What’s going to happen when the star-crossed lovers finally reunite?

Okay, she might have thought Jamie was dead, but still, when Outlander’s Claire went back to her 1940s life, leaving him to deal with the Battle of Culloden in ye olden days, it did seem a bit harsh. But fear not—as we’ve seen in the Outlander season three trailer, our favorite time-traveling couple will finally be reunited after 20 years on Starz come September. Sounds like the most romantic moment ever, doesn’t it?

But, according to Caitriona Balfe, who plays Claire, reality might get in the way of the mushy lovefest we’re expecting. “I think maybe the obvious way of doing the reunion would be violins playing, and angels singing, and a sun shaft coming through the window,” she told ELLE.com at Starz’s TCA party in Los Angeles. “I hope that what we’ve done is try and ground it as much in realism as we can. I think it’s really awkward, and funny, and sweet, and endearing.”

It’s only natural that after 20 years apart, a lot has happened to the two as they’ve lived separate lives. Claire and Jamie have a daughter he’s never seen, Claire’s become a doctor, and there’s major drama with her husband Frank. So, just a few small issues then.

“I think Claire and Jamie have both had each other on pedestals for 20 years,” Balfe said. “So when you finally see the object of your love and desire again in the flesh, it throws out everything you thought you would do.” Their separation doesn’t sound like the kind of thing that a quick catch-up over coffee would adequately cover, but luckily it sounds like the pair’s off-the-charts chemistry will win the day. “I think they’re not quite sure what to do with their bodies or their words,” she said. Sounds like things will get pretty steamy, then.

But will the couple stay together for good this time? “I think that physically and emotionally, even though we don’t show this part of the journey ever, of her passing through time, I think it takes an awful lot from someone,” Balfe said of Claire’s time-traveling. Still, given just how difficult her travel through the stones is, she’s not going to undertake it lightly: “I think each time is quite dangerous. You’re never sure if you’re going to land in the right time, or any of those things. I would have to imagine, and I don’t know, because I have not read past book four, but I would have to imagine that once she finds Jamie again, she’s not going to let him out of her sights for too long.”

It also helps that Balfe doesn’t hate playing opposite the gorgeous Sam Heughan as Jamie. “I feel very fortunate that I have a partner like him to work with, it’s all good,” she said. Then she gave us a cheeky smile and added, “He’s a god, let’s be honest. He’s as good in real life as he is on TV.”

A god? Good, we’re on the same page then.
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