Fraser Family Feels

[seventeenfortythree]

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[mograidh]

"I like when daddy braids it," she smiles softly, continuing to play with her mother's hair in return.

[nineteenfortyfive]

"Do you want me to braid it for you? I'm not as good as daddy, but I can try."

It might be a good distraction.

[mograidh]

It's a way to keep her mother distracted so she won't be too scared, so Bree is very open to it, nodding. "Yes, please, mama."

[nineteenfortyfive]

"Daddy would be laughing at this, too," Claire points out, sitting up so she can prop Bree up in front of her and begin sectioning off her red curls. "He knows his braids are the best."

[mograidh]

"It's okay, mama, you're doing good," Bree tries to reassure her, though she hasn't really done anything yet.

[nineteenfortyfive]

"Thank you, baby," she replies politely, combing out some tangles with her fingers before beginning to braid.

"Do you think daddy will bring back presents?"

He always brings back presents.

[mograidh]

She nods a little, but not too much, not wanting to tug on her braids. "Maybe he can give me a new doll. And ye can have a new quit, mama." Quilt. Close enough.

[nineteenfortyfive]

"Quilt," she corrects gently. "That might be too heavy for him to haul back in this storm, but I might have heard something about your dolls looking lonely."

[mograidh]

"Qu-il-t."

She's very intrigued now, but she's also getting more relaxed as her mother braids her hair. "I wish for it, mama."

[nineteenfortyfive]

Just as planned. Claire speaks softly, hoping that by the end of this braid, Bree might be able to doze.

"I wonder what special present you'll get for your birthday this year," she muses, braiding away. "Do you have any suggestions?"

[mograidh]

She thinks about it for a good ten seconds, though she's simultaneously just enjoying her mother's fingers through her hair. Finally, "Baby brother." Yes, that would be perfect. It's now been on her mind often.

[nineteenfortyfive]

Claire laughs warmly.

"We're trying out best, darling. Do you want to know what we'd like to name your baby brother, so you can hope for him by name?"

[mograidh]

"Yes, mama," she smiles softly, but Claire will be able to hear the very obvious yawn in her voice now, too. Her eyes have already closed, just to rest them a little while. She can't fall asleep completely, though, because she has to keep mama safe tonight.

[nineteenfortyfive]

"William. Willie. After your father's brother," she tells her, and the braid is finished, but Claire decides to give her little shoulders a rub to see if she can knock her out entirely. "Willie's a good name, don't you think?"

[mograidh]

It's having the exact effect she wants it to have, with Bree taking even longer to respond now. "...yes, mama," she does manage to mumble. But then her head starts to loll a bit before she snaps it up. When it happens a second time, she just lays back against her mama's chest now, fully on her way to falling asleep.

[nineteenfortyfive]

Tiny as she is, it's easy for Claire to maneuver her under the blankets and against the pillows, cuddling her close as she gets comfortable, too.

Without saying goodnight, not wanting to make Bree aware of it actually being bedtime now, she gives her a kiss goodnight.

[mograidh]

She's perfectly snug, knowing and feeling that she's safe. But at some point in the middle of the night, Bree wakes up in a panic, calling for her mother.

[nineteenfortyfive]

That jolts her awake quicker than any rumble of thunder could. Even in the dim light of the room, the fire low in the hearth, Claire easily finds her face to touch her cheek.

"I'm right here, baby, shh. What's wrong?"

[mograidh]

She takes a few deep breaths, eyes moving over her mother's face before resting her hand against her cheek for a moment. "I dreamed you went away and I couldna find ye, mama."

[nineteenfortyfive]

"Well, that's silly," she soothes, smoothing back her hair, "Because I've been right here this whole time."

[mograidh]

"Ye wilna ever leave, mama? In my whole life?" Quite the fear, suddenly.

[nineteenfortyfive]

She imagines a sudden conversation about the mortality and the fact that she won't always be there for her isn't the best right now.

"Never. Where would I even go? I like this house," she teases. "And my garden! You and I planted too many things there."

[mograidh]

That's all she needs to hear, smiling softly as she settles in close to her again. "Is the storm away now, mama?"

[nineteenfortyfive]

"The worst of it, I think," Claire replies, kissing her forehead before wrapping her up in her arms. "See? Nothing bad happened. It was just noise."

[mograidh]

Bree sweetly kisses her cheek before snuggling closer. "Did I make ye safe?"