#a tour

[csbenthusiast]

Joe is such a weirdo I love him

[mouthfulloftoothpasterry]

Harry needs to go quarantine again.

[atldiscourse]

mcr posting the union jack emoji is the most powerful moment of the decade

[renee-writer]

Jamie and Arabella Chapter 9 A Tour

She takes the time to look, really look around, the room she stands in. She smiles at the pics lining the wall. Pics of an infant who must be Arabella. One taken at the hospital with a woman who must be Lily.

"It is the only picture that there will ever be of them together. I want her to ken who her mam is." He explains joining her.

"Of course Jamie. I see her in Arabella. In the shape of her ears, her nose, the brown in her hair."

"Aye. She has a lot of her mam's personality too. The stubbornness. The take-no- crap, I will do it my way additude. It will serve her well later."

Claire laughs. "But now it is challanging."

"Aye. Come. I will show ye her room." He takes her hand, linking their fingers as he leads her down a short hall. He opens the first door and she enters a room fit for a princess. The walls are painted a light purple. Her toddler bed is in the shape of a castle and is very pink. There is a small table and tea set. The chairs are filled with stuffys awaiting their tea. A bookcase cattycornered across from it is filled with everything from board books up to the Little House on the Prairie series and Little Woman.

"I ken she canna read them yet. But, I wish her to ken the value of truly good literature." He explains. And he earns another piece of her heart. "Would you like to see my room or the kitchen?"

"Your room and then we can eat. Whatever you are cooking smells delicious."

"Och it is not but a simple lasagna. Arabella enjoys helping me layer it. So, I made something she could help with before heading to Lallybroch."

"Perfect in everyway Jamie." Christ, if she isn't careful, she is abt to fall deeply in love with him. "Your room?"

It is right across from his daughter's. And a man's room. Paneled in dark wood, the centerpiece of the room is a massive king size bed covered in a dark blue tartan patterned bedspread. Manly but there is still evidence that he is a daddy. The sippy on the nightstand. A stack of nappies on the dresser amidst the colognes and aftershaves. And a picture of Arabella and him has a place of honor in the center. She grins as her eyes drift bed. And she has a flash of what could be( or is it will be). She sees herself spread in the center of that bed, naked and spread eagle with Jamie's curles tickling her thighs. She blushes and turns away.

"I am ready to eat now." She says her voice a bit high.

"Me too Claire but will settle for food." She looks at him with wide eyes. Did he see the same? His own flushed face said so. What is going on between them? He takes her hand and he feels his pulse, the quick thump thump, against her wrist as he leads her to the kitchen.

"It is very good. Be sure to give my compliments to your co-chef." She says as they sit at the little round table. The kitchen is bright and cheery. Arabella is everywhere here. From the booster seat that Jamie unstraps so Claire can sit, to the collection of heavy primary colored plastic dishes that are mixed in with the regular ceramic ones. Her drawings cover the fromt of the fridge.

"I sure will. I wish her to find joy in cooking, in making healthy meals."

"You are starting at the right time. I knew you were teaching her that even before today."

"Really how?" He pours them both more wine.

"She will eat anything. A lot of my kids, especially at her age, are quite picky eaters. You can be very confident in the job you are doing with her."

"Thank ye Claire. I worry, ye ken. Being her only parent if I am meeting all her needs."

"As far as I can tell you are. And you are her only parent. You have your sister and brother-in-law."

"Aye and ye."

"Me?"

"Aye and yer staff. She is thriving in yer care."

"Right." What were you thinking he was saying Beauchamp? She chides herself. "Well I am happy to hear it. We try to be a good help to our parents."

"Ye are. Would ye care.to join me in the living room? We can start the fire and finish the wine."

"Are you trying to seduce me Jamie?"

"Och nae Claire. I respect yer boundaries. When ye are ready to move them, ye will tell me."

"I would love too Jamie."

They talk of their childhoods. She tells him tales of her adventures with her Uncle Lamb. He tells her of growing up exploring the monros and leochs around Lallybroch. They both relax even more as the wine bottle gets lower. She ends up resting her head against his chest as his arms wrap tight around her. She is telling him about the first lad she had kissed.

"He tasted of nervous sweat and tried to force his tongue in my mouth. It was not good."

He chuckles. "Mine was a blond lass that lived down the road. I was two and ten. She was a few years older. I dinna ken what to do with my hands. She dinna have that problem. Took a hold of my face, pressed our lips together. She told everyone I dinna ken what I was doing because I dinna use tongue."

"Oh," she is helplessly giggling," your first should have been with my first."

"Aye. I have got better."

"Yes you have. Kiss me Jamie."

"Oh Claire. I don't ken that I can stop."

"I don't know that I can either. Want to take the risk?" Her lips are a hair's breadth away from his.

"God yes!" He closes the distance.

[jihyo-x]

ghost when will you come back to europe and start giving us stuff...

[insufficient-earth-skills]

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[tuckersrule]

Fall Out Boy!!!