𝓢𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓷𝓪𝓬𝓱'𝓼 𝓣𝓲𝓶𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓒𝓱𝓲𝓵𝓭

1

December 20th 1766~

Claire had returned to Jamie just a few weeks ago, sometime in the beginning of October... the 7th if she were to recall properly. She had done gone and traveled back through the stones and reunited with the man she had never stopped loving.

Leaving Brianna behind had been one of the hardest things she had to do in her life... however leaving Jamie back at Craigh Na Dun easily topped that...

"Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ!"

Claire swore under her breath. She pressed a hand to her forehead and one to her lower back, the stance she'd taken was that of one taking in something unexpected and rather abnormal for a woman of her age. She was 48 for crying out loud.

She was late... and all the signs meticulously pointed towards the evident. Claire in all her glory of well intended retirement that is, was pregnant. Self-diagnosed of course before getting Jenny to confirm it.

"Aye yer with child Claire, and at your age no less."

Jenny spoke in scrutiny of the situation. She did not hate her sister-in-law Claire, but childbirth was a risky matter, even for people that were of a youthful age to carry through with it and pull through the arduous journey of childbirth itself.

"Have ye told Jamie yet?"

"No I suppose I've not.. I did not want to get his hopes up...."

Claire rubbed the back of her neck unsurely and wearily before exhaling. This was quite the predicament for her to be in especially after raising Brianna into adulthood. She wasn't certain her body could handle another pregnancy so late in her lifetime.

"Aye, in case you end up losing the bairn no doubt?"

Jenny acknowledged tersely.

They both moved around the kitchen, swiftly preparing a full course meal for the inhabitants of Lallybroch.

Jenny's many grandchildren ran around, filling the house with warmth and happiness, the pitter patter of their little feet and the infectious laughter of their innocent voices. It was hard to stay sullen in such an atmosphere.

Though within it all Claire's heart weighed heavily, she had enjoyed these feelings of happiness in the past when it came to Jamie, and then back in the future when she'd had Brianna.

"I never thought I'd see the day... that me brother would hold his very own bairn in his own two arms.... Claire, this would mean the world to him.. ye must promise me, you'll do everything in yer power to have this bairn.."

Jenny said forcefully, wiping her tears on her apron before going back to taking out her frustrations on the ball of dough in front of her.