** Trigger Warning: this chapter contains sexually explicit material **

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The morning brought in a soft stream of light that warmed Beth's bare back. Her head was nestled against Ian's chest, her hand resting against his side as she held herself in against him.

For two people who were not used to sleeping next to someone else, they were quite comfortable with each other.

Rollo was nestled by their feet, curled up in a ball at the base of their bed.

"Are you awake?" She whispered softly up at him as she wiggled her feet into his for warmth. With her lips pressed against his skin, her voice came out slightly muffled but the vibrations of the sound leaving her lips sunk into his skin, rousing him from his light sleep.

"Aye, I am now." Ian spoke just as soft, refusing to move or open his eyes as he kept his arm around her shoulders.

"Do we really have to go back home? Is it terrible that I wish to just run away from this place with you?" Beth finally pulled back just enough to tilt her head up to take in his face.

Ian remained in the same position with his eyes shut, though a smile soon crept up on his face. "I dinnae ken if it's terrible to think that. But I do not disagree." He finally opened his eyes and looked down at Beth.

The way the sunlight brightened the strands of her dark hair sent chills down his spine. He curled inward, pulling her into his chest before his lips found hers. The kiss was gentle yet intimate at the same time. His fingertips danced across her bare back as he found himself entwined in her legs. Sparks shot off from her skin and his, heat coursing in between their bare bodies.

"We can stay a little while longer." Beth whispered with a sultry voice up to him. Her fingertips slipped across his chest before tracing over his nose and cheeks, connecting each tattooed marking that littered his skin. She moved one hand between them, not surprised at all to find his cock growing harder and longer under her touch.

"Aye." Ian breathed out shakily. The moment she grabbed his cock he squeezed his eyes shut and held onto her face. He was firm, though still did his best to be gentle at the same time. His lips found hers once more before she nudged him over onto his back, immediately straddling his waist with a soft moan of the feeling of him beneath her and between her legs.

It didn't take long for her to raise her hips and slide back down, sheathing him all the way inside of her. A soft moan escaped her lips as she stilled on top of him for a moment. Her hands pressed down against his chest as she steadied herself before she began rolling her hips into his.

This time was much different than last night. It was fast and they were both being sloppy. Neither of them choosing to take their time memorizing their partners body as they did the night before. Ian's hands were all over her, roughly squeezing as he traveled from her backside to her breasts. Beth kept her hands on his chest, though at one point she did dig her fingernails into his chest as she slowed her hips down to tease him.

The moans escaping her mouth were loud, and Beth found herself without a care in the world of anyone could hear them. Once she leaned herself down to press her lips against his, Ian began pumping his hips up into her to match her speed. They fell apart, writhing in pleasure and sweat before Beth rolled off and collapsed down beside him.

She blew hair that fell into her face away, her hands resting on her stomach as she worked to catch her breath.

"I ken we need to get goin', Beth." Ian whispered over to her once he was finally able to catch his own breath.

The brunette sighed and silently agreed with Ian. She got up from the bed and washed herself off with a damp cloth before dressing in a new shift and lightweight dress for the day. They were heading back to Fraser's Ridge, she did not need to be weighed down by a fancy outfit for days of travel.

Ian stayed in bed while she dressed, enjoying the view of her bare body move throughout the room. He didn't want to alarm her but found himself daydreaming about getting to watch her do this for the rest of their lives.

He eventually got up and got changed as well. They grabbed a quick bite of whatever the kitchen of the inn had cooked before setting off on their way back to Fraser's Ridge.

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The travel back to the Ridge felt much quicker than the travel to Wilmington. Perhaps it was because they had hashed out whatever it was between them. Though they still did not put a label on their relationship, Beth felt happy. And she could tell by the smile on Ian's face that he was happy, too.

As often as possible, she pushed back the thought of leaving through the stones to head back home. Fraser's Ridge was her home now. She knew that much. She knew Claire and Jamie were family, Bree, Roger, Fergus, and Marsali too. But the time... The time was not hers. But now that she had Ian, she would do whatever she could to make the time hers.

"It's getting dark." Beth called up to Ian. She had found herself feeling tired, sprawled in the back of the wagon with Rollo curled up to her side. "I think we have another day of traveling but we should stop for the night."

"Aye, yer right." Ian responded, glancing around to find the nearest clearing that they could bring their things off road safely.

Once they made camp and Ian caught them something small to eat, they settled into comfortable silence. The flames of the fire waved high in the howling wind that whipped around them. Beth let her eyes fall shut, sinking further into relaxation as she listened to the sounds of nature around her.

Ian had stayed quiet, silently watching Beth with a smile forming on his lips. He had been struggling to feel at home on the ridge but now he knew that wherever Beth was - that would be his home. He did well in ignoring the knowledge that she could leave him and go back through the stones. That was one place he would never follow her. Not that he wouldn't want to. But he couldn't. He didn't have the ability to hear the buzzing. He didn't have the ability to travel through time.

"Ian?" Beth finally spoke after what seemed like hours of silence. Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked over at him while her hand lazily stroked the fur on Rollo's back.

"Aye?" He responded with a nod.

"How do you think life on the ridge will be like in the next few years? A war is on the horizon. I-uh, if I'm going to be honest with you, and that is all I want to be, I'm frightened. I know the details. The outcome... I don't want any of us to become casualties of it all."

Ian immediately sat up straight and took her hands in his. "Beth, whatever the future will bring, I will do what needs to be done to protect ye." He dropped one hand to cup the side of her face and bring her in for a quick kiss. "But," he paused and sucked in a deep breath, "But if ye think that ye need to go... I am not going to stop ye."

Beth could sense the sadness in his voice. The distant look in his eyes that screamed he was just telling her that for her sake and that the reality was – he didn't want her to go. He wanted her to be by his side. Forever and for always. And the more she stared up into his eyes, the more Beth wanted that.

"Oh, Ian." Her breath escaped her lips as she held onto him. Her fingertips brushed along the side of his neck before she grabbed onto his face and pressed her lips against his. This kiss was passionate, but gentle. The tears that had formed behind her eyes had now began falling freely down her cheeks, wetting their lips as the kiss deepened.

After they broke apart, Ian wiped at her cheeks with his thumbs, brushing the tears away with a small smile on his lips. "It would be weird if I wanted to call ye sassenach, right?"

Beth giggled and shook her head, resting into Ian's chest as his arms wrapped protectively around her. "Yes. That's your Uncle Jamie's thing for your Auntie Claire. It would be weird."

"Aye... well, I dinnae ken I'll be able to find a good enough nickname for ye. But I'll keep thinkin'."

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Sorry this chapter was so short! With season 6 premiering this weekend, I'm going to start incorporating what happens in the new season into my story. I have some ideas already but I'm not completely set on where I want this to go yet, or how much longer it is going to be.

Love you all xx