I weren't there. Fer the birth. I almost lost ye and I weren't there."

Claire's face softens. "It's alright. I'm just thankful that the two of you are well."

"Will he be fine fer the trip back te Scotland?" His father questions, gazing at Brian, who stares back at him.

"I'm sure he will be. He still sleeps mostly and is the calmest baby I have ever seen." Claire reassures. "Nothing like the horrors I have witnessed with Jenny's brood."

"Let us hope he dinna inherit my sea sickness."

Brian ignores his parents as they talk and instead stares at his father's beard that he'd noticed. It's a different colour from Murtagh's brown one obviously but looks just as pullable. So he leans forward and... tugs.

Jamie lets out a cry of pain, muttering, "Diabhal beag," while Claire laughs at his face.

"Yes, I should've warned you," she says through her laughter, "he has a fascination with beards."

"Aye." Jamie grumbles. He pouts at his son but Brian simply smiles back, happy to have made his parents smile.

——

A/N: Diabhal beag = little devil