So, I have a prompt for a Uitlander ficlet. I have this vision of a very proud new Daddy Jamie wandering around the farm, holding his new baby, be it he or she, and introducing the wee babba to all the animals 😍
@thatsoccercoach asked: Ok, I know Uitlander just barely ended but I already need more. Will we ever get to meet Baby Fraser?
@missclairebelle asked: Hopeful ficlet request: A peaceful first holiday for Uitlander J&C&Bairn&Company. 😭😍
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Uitlander
Previously…
Coda
Thursday, February 15, 1827
With gratitude to @cantrixgrisea for this beautiful banner!
Jamie Fraser carefully turned his shoulders to slip inside the barn, and stood in the doorway to allow his eyes to adjust to the darkness.
“How is she doing?”
Brian and Murtagh crouched on the ground, straw clinging to their sleeves, gently rubbing the mare’s heaving sides. “It will be a while yet. First foals always take the longest. As you know.”
He did know.
Just three weeks before, Rupert and Angus had come crashing into this very barn, out of breath, shouting that he had to come to the house.
Claire’s birth pains had come very unexpectedly – in the middle of the day, as she stood alone in her small stillroom, leaning over the table Jamie had made for her, grinding herbs. She had dropped an earthenware bowl – and Janna, working nearby in the kitchen, ran over immediately after the crash. Claire was doubled over, clutching her lower back in pain, warm fluid pooling on the tile floor beneath her skirts.
Later, Claire hadn’t been able to recall any details – save Janna’s strong, steady hands guiding her out of the room, her voice frantically calling out in Cape Dutch. And then Suzette and Mistress Crook at her side, helping her climb the stairs. And then Elin’s warm, kind, soothing voice and hands, stripping her of her clothes and gently pushing her onto the soft mattress in her bedroom – covered with the worn but clean layers of sailcloth canvas Elin always brought to a birth.
Later, Elin told Claire how she hadn’t stopped crying, upset and shocked and so, so scared that the baby was too early (at least one month early, based on Elin’s own estimates) and would not survive. How she had had to tell Claire it was all right to scream when the pains came. That she didn’t need to hold it all in – making her taxed body even more tense.
And how she had finally relaxed only when Lamb had brought Jamie to the room, and he crawled onto the mattress behind her. Holding her. Bracing her against his chest. Murmuring soothing words into her sweaty hair.
“I just hope the two of you are right – that there’s only one foal in there.” Jamie smiled, eyes adjusted to the darkness. Gently cradling his twin sons, each swaddled in his own cloth sling across their father’s chest. “For all the years Mama has been a midwife – she couldn’t even tell Claire was carrying two babies!”
It had been a surprise to everyone in the room where Leo and Sander Fraser had entered the world. The baby’s red head had brought relieved smiles to all. Suzette and Jamie cleaned him, while Elin kneaded Claire’s weary belly to deliver the afterbirth – only to catch her second grandson instead. Jamie felt his ears still ringing with Elin’s surprised shout, as Janna darted to her side to quickly swaddle the brown-haired baby.
They hadn’t properly been named until much later, when Claire and the babies had been washed and the proud new parents gazed at their two miracles, safely tucked in bed together.
Leo – for his fiery hair, and for being the firstborn of Jamie’s lioness.
Sander – after Jamie’s middle name of Alexander, and in tribute to Alexander Randall, who had brought Claire to the Cape.
Brian laughed. “I’m sure of it this time, lad. I’ve delivered twins before – it’s dangerous for both the foals and the mare, but not impossible. Trust me when I say that that isn’t the case here.”
One of the babies snuffed against his wrap.
Jamie smiled. “I trust you. Now, if you’ll excuse me –”
“There you are!” Claire appeared at Jamie’s side, her herb basket slung under one arm. “I can’t tell you how liberating it’s been to not have two little boys hanging off of me all morning.”
Jamie smiled. “Considering that they’ve been doing nothing but sleep, I don’t see what you’re making such a fuss about.”
Claire shook her head. “Are you introducing them to all of the animals?”
“It’s never too early to start. They’ll inherit this place one day – it’s in their blood.”
Claire tipped back her sun bonnet and stood on her tiptoes. Jamie happily met her lips with a kiss.
Then the mare stamped, and Murtagh stood, and quickly Jamie ushered his family out into the afternoon sunshine.
“I think it should be back to the house for all of us.” Claire adjust the bonnet, shielding her face from the sun. “Mistress Crook is almost finished with dinner. And I don’t want to be out here too much – Jan said he saw the lion pride this morning. They’ve got more cubs now – he wants to make sure no person or animal is out after dark.”
Jamie took his wife’s hand and squeezed it as they returned to the main house. “They have better sense than to bother us here. When we’re happy, they’re happy. It’s how it should be.”
Claire turned to look at Jamie – Sander and Leo, sleeping peacefully – the house and barn of Noord Toring – and the mountain standing silent sentinel over it all.
“Yes.” Her smile was so radiant in the sunset. “It’s how it all should be.”
