Kate shifted the grocery bags in her arms so she could lock the front door. She could hear faint sounds coming from the living room.
"Aaron?" she called. She set the bags on the kitchen counter.
"Aaron, no watching TV until you've finished your homework, you know that."
He didn't answer. She sighed and walked into the next room. She froze.
"You all everybody!" The all-too familiar song was playing on the CD player. Aaron was sitting on the couch, hugging his orca whale. "You ALL everybody!"
Kate ran over to the CD player and pressed the power button. The sudden absence of rock music left the house feeling somewhat empty.
"Hey!" cried Aaron.
She spotted a jewel case on the coffee table and picked it up. DriveShaft. She showed it to Aaron. "Where did you get this?" she demanded.
"Someone at school lent it to me."
Kate forced herself to take a deep breath. False alarm.
"Charlie said I should listen to it."
She started to shake her head. "I've never heard you mention Charlie before. Is he a new friend at school?"
"Kind of. But he says he's your friend." Aaron hugged the orca whale tighter.
Kate bit her lip. She walked around the coffee table and knelt in front of her son so they were on the same level. "Aaron," she said quietly. "You remember how we don't keep secrets from each other? How we tell each other everything?"
He nodded.
"I need you to tell me how you know about Charlie," she said, her voice choking. "Did Jack tell you?"
He shook his head. "He did."
"Who, sweetie?"
"Charlie."
Kate blinked. That was impossible.
"Aaron, I want you to tell me the truth, okay, you're not going to be in trouble – "
"I'm not lying, Mommy. Charlie comes to talk to me."
Kate leaned back. "How…?"
"See, he's over there, right now." Aaron pointed to a corner of the living room. Kate whipped around, but she only saw a lamp.
"I – I don't see anyone, Aaron. Are you sure?"
"No secrets," he reminded her. He offered her his orca whale. "No lies."
She automatically closed her hand around the stuffed animal, and suddenly she couldn't stop the tears.
"Charlie?" She turned back to look at the empty corner. "Charlie, I'm so sorry," she cried. "I…I tried, I did, but I couldn't…" She buried her head into the orca whale.
Aaron stared at the man in the corner. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"It's okay, Aaron," the man said. "Not everyone can see me."
When Aaron continued to glare at him, he added, "Tell your mum I don't blame her for what happened. And that she's exactly where she needs to be."
He stood up and took a few steps toward the door. He stopped.
"I'll see you around, Turnip-head."
A/N: haven't written a Lost fic in a while. This was weird. Also, slightly "I see dead people" but hey, it's not my fault Charlie's started showing up everywhere. All I can say is, they should do Aaron flash forwards. That'd be awesome.