Chapter Text
“Don’t look so sad baby bear.” Julia Beauchamp spoke encouragingly to her daughter, watching her through the side view mirror as they drove through the highlands.
Claire Beauchamp was a 10 year old girl who had been born and raised in London with her parents Henry and Julia.
It was the only place Claire had ever known and leaving it behind felt like her worst nightmare.
Mere hours earlier she had stood curled around herself, her shoulders drooped and her head held down as she stared blankly at the dirty concrete beneath her feet.
Her two best friends were there with their parents to tell Claire goodbye before she left for Scotland. The three children were huddled together as they said their tearful goodbyes.
“I’m going to miss you two so much” Claire sobbed as her friends wrapped her in their embrace. “You lot will always be my best friends.”
“We will write you everyday” John assured her.
“Yes, and mother says she will bring us to visit when your family is settled in Scotland.” Mary added.
The three friends were now sitting hand in hand on one of the cold metal benches of the London King’s Cross station.
The Beauchamp’s train should arrive anytime now and the thought of it made Claire grip her friends hands even tighter.
Their hands were slick with perspiration and their cheeks were soaked with tears.
“I’ll write as soon as I’m in Scotland and send our phone number, Promise you will call me everyday after school.” Claire cried.
“We will Claire, it will be just like it always has been.” John answered her pleas with a sad smile of his own. His words were getting stuck in his throat as he tried to stay strong for her.
“Except you two will be four hours away.” She wailed.
“We will still talk every single day and we can three-way on Saturday mornings while we watch cartoons.” Mary contributed through her own strangled tears.
“You promise?”
“Of course we do!” John and Mary said in unison.
Benedicta Grey, John’s mother kneeled down in front of the three children, “we have already planned a holiday to Scotland before the summer ends and Mary’s mother has already agreed to let her come along. You guys will always be best friends. We promise.” She said as she looked over at Julia and Henry. “Your parents and I will make sure of it.”
The train roared into the station and Claire’s whole body tensed. John wrapped her into a fierce hug. “Everything will be alright Beauchamp, you’re the strongest girl I know. You’re funny and you’re smart and all the Scots will love you”
“Just as we do.” Mary added as she encircled the two with her own small arms. “The Scots would be daft not to love you Claire.”
“But I’m a Sassenach, the Scots don’t take kindly to the English.”
“But you’re the best Sassenach we know.” John said reassuringly.
The three children giggled through their tears at John’s attempt to make her laugh.
“I don’t think the Scots would agree. A Sassenach is a Sassenach, but I’ll try.” She answered with a small smile.
“That’s my girl.” John said cheerfully and his face flooded with embarrassment. Which made Claire and Mary giggle even harder.
“I love you two.” She said as she stood to walk toward her parents, who were motioning for her to hurry.
John stood quickly and hugged her once more, this time pressing a light kiss to her cheek. “I’ll never forget you Beauchamp.”
Claire ran off in the direction of her parents, waving back cheerfully toward Mary and John who now stood hand in hand beside John’s mother.
Claire sighed heavily as she watched the mountains of the highlands fly by outside of her window.
“It’s all going to be great sweetheart, you’ll see” Henry said as he reached behind him and lightly squeezed his daughters knee.
“I hope so.”
“It will be. I have spoken with Ellen, she and Brian have a daughter who is but a little more than a year older than you and two sons. One of the boys is your age, the other is a few years older I believe. We will be within walking distance of the main house and you can visit them as often as you’d like.” Julia explained helpfully.
“But what if they don’t like me mum.” Claire asked as her face fell and she looked down at her shoes.
“Claire darling, everyone will love you! How could they not? You are the best little girl I know!” Julia said as she reached around to tickle her daughter. Claire burst out laughing—she was extremely ticklish and her parents knew it. They always tickled her when she was sad and it always brought a smile to her face.
(Maybe this won’t be so bad) Claire thought hopefully.