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"I don't want to leave him. But I also don't belong here."

Beth took in a deep breath, steadying her hands as she continued to pull the needle, with a delicate strip of thread tied around the eye, through the material of one of Ian's coats. He had torn it while fishing, but Beth knew he had actually torn it while chasing Rollo, who had stolen the first catch of the day.

"I do not think I am the best to provide you with any sort of opinion on the matter, Beth." Brianna let out a sigh as she continued her own handiwork with the needle and thread. "Momma would be best."

"I thought you would say that." Beth frowned before chewing at the inside of her cheek. She knew Claire loved Jamie, more than life itself, and that was why she was here with him. But she also knew that Claire understood that none of them belonged here. Truly belonged in this time, anyway. Because it was obvious to everyone that Claire belonged with Jamie.

At the thought of never seeing Ian again, Beth began to tear up. A tightening in her chest began, and it was almost as if someone had thrust their hand into her rib cage and began squeezing her delicate heart.

The two ended up finishing the alterations in silence after that. Beth folded the coat and made her way outside, she allowed the fresh air to wash over her, alleviating some of the stress that lingered. Ian had proposed to take Brianna, Roger, and Jemmy to the stones that were only but less than a days travel away.

They were leaving tomorrow already.

Beth was terrified of leaving the ridge behind. What world would she go back to? What would happen to the family she grew to love and truly become a part of? And Ian...would he find someone new and fall in love with someone who couldn't travel through time? It's what he deserved - Beth thought that much atleast.

She knew the world she would be staying in. There was no telling what would happen to her in the next few years with the war on the horizon. If she had to be honest, she was not safe here.

"Mistress Montgomery."

His voice still sent chills down her spine, straight down to her core. Turning slightly to glance over her shoulder, Beth's lips curved upwards to form a slight smirk. "What can I do for you, Ian?" She asked in a playful tone. She clasped his coat to her chest, watching him continue closing in on her.

He moved one hand to the small of her back as he finally stepped up beside her. "There are plenty of things I can think of..." he admitted with his own lips curved up in a smirk.

"Do not be perverted." She gasped, though soon a soft, breathy noise escaped her lips as they both started laughing.

"I cannae help it around ye." Ian admitted with a broad grin. He leaned over and gently kissed her cheek before looking down at his coat in her arms. "Ye fixed it?" He took the coat with another smile, inspecting the stitching before folding it over the back of the rocking chair behind them.

"Of course I fixed it." Beth quipped, her hip resting against the wooden railing as she watched Ian inspect her handiwork. "Do you not find me capable?" She teased with a scoff.

"I ken ye are more than capable, Beth." Ian rolled his eyes and found his spot beside her once more. He knew she had been thinking more about leaving, and it wasn't like he wanted to control her - but he didn't want her to leave. He loved her. Truly loved her. Everyone on the ridge knew that.

They stood in silence. It was comfortable at first, but Beth quickly began to panic every time she thought about what was going to happen tomorrow. She finally turned to open her mouth, but Ian quickly cut her off before she could begin speaking. His lips pressed into hers while his hands grabbed onto the wood behind her, caging her in between him and the railing.

The kiss was gentle. Ian was displaying almost a timid nature in his touch, and when he pulled back - Beth was speechless. He had tears in his eyes and she understood that this was the turning moment she had been dreading.

It was obvious that Ian knew what she had decided to do. Deep down, Beth knew that it would always come down to this. She made the decision to stay on the ridge, originally, before she had even met Ian. She obviously did not plan on falling in love.

Quite honestly, she did not plan on a lot of things that have happened. But she couldn't change the past... technically speaking, anyway.

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The next day, Beth sat beside Ian in the front of the wagon after having said her goodbyes to Claire and Jamie. She felt like she had already cried all of the tears left in her body, but the moment Ian took her hand in his, she lost it. Silently, tears streamed down her cheeks as she let her head fall onto his shoulder.

Brianna, Roger, and Jemmy were cuddled in the back of the wagon. Beth was sure they were anticipating heading back to the time they belonged to. Beth, deep down, knew she should feel the same way. But if she were being honest, she was terrified.

She squeezed his hand firmly and with the back of her other hand she wiped at her nose, sniffing as she sat up and took in their surroundings. If only her mother could see her now - Beth could hear the snide remarks about how she was not very ladylike and that she should behave herself. Even as an adult, she was treated as a child.

Was that what she wanted to go back to?

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The travel to the stones was long - but not long enough. Before Beth realized, the wagon had stopped and Brianna, Roger, and Jemmy were already huddled nearby. Ian stayed put, a small smile on his lips as he watched Rollo bound towards the trios for his final round of belly rubs and ear scratches.

"I-" Beth tried to put her feelings into words but found it hard. Brianna was going through the stones with the man she loved and the child they bore together. Beth was going alone. She was leaving behind the man she loved and with no knowledge of whether or not she would ever see him again.

"Do not try to speak." Ian hushed her with his soothing voice. He moved both hands over here, holding onto them firmly in her lap as he watched her. "Let me speak first, at least." Ian grinned in his usual playful manner.

Beth couldn't help but let out a small laugh. He truly knew exactly what she needed in order to stop the tears. She laced her fingers with his and nodded, giving him the clearance to say what was on his mind.

"I want ye to promise me that ye will live yer life. To the fullest, as Auntie Claire says." Ian squeezed her hand before continuing, "I want ye to not forget how I taught ye to shoot a bow."

That had earned a chuckle from Beth, who still had not stopped crying.

"And to never forget that there is a man in the past," Ian leaned forward and gently kissed her forehead, "who loves ye more than words could ever say."

If Beth hadn't been crying before, she surely was now. Her hands released Ian's and she immediately threw herself into his arms. Sobs wracked her entire body as her face pressed into the crook of his neck. His arms wrapped firmly around her, keeping her pressed close to him as he comforted her. He continued to whisper things about her that he loved, the way she always pricked her finger when she was sewing, or the beautiful voice that escaped as she sang to the children or even to him.

She wasn't sure how long they stayed that way, but by the time they pulled apart, the sun was starting to drift lower and lower off in the horizon. She knew it was time to go.

"We will go first." Brianna declared, holding onto Jemmy protectively. "It will give you two a few more moments together."

Beth smiled with gratitude, "Thank you, Bree." She took in a deep breath before giving Roger a hug and a kiss on the cheek, turning to Jemmy. "You, mister, are going to grow up and be such a smart young man. I wish I could be there to watch it happen. I love you, Jemmy." Beth forced a smiled, knowing the young boy did not understand at all. He smiled back and gave her a sloppy kiss before waving his hand as his way of saying goodbye.

She then said goodbye to Brianna. Roger took Jemmy so the two could hug.

The hug was tight, and neither of them had a dry eye.

"I don't know how this all works. But maybe someday, somehow... we can meet again." Beth whispered, pulling back from the girl who she looked to as a sister, wiping her cheeks to rid her skin of the salty moisture.

Brianna nodded in agreement before she and Roger said their goodbyes to Ian. Beth stood with him, her hand clutched tightly in his as Brianna, Roger, and Jemmy reached forward, disappearing without a trace.

The buzzing was growing louder and was causing Beth to begin feeling lightheaded. Her grip on Ian tightened as she gathered the courage to look up at him. His eyes were full of tears and she knew it was not just over losing her, but also losing his cousin and her family as well.

"I will never forget you, Elizabeth Montgomery."

"And I will never forget you, Ian Fraser Murray."

Beth launched herself into his arms. The embrace was short but powerful and when Beth pulled back, her lips found his. The kiss was also short, the buzzing coming from the stones was starting to effect the way she was feeling. And although she could have stood there all night, kissing Ian and showing him how much she cared for him, she knew it was not possible.

"Go. It's okay. Go." Ian whispered against her lips as his hands slipped from her hips, up to her waist, before finally landing on either side of her face.

She could only nod in understanding. She kissed him once more before turning around to face the stones. The buzzing, more powerful than ever now, pulled her in step by step, until she was practically nose to nose with them.

"I love you, Mistress Montgomery."

A soft sob escaped her lips as she glanced back over her shoulder, "And I you."

And then, just as before, as her hand reached forward to touch the ancient rock, the world around her caved in. Everything turned to black, the buzzing coming to a final halt.

Elizabeth Montgomery was gone.