Faith Unbroken, an Outlander Fanfiction

A Safe Place

My bones cracked with each stretch. It felt divine. I rolled onto my side, rubbing the small bump that only grew bigger each day. The sun filtered through the thin drapes of the large window, pulling me out of my sleep. My eyes shifted around the room. It was the same room I'd woken up in the night before. Kaeden's large figure sat sleeping in the chair in the corner. A small blanket covered his upper body. His dark curls fell in his eyes, covering them. From his long breaths, I could tell he was asleep.

I slipped from the bed, pulling a blanket tightly around me to cover my exposed body under the thin shift I slept in before creeping out of the room and down to the parlor room. John sat in his usual spot by the fire with his book. When I entered, he turned to look at me, smiling.

"Good morning." He stated, folding his book closed.

"Good morning." I smiled small, walking to one of the other chairs. I pulled my legs to my chest, wrapping the blanket around me. My eyes watched the fire dance. "I'll be going home with them." I mumbled against my knees.

"I figured." He set the book down on the small table next to him. "I'm glad." He smiled again, turning back to me.

"I could never repay you for the kindness you have shown me. Rescuing me, keeping my secret. All of it. Thank you, John."

"I'd do anything for you, Faith." He bowed his head.

"I am forever in your debt."

"No, this is what friends do for each other. No debt." Claire walked into the room, her hair pulled back like always. She and John exchanged pleasantries before she stopped in front of me.

"Would you mind if I checked your wounds?" She asked, her tone was kind. I nodded, allowing her to help me out of the chair. I waved to John as I passed. Claire guided me up to her room where she directed me to the bed. I slipped my shift off my shoulders to reveal my back. There was a heavy silence as she looked my back over.

"These scars are not fresh like your wounds." She mumbled.

"No, they are not from the estate." I responded. I knew this day would come. Only Jamie and Kaeden had ever really seen them. They didn't ask anything about them seeing that Jamie's back matched and Kaeden had a few of his own. Claire's eyes finally departed from my back as she sorted through her supplies.

"There's no indication of infection. I will clean these and rebandage them." Her voice wavered with each word. The scars had broken her heart. I could hear it.

"Ma," I turned before she could start. "It's ok." I looked into her eyes. They were full of tears, begging to slip down her cheek. She only nodded, pursing her lips together. I turned back around, allowing her to fix me up.

"May I check the baby?" She asked, motioning to my stomach. I allowed her, laying back. She felt my stomach a bit before helping me back up. "I won't know much until we get home. But I believe all is well."

"It's Kaeden's." I stated, looking at her. "Bonnet didn't touch me. I knew about it before he took me." I motioned to my stomach. "It's Kaeden's."

"I know." She responded. "Kaeden knows. He knew last night."

"He didn't say that."

"No, but he claimed it as his, regardless of what happened." Her hand ran down the side of my face, tucking back red curls. "He loves you, no matter what."

There was a soft knock on the door before it cracked open.

"Aye, Cousin. Kaeden's been looking for ye. Gave him a start when ye wasna in bed." Ian chuckled. I pulled the blanket back around me tighter.