Title: Feels Like Home

Author's: Hayley (Ponyboysgirl1 aka when I review it'sCharlieandClaire) and Christina (PBShipper)

Category: Charlie/Claire (others are included)

Rating: M

Disclaimer: No, we do not own Lost, just borrowing our favorite character's characters.

Summary : Begins after Claire loses her memory, but quickly it takes on a life of it's own and goes in a whole different direction or the show. Charlie and Claire see their true feelings for each other and thus begin their life together on the island. But it's not as easy as it would seem.

Author's Note: This is based on a role play by me and Christina, but decided to fix it up and post it here for all the Charlie and Claire fans. So if there are any slight mistakes, sorry about that!

Chapter 1

Claire starred out at the waves. "You know its funny Charlie, I always thought the beach was so relaxing. Like it was the one place you could go and leave your troubles in the sand. Then the waves would roll in and take them away. Despite all I've forgotten, the one thing that stays with me is that life just isn't that simple. "

"If anyone had a right to be bitter, its you. But Claire you're above that. You're a ray of sunshine in this dark world." Charlie looked down and started fidgeting in the sand.

" Charlie, your so silly! Spouting off trite 'lines' like the bloody rock god that you are! You always know what to say to make me smile." she said.

"So you're starting to remember more?" he asked.

"Not really," she had to look down at her hands--she couldn't stand seeing the hurt in his eyes. "Its more of a feeling I have. No matter what you say, or what my diary says about you. I know in my heart that you are special Charlie Pace."

Charlie smiled when she said that.

" You know. I am really glad that I have my journal here, I mean. It didn't help out a great deal, but it did help me remember you more." Claire said as she squinted into the sun.

" Oh yeah?" Charlie asked.

" Uh huh." She replied.

"So is it a good thing that you remember me the most out of everyone?" He asked.

" Yes, definitely." Claire said as she looked at him.

"Claire, I... I need to.. Umm.. To tell you something." Charlie began as his heart started to race.

" Sure." she said smiling. " What is it?" she asked when he didn't say anything.

" I.. Umm, well. You see when you were gone; I missed you so much, and well. I read your diary Claire," he blurted out.

"You read my diary?" Claire said giving him a shocked look.

"Well yes, but it hurt so much to know that you were gone that I needed read your diary. I didn't want to loose what you made me feel inside Claire." "I understand if you think I'm bloody scum" He turned his head for a moment looking away from Claire.

Claire's face softened. "I don't think you're scum Charlie. "You're the only person on this island who really talks to me. Everyone else just asks me how I'm doing and am I ok and then walks away leaving me alone. You keep me company. When I'm with you I don't feel alone anymore," I mean what I wrote in the diary. Though I don't remember writing any of it. I feel inside Charlie that you truly do make me safe"

Charlie's head turns back towards Claire's and for a moment all he can do is stare into her eyes, capturing the emotion of the moment. For a while nothing is said.

Finally Claire asks, " Charlie, you said you read my diary so you wouldn't loose the feeling I gave you. What is that feeling?"

" Umm.." Charlie started. What was that feeling he had for Claire? It was so much stronger than simply liking her. Yet... It wasn't possible that he loved Claire, was it? I mean he had only known her for a month.

Seeing that he was having a hard time getting it out Claire added, " I don't know if I should tell you this, but Kate told me what you said while I was gone. That bits of you we're cru..." she started.

Charlie felt his cheeks brighten. " Oh. She did?" he asked secretly not to fond of Kate at the very moment.

" Yeah, she did." Claire said slightly uncomfortable. She knew she had put him on the spot, but she couldn't help it. She knew she felt something for him, but couldn't decide exactly what it was. She knew that she had spent most of her time before she got taken with Charlie. But she couldn't exactly remember everything. He had to have stronger feelings for her than she did for him, didn't he? She felt terrible. She wished so bad that she could remember what she had felt for him.

" What are you thinking about?" Charlie asked her seeing her in a thinking mode.

Claire jerked her head and replied "Oh, it just nothing" "I feel like going for walk, how about it?" she asked not bothering to make him finish the question.

Charlie accepts her reply and lets it go at that. He helped her up and they walked along the beach.

After a moment Claire spoke up. "Charlie how come there isn't any seashells on the beach?" "Aren't beaches supposed to have seashells?"

Not so sure an answer himself Charlie stops walking and looks at Claire. "I'm not really sure. There are a lot of things about this island that I'm not sure of. Like why does the ocean tide come in so high? Why is it that night seems so much darker? What exactly lies on the other side of this island? Why is Peanut Butter so special?"

He pauses briefly before turning more serious and emotional.
"Why is that every time you come near I get butterflies in my stomach? My mind jumbles looking for the right words to say to you. Why is that when you're near me the rest of the world doesn't exist? "Why is that you me feel so happy, like I'm worth so much more then I feel?"

Now it was Claire's turn for her cheeks to turn warm and bright red. " Oh, I umm.. I feel like I'm in High School again. Like I have this crush and I'm too shy to tell him." Claire said shyly.

" Well, why don't you tell me about him?" Charlie suggested talking of course, about himself.

Claire smiled," Well.. His name is Charlie. And apparently him and I have been spending all of our time together for the past month. Except for that I don't remember all of that. But from the looks we get from everyone else, it's obvious there is something.. Going on.. Between us. He's the one and only thing that I do remember about after the crash. Although it is vague. I remembered Peanut Butter. And I told him that a few nights ago, and I think that made him really, really happy." Claire was only beginning.

Charlie nodded as she said this. It was the happiest thing he'd felt for quite a long time. The one thing she remembered was of him, and that was all he needed to know that what Claire and him shared was something strong.

" And well this guy, he.. He killed a man. For me. I don't think anyone has ever been so protective of me in my whole life. And it feels really, really amazing." Claire continued.

Nothing was said between them after that. But that was quite all right. For words didn't need to be spoken. Their emotions were speaking louder.

Charlie felt tears form in his eyes and never had felt tears this strong since the day Liam had told him he was sodding useless or tears the night when he realized that Claire was gone. But these weren't sad tears, these were happy tears.

As they fell from his eyes, Charlie finally couldn't hold them in anymore and fell to ground sobbing. Everything he had been feeling for the past month came flooding out. His love for Claire, his excitement that she was finally back safe, and relief that she remembered their special moment. Looking up he could see through his blurry eyes that Claire was also crying.

Claire slowly sat down with the help of Charlie's shoulder.

Charlie was still crying, not a loud cry, but silently as tears slowly ran down his damp cheeks. He thought back to the night when Rose had held his hand as he had sobbed out loud with no shame.

Things were finally going right for him, for the first time in well over a year. Here he was with a women that deep in his heart he loved and who knew she felt something strong for him too, and he was crying tears of happiness.

" I'm.. I.. I'm.. sorr-" Charlie started. But Claire wouldn't have it. She put her finger up to his mouth and wrapper her left arm around his back and put her right arm around him in the front as best she could with her swollen belly.

" Shh.. It's okay Charlie." Claire said with tears still in her eyes. She obviously had strong feelings for this man before her, and he was crying, right in front of her. He was.. Amazing in her eyes. " What is it?" Claire asked wanting him to talk about his feelings.

Charlie looked up at Claire. "Claire, you mean the world to me. I don't think I've ever felt this way about another women. Nor have I been any happier then I have been when I'm with you. I care about you more then you'll ever know. You're so beautiful. The way the light hits your eyes and the sound of your laugh when I offered you Peanut Butter. The smile that never seems to truly fade away. The way you speak to the little one in your round tummy, like the only way a mother could. I'd give anything for you. Just so you can be safe and happy. Claire, I...I...I love you."

Claire did not see that coming. I mean sure she knew that Charlie cared for her, but he loved her?

" Charlie.. I..You've only known me for a month.. How could you..?" Claire asked not able to finish the love part.

Charlie looked disappointed, but what did you expect he thought to himself. Her to just jump into your arms and say she loved you too. In her mind she just met less than two days. She has only known you for two days. " Claire, listen, I know this is not something you want to hear from me, but I do love you.. I think even though it's been a month makes it even more special to me how important you are. I don't expect you to say it back right away, or maybe you will never say it. To you, I'm just some guy that you barely know. But to me, you're everything. I can't even begin to explain how I felt when.. Ethan. When he took you away. I mean it's all because of me that you lost your memory; I never should have let him take you. I was responsible for you.." Charlie started to ramble.

Claire puts her finger on Charlie's lips to quiet him. "Charlie, don't blame yourself. How could you have known about Ethan? I don't blame you. I don't think I ever could. You're one of the reason I'm still here and because of that I'm eternally grateful."

Charlie face is still caked with tears and he sniffled. "But you see Claire, when I met you I was a drug addict. I was snorting heroin. I had a little baggie with me that sunk on the plane inside my shoe. When I got here that's was all I could think about. "What would happen if I ran out, I don't care I need another fix?" But then I saw you pulling that luggage alone, I forgot about my drugs. I forgot about the withdrawals and emotional roller coaster I was on. But when I was away from you I went back to my habit, went back to snorting and hiding from everyone. That is until Locke found out about it. He took the heroin away from me. Made me realize that there was more to life then just a plastic bag full powder. So I threw it into the fire. I'm clean now." Charlie pauses for a moment to look at Claire who just stares at him, her expression confused and shock. "Claire, I think in a way you helped me quit and now you're helping me through the withdrawals. But either way I don't deserve your love."

Claire tried to take in everything that he had just shared with her. " So, you were a drug addict, but then Locke took them away. And when he gave them back, you threw them in the fire. Why?" she asked.

" Because of you." Charlie said wiping back a small tear.

Claire had to smile at that. He just looked so sincere.

" I can't lie either, I.. I didn't even quit for myself, because truthfully.." He chuckled slightly, " If you weren't here I would probably still be doing the drugs until I ran out." When she didn't say anything he continued. " But it doesn't matter anyways. You.. You are just.. I don't deserve you Claire. And I know it too. Hell, everyone here knows it. I bet they all think I'm crazy the way I always follow you around to make sure your okay, and would do anything to make sure of it too."

They got up to continued walking down the beach as the sun began to fade in the horizon.

Claire finally replied. "I don't think your crazy Charlie. In fact I kind of like how you're always looking out for me, making sure I'm OK. No one's ever done that for me. Not even Thomas, the man who left me alone and pregnant. He said he couldn't handle being a father. Some jerk he was. You know I was going to give this baby up for adoption, but at the last min when I saw the physic who so persistent on me raising the baby by myself, I just couldn't do it. But then again he told me about a couple in LA wanting to adopt and said I had to go. So I took that plane ticket. Took it and where did it lead me? Here to a place were God only knows what's out there. A place where there's a monster lurking, and crazy men who kidnap. Charlie I'm scared. I don't know if I can be a good mother. How can I protect him in place like this?

" Claire. You're going to do fine. I know it. I know how much you love this baby. And, listen. I'll be here to help you every step of the way. That.. That is if you want me here." Charlie said.

" Of course Charlie. Of course I want you here. I want to restart whatever it was that we had together before I was... taken. You're the only good thing that has happened to me since this island. If you weren't here, well.. I'd probably be sitting off by myself somewhere. Thank you for being here for me, and for my baby." Claire said. " A few nights ago, when I told you I wanted to trust you, well.. not only do I want to trust you now Charlie, but... I do trust you." Claire finished.

Charlie smiled. " Thank you. Back before all of this happened, the crash I mean. I was told that I.. That I would never be able to take care of anyone, ever. I just, I want to take care of you, Claire." he finished.

" Now who in the world would ever tell you that?" Claire asked. He was all she wanted right now. She wanted him to take care of her, more than anything in the world. And she wanted to do that same for him.

" Oh. It's a story for another time, but lets just say, I deserved it. But.. Just as Locke says, we all get a new life on this island. And.. I've changed Claire, I promise you, I have. I am here for you and the baby. I love you." Charlie said and he was really beginning to like the sound of those words.

The next morning Claire woke up to find Charlie nowhere nearby. Slowly she got up and headed to the stream to get herself a drink of water. She could not get the conversation she and Charlie had the day before. So many emotions ran through her. Particularly one, did she love Charlie?

As she walked over to the stream, Sun was there filling up bottles of water.

"How is the baby?" She asked

"Oh he's doing fine" "Been kicking like crazy." Claire replied.

Sun smiled at her and walked away heading toward the beach.

Claire continued to get herself some water when she heard the familiar voice she loved so much.

"Good morning love", Charlie said walking toward her. His backpack was draped over his shoulder and an assortments of fruit lay his hand.

"Care for some breakfasts?" He asked.

"Sure," Claire replied, grabbing the bananas he held in his hand.

Charlie took a banana for himself and stating eating.

"So what's a lovely lady like yourself wanting to do today?

Claire smiled. She hardly knew this guy; she hadn't kissed him, or for that matter even really hugged him yet. Yet, she was falling for him so hard and so fast.

" Umm.. I don't know. But I want to spend it with you." She said hopefully.

" Well, I don't know. I am awfully busy." Charlie said.

Claire dropped her head in disappointment.

" Yeah, I'm sorry. I have this sort of date thing. Well, I hope I do, I mean I haven't asked her yet." Charlie said.

Claire's spirits lifted immediately, she loved that he had that affect on her.

" Well, I'm sure that she'll say absolutely... Yes!" Claire said trying to get back at him for disappointing her by holding out the 'yes' part.

" Great," He smiled and sighed from relief. He thought back to earlier that morning when he had been near the beach, he had dug out a small sitting area for him and Claire. He wanted to have a, well a date, only not a glamorous, just the two of them sharing some tea by the sunset.

" So.. Where are we going for our 'date'?" She asked giggling.

Okay, so what did you think? Hope you liked it! Reviews are greatly appreciated, of course.