A Child of the Stones Vignette: Cozy in the Cabin.
As I mentioned before, Stones will be on hiatus until after the completion of season 4, but yāall asked so nicely, that I thought Iād indulge you in a sweet fluff to tide you over.
This is the conversation Bree is referencing⦠or you can find all the other previous chapters up on the master list or over at AO3.
Late Autumn 1769; Fraserās Ridge, North Carolina.
Claire.
Pinch me, Iām dreaming.
I could hear Julia and Breeās low conversation from my place beside Jamie in our bed, the both of them drowsy to the point of being giddy. Theyād forget to be quiet every now and then and a peal of laughter would rise above the even sounds of my husbandās breathing. I knew the novelty of it all would fade eventually and theyād have their disagreements like any other siblings⦠but, then, they werenāt your average pair of sisters, were they?
Jamieās arm tightened around my waist, pulling me against him as he buried his face in my neck, mumbling almost unintelligibly, āWhaās cotton candy?ā
I grinned in the darkness as I imagined my husbandās confusion over the confection.
āPure sugar,ā I chuckled softly. āItās spun in a machine until it looks like a ball of cotton⦠or a cloud, almost. Itās very sweet.ā
āAnā Julia likes it on her iced creams?ā
āBut Bree said she prefers strawberry?ā
āOui, Monsieur Fraisierā
I felt his delight bubble up from deep within his core, his voice rumbling deliciously in my ear as he echoed the question Julia had proposed to Bree a few moments ago.
āWhat about you, mon mie? What is your favorite of all the iced creams?ā
I sighed contentedly, not willing to move my thoughts from the here and now to contemplate ice cream flavors.
āOh, I donāt know. Maybe vanilla?ā
Jamieās lips moved against my neck as if he were about to say something in return, but he changed his mind as Julia asked another of her twenty questions, holding his breath in reverent awe as he listened to his daughters converse easily.
āSo, like⦠you had TVs, right?ā
I heard Bree sigh dramatically and Julia giggle, their blankets rustling as Breeās head popped up, visible over the edge of our bed.
There was a soft whump, followed by more giggles from Julia, but this time they were muffled. Bree had obviously tossed her pillow at her sister, for the next question was significantly more subdued in volume.
āHow ābout cars? Telephones? Indoor plumbing?ā
Bree groaned as Julia squealed with delight, tossing the pillow back to its original owner. It arched magnificently, but must have missed its target, for Breeās head appeared again. She noticed the gap in our bed curtains and caught my gaze, grinning at me before retrieving her lost pillow.
Love you, I mouthed, not sure if sheād catch it in the dark, but needing to tell her just the same.
Breeās smile softened, responding love you too before laying back down.
It was now Juliaās turn to sigh, her imminent slumber obvious, and I wondered how they would sleep tonight. Theyād both assured me they had enough room on the small pallet on floor, but I wished they could have their own bed, just the same.
I lifted my head inquiringly and looked over the edge of the bed. Two copper heads faced each other, their noses almost touching as their conversation slowed.
āMama told me all about you, you know,ā Bree murmured, her hand lifting to brush the curls off Juliaās brow, tucking them neatly behind her ear.
I could hear Juliaās smile, even though I couldnāt see it from this vantage point. āReally? Whatād she say?ā
I was holding my breath now too, not wanting to interrupt their moment as I vividly remembered the conversation Iād had with Bree about her sister.
āShe said I would have really loved you.ā
Breeās voice lowered to almost a whisper, itās timbre thick with emotion as she added, āAnd you know what?ā
āWhat?ā came Juliaās eager reply.