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

Chapter 14: Moving to the Past

Brian grips Mama's resignation for the hospital as well as the deed to their home in his hands as he tries not to cry as his mother's taxi pulls away. Ellen stands next to him on the doorstep, holding the Scottish pearl necklace that belonged to their paternal grandmother.

Tears wet his cheeks as the taxi turns at the end of the street and disappears from their view. Brian lets out a shaky breath as he processes that he may never see his mother again. Her warmth and her kindness.

Brian is snapped out of his thoughts by Ellen touching his shoulder, giving him a small smile. She doesn't ask him if he's alright, which he's thankful for. It would be silly. After all, she already knows how he feels because she's going through the same thing.

"Let's go inside." Roger says softly from just behind them.

Ellen and Roger step inside the house and Brian eventually follows. He walks inside and sees Roger and Ellen sitting together by the fire and sharing a kiss. He smiles softly at the sight before leaving them be.

——

Autumn 1766

Jamie leads Claire to the back of the shop so that he can get redressed. They soon move to the small alcove of a cot and mantel. Sitting together, Claire then unwraps the small bundle, where a series of photographs are collected together. The first is of Brian seated with a small swaddle in his arms and Claire hovering nearby to ensure he doesn't drop the baby. Jamie's breath catches in his throat as he looks at the face of his son whom he hasn't seen in over twenty years and the face of his other child whom he's never met.

He is overcome and has to take a breath, taking off his glasses. "Her name. What did ye name her?"

"Ellen." Claire replies softly.

Jamie glances at his wife. "Ellen?"

"Yes, I named her after your mother, her grandmother."

Jamie gazes at Claire and, not for the first time, he's amazed to be lucky enough to have her. "Brian and Ellen." He smiles softly at that, putting back on his glasses. "Tell me about 'em. Wha' were they like as a wee lad and lass? Wha' did Ellen first say when she learned to speak?" He asks, eager to hear all he can about his children.

"'Dog'. That was her first word. And 'no' was her second one." Claire says, amused.

Jamie chuckles. "Aye. They learn tha' one fast."

"Brian taught her that one. She'd often copy what he did. Ellen was such a tiny thing. Brian was so good to her. He'd be upset with me if I ever disturbed her when she slept." Claire says with a small smile that's happy but also sad.

"He's good brother." Jamie murmurs.

"He is." Claire reaches forward, bringing out another of these photographs. "This photograph shows him teaching her how to chop wood."

Jamie smiles, pleased. "Splits wood, do they?" He gazes at the image in front of him tearfully, amazed at how much his children have grown from the previous photograph.

"Well, winters in Boston can be as cold as Scotland." Claire chuckles.

Jamie finds another photograph. Brian and Ellen seem a few years younger than the previous one this time. They beam with pride as they stand on either side of Claire.

"They are ten and twelve there." Claire explains. "It was at the graduation... my graduation from medical school."

"Oh, yer a doctor now?"

"Surgeon."

"Oh, yer always were one. Now ye ha' the title to go wi' it." Jamie remarks with a grin. Claire smiles back. "Does he work, Brian? What work does he do?"

"He's a journalist. Writes in a successful newspaper." Claire says with beaming pride. She points at the last photograph. "This is him on his first day."

Jamie stares down at the beaming smile of his son, stroking his face in the photograph. He smiles, studying the photograph as if he is committing it to memory.

Jamie remembers how he used to watch his son when he was small, marvelling at the fact that he was his child. He would try to memorise his features, trying to distinguish which were his and which were Claire's. He'd always wondered how Brian's features would've changed as he grew up. He'd thought he'd never know.

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A/N: Please leave comments on how you're enjoying this story and what you think.