Hello all. I know its been a while, but its finaly here. The sequill you've been waiting for. I still have that little spelling issure, witch i could seriously use some help with. Any takers, please let me know. Well, here you go...

Fate: Growing Pains

The family had gathered around the whole in the middle of the grass. A row of solum, sad faces, claoked in black. Hands at theire sides as they stared down at the coffin. Little Gabby of age six glanced up at her mother, who was holding her hand, and let out a sniff. Geni was being held on her fathers hip, her head laid agenst his shoulder with a sad pout across her face.

Ben leaned agenst Charlie's leg, doing his best to keep his chin up. Michelle had one of her kids at either side, Megen, now eleven to the left, a slight look with a slight look of bordom, and her younger brother Logen, at five clinging to the bottom of his mothers dress and useing it as a tissue.

"We have gathered hear today, in rembemberence of a very dear friend-" Liam began, keeping a solume look on his face as he spoke. He glanced over at Charlie, who nodded for him to go on. Liam cleared his throught, rolled his eyes and went on.

"A dear friend...Kitty-Fantastico, the lady bug"

"Achem" Both Charlie, Claire, and Michelle cleared their throats. "Mr...Kitty-fantastico" Liam corrected with a sigh. "Why did he have to die, daddy!" Gabby burst into tears and burried her head into his shoulder. Charlie patted her back sympatheticly. "He was my best friend" Gabby concluded with a sniff.

"I thought I was your best friend" Logen protested, crying as well. "You are, but you can't fly" Gabby explained, her voice breaking into another round of tears. Claire sighed and lifted her up, rocking her little girl in her arms. "I didn't even get to say good bye!" Gabby choked out agenst Claire's shoulder. "Shh, its ok sweetie. Thats why were here. To say good bye" Claire assured comfortingly, moveing the curly blond hairs out of Gabby's face.

"I miss Mr. Kittiy-fantastico too, mommy" Logen explained, looking up at Michelle with wide, pouty eyes. Megen rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "I know, i know hun. But its like your aunt Claire said, were here to say good bye. Right Liam?" She shoot a look over at her husbened, who had just let out a little snicker.

"Right, right" He nodded, trying to force a serious look on his face, but failed and let out another little snicker. "Better?" Claire looked at Gabby, her tears had stopped. She nodded, and slipped out of her mothers arms, kneeling down in the grass. "Good bye, Mr. Kitty-fantastico. I'll miss you" She explained, giving a little wave as she laid her flower that Charlie picked from the front yard ontop of the little shoe box.

"I'll never forget you" Geni added with a sniff. "You were the coolest lady bug e-e-ever" Logen chimed in, before breaking into sobs. "uhh...are we done here?" Leo wispered, leaning closer to Claire, who rolled her eyes.

"No, not every one has said good bye" The three toddlers insisted in a jumble of mixed, badly pernounced demands. "Right" Leo nodded, "Good bye Mr. Kitty-fantastico"

"You were the best lady bug ever, even if you did eat all my plants" Claire added, kneeling down with her girls. "And all of Liams weed-" Charlie added. Claire shoot him a look over her shoulder. "weeds, witch was a good thing. Because no one wants weeds" Charlie corrected aqwardly, altohugh he'd already got Liam, Megen and Ben giggling. Claire shook her head.

"I'll miss you, Mr. Kitty-Fantastico. You always landed on my head, and you never pooped" Michelle gave her peice. "Good bye, Mr. Kitty-Fantastico, you rocked my sox" Ben added, and Charlie couldn't help but smile.

"Alright. We've all said good bye, now lets go back inside" Liam sugested huridly, smacking his hands together. "Wait, Megen didn't say anything" Logen pointed out bluntly. Megen rolled her eyes. "Megen...say good bye to the lady bug" Michelle insisted warningly. A loud sigh escaped Megen's lips before she spoke.

"Good by Mr. Kitty-flu- what ever the hell your names is" She muttered under her breath. Michelle gave her a glaire, but the kids seems to be content, so they took them back inside.

It was Ten O'clock, and every one was asleep, all except Claire. The baby had been keeping her up for the last hour, kicking like crazy. Finaly, she got up and went downstairs to see if she could find something to eat. She had just closed the fridge when she spotted something out side through the sliding-glass door. She walled over and opened the door, squinting into the darnkness to see who it was.

Megan sat in the grass, head in hands. "Megen, sweety, what's wrong?" Claire questioned in concern, kneeling down beside her. Megen looked up at her with teary eyes. "I miss Mr. Kitty-Fantastico" She explaine with a sob. "Aw, sweety" Claire hugged her comfortingly, and tried hard not to laugh.

"I mean, I know it was just a stupid lady bug, but-" She broke into tears and laid her head agenst Claire shoulder. For a moment it was quiet.

"God...i hate puberty" Megen sighed, laughing a little as she whiped her eyes.

"Wait until your my age"

The next morning, Claire, Shannon and Michelle sat together at the kitchen table. "Lilly is getting so big" Claire noted, watching Sayid lift his five year old up in the air through the slideing-glass door in their kitchen. "I know" Shannon sighed, "i miss the days when she didn't talk"

"Wait untill she hits puberty." Michelle noted with a sigh. "I know. If she's anything like i was when i was at that age, its gonna be hell" Shannon agreed, laying her head down on the table. "Ahem. Twins" Claire reminded. Michelle patter her on the back sympotheticly.

"Yeah. But Claire, your kids are like angles. I mean, Its hard enough raiseing a baby in a nice apartment with all the supplies, but you had Ben on a freaking island, and he still never cried" Shannon reminded comfortingly. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure Ben's going to be a good kid. But know matter how good you are, if your a pretty blond your bound get into trouble" Claire noted with a sigh.

"No kidding" Shannon agreed with a nod. "Thank god my Lilly has black hair"

Both Claire and Michelle tossed theire balled up napkins at shannon's head. "Hey, its not my fault you two married blonds" Shannon defended. "Liam isn't blond!" Michelle protested, picking up her napkin and throwing it once again. "Well, what ever" Shannon shrugged, makeing no attempt to doge them.

Just then, three screaming little girls came running into the room. "Mum, can we have munny for the ice cream truck?" Geni and Gabby both questioned in unison, doing their very best to look innocent. "Please?" Lilly chimed in. "Sure. Wallet's is on the table" Claire replied coniveingly. The girls cheered and rushed back out into the living room with the wallet in hand.

""How much money did you just give them?" Shannon questioned worriedly. "Just a few dollars" Claire assured. "What is Charlie one of those paranoid people who don't carry big bills?" Michelle questioned curisoly. "Nope. Charlie dosen't have a wallet" Claire explained simply. "but, I think Liam is"

"Claire, your a genous" Michelle beamed. "Shh" Claire replied playfully. The three had a nice little laugh untill Liam walked in the room. "Morning laddies" He muttered, looking extreamly exausted as he looked around the kitchen. "Morning hunny" Michelle went over and gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Looking for something?"

"Yeah, have you seen my wallet?" Liam questioned, looking around in confusion. The three girls exchanged glances.

"Nope"

Claire stepped out of the shower and wraped a towel around herself. Good, the door's still closed. Recently, the door had been acting up and popping open for no reson, witch caused a rather uncomfortable inceident involving Liam walking in while Claire was in the shower. They haden't let it go for weeks, so ever since then Claire had been verry, verry carefull.

But secure in her towel, she wondered out into the hall, pass the open door in the kids room where Charlie was in the bed along with his two girls, his son and his nephew, reading the Lorax by Dr. Suss. Claire stopped and smiled for a moment, hearing the kids erupt with laughter before walking on. Luckily, Liam and Michelle's door was closed this time, thanks to another little incedent involeing someone walking in.

When Jack and Kate moved out, Claire had hopped to avoid haveing sextual conferentations, but those two could not hold a candle to Liam and Michelle. Pass the closed door, and pass Megen's room where she lay on her bed blareing Franz Ferdinan, and into her own room to get dressed.

Of course, Charlie's manly-senses went off as soon as her towel did, and he apeared in the door way in no time. Claire glanced at him over her sholder, and rolled her eyes. "Verry sneaky" She teased, digging through the draws for something to put on. "Who said anything about sneaking?" Charlie questioned inoccently as he wondered in, closeing the door behind him.

Claire raised an eye brow. "Ok, fine. I'm sneaking. I'm a sneaky person, its what i do" He explained with a shrug. "Go figure" Claire teased. Charlie grinned and pulled his arms around her. "You know you love it"

"Of course" Claire smiled playfully and leaned up to kiss him. "Kids are in bed right?"

"Yep. Passed right out...am I that boreing?" He asked, playfully. "Sometimes" Claire shrugged. A look of offence crossed Charlie's face. "I mean...I love you?" Claire covered innocently. "Thats more like it" Charlie grinned and leaned down to kiss her.

Charlie walked into the kitchen and slid his arm around Claire's waist. "Morning love" He smiled tiredly, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Good after noon" She corrected, contenuing to wash the dishes. He contenuied to hold his arms around her, laying his chin on her shoulder. "You smell good." Claire noted, "did you use my Shampoo?"

"uh..yeah" Charlie replied, as if it should have been obvios. "Well, you smell like a girl" Claire teased. "And you like it. Witch makes you a lesbian" Charlie replied smartly. "Hey, your the one wearing girl Shampoo" Claire shoot back, teasingly. "Would you rather me smell like a man?" Chalire questioned, raiseing his eye brows.

"Good point" Claire shrugged in agreement before turning to him with a smile. "So, the kids are all at school and Michelle and your brother are out at some resturant. What do you perpose we do?" she questioned with a hint of sugestion. Charlie considered the thought for a moment, a grin creeping on to her face.

He leaned down to kiss her when he heard a knock at the front door. "Damnit" He muttered under his breath, an Claire couldn't help but laugh. "Who is it?" She called from the kitchen. "Uh, Hurly" The familar voice replied.

"Ok, hold on" Claire called, and walked out to open the door for him. "Hey Claire" Hurly greeted, wondering inside, Megen filed in behind him. "Hey, dude" He added, turning to Charlie. "You have the worst timeing ever" Charlie replied simply before turning back into the kitchen.

Hurly turned to Claire in confusion. "Ignore him" She insisted, closeing the door behind them. "So, what brings you here?"

"Do we need a reson?" Megen questioned playfully. "You better" Charlie mumbled to him self."Charlie" Clairescolded, shooting him a look. "Sorry" He muttered in reply.

"Are we interupting something?" Megen questioned, eyeing them curiosly.

"No"

"Yes"

Theire words colided at one. Claire shoot him another look. "Sorry" he apologized again. At that moment, the phone rang. "I'll get it" Charlie offered, despret to change the subject. "Hello?" he picked up the phone.

"Hello, is this Mr. Pace?" the voice no the other end questioned. "...one of them" Charlie replied, a confused look on his face. "Hi, I'm calling from Marbrook Elementry" The women explained. "Whats going on?" Claire questioned in a wisper. "its from the school" Charlie answered simply.

"I'm calling to inform you that your child has gotten into a fight" The women contenuied. "A fight?" Charlie raised an eye brow. "A fight?" Claire repeated, worriedly hanging over his shoulder. "Witch one?" He asked, after shooting Claire an agrivateing look.

"I'm sorry?" The women questioned. "Witch kid. I have three" Charlie explained. "I see...Well, it was Ben. he's all right. But the boy he hit has a pretty bad nose bleed" she explained casualy. Charlie sighed. "We'd like for you to come down and have a talk with a confrense with myself and the boy's parents" The women sugested.

"They want us to come down" Charlie explained to Claire, covering the receiver. Claire nodded in reply. "We'll be there soon" He confirmed, and hung up the phone.

At the school:

Charlie and Claire sat in a row of chaires in the brightly lit office of theire kid's elementry school, awaiting the principle to call them in. They had been there very long but already Charlie was beggining to get fidgety. His eyes darted around the room, his metalic ring tapping agenst the arm rest, his other hand keeping a steady beat on his thigh. Claire watched with a smile, reminded of when they first meet on the island, and how adorable she thought it was. She was also reminded of a conversation her and Hurly once had about it. If she rembered cerectly, while she found Charlie's habbit cute and amuseing, Hurly found it rather extreamy anoying. And the look on his face as he sat across from the two proved her right.

In Charlie's unconchious studdie of the blindingly white office, it didn't take him long to catch the look Hurly was giving him. "Dude, chill" Hurly insisted. The tappeing seased and Charlie looked down to his lap childishly. "Sorry"

"I'm just nervous. Why is it that i feel like I'm the one in trouble?" Charlie questioned rethoricaly. "Because its probly your fault" Claire answered simply. "Me? What did I do?" He asked, defensivly, a look of innocence on her face.

"Mr and Misses Pace, the principle can see you now" The secretary women Charlie had spoken with on the phone explained. "Well, I guess were about to find out" Claire replied with a shrug, and climbed out of her seat. The look of confusion remaned on Charlie's face for a few moments before his cluttered and frantic self remembered to stand up.

The group piled into the principles office, a small room furnished only by a desk, a few fileing cabnets and a row of swivil chaire. Charlie took it on his part to studdie this room as well. "Rather bleek for a child's school, don't you think?" He mused, looking about curiously.

"What are you looking for exactly? Elephents?" Hurly questioned sarcasticly. Claire and Megen both snickered. A middle-aged, thin women walked into the office. "Hello. I'm Miss. Clay." The women anoucnced, shakeing each of theire hands. "The other parents should be hear in a moment. Please have a seat"

Claire and Charlie took their seats infront of the desk while Megen and Hurly stood in the back, trying to blend their way out of the conversation. Hurly was begging to wonder why he came along at all when he remebered, it was Megen's idea.

"So, what happened exactly?" Claire questioned right off hand. "Well, acording to the teacher who was on reccess duty, the boys had had a few arguments early this week. Picking on each other and such. And today, I supose it got out of hand." The principle explained, makeing it all sound so after-school special.

"But, he's alright, right?" Claire questioned in the worried motherly tone. "Yes, he's fine. Not a scratch on him." Miss. Clay assured in a calm, disarming voice. Claire nodded in releif. "What's the punisment?"

"Well, the school policy is that any one involved in confrentation receives one day supsension" She answered promptly. Cliare nodded once again. Meanwhile, Charlie had once again lost his concentration. Claire slowly became aware of the tapping sound agenst the wooden arm rest of his chaire and turned to give him a warning look. This time, he was to lost in his own over-active emagination to notice.

"Charlie" She wispered, grabbing his attention. The atrempt failed, and Claire was forced to repeate herself. "Charlie!" she nudged his arm this time, useing allittle more efforert. He quickly snapped out of it and was now in that state of relization when it dawned on you that you had been drifting off, and was now completly lost in the conversation.

Claire contenuied to lear at him. Charlie's eyes narrowed to his lap. All the while, Miss. Clay watched in confusion. "Excuse him. He's tweaking" She explained, apoligizeing for her husbands Attention Defecet behavior. Miss. Clay simply smiled and nodded, and Hurly muffled a snicker from behind them.

The door opened, and the secretery poked her head in. "Miss. Clay. The Hendred family is here" She explained. "Alright, send them in" The principle replied with an easy smile. The secretery women nodded and disapeared. Seconds later, the other parents wondered in. Both Claire and Charlie's face turned to a look of shock.

"Bloody hell" Charlie exclaimed bluntly, stareing on at the familar man before him. "Short stop? What are you doing here?" Sawyer questioned, looking just as suprised as they did. "You...know each other?" Miss Clay questioned, trying to fallow the situation. "Unfortunetly" Charlie mumbled under his breath. Claire elboed him in the side. "Yes, we know them" She answered innocently before shooting him a violent look.

"And she's still pushing you around, huh?" Sawyer questioned with a laugh. Charlie grimaced in annoyence. Sawyer grind proundly and took a seat, along with the young women he was with, who they could assume was his wife. "Well, I was just explained that both boys will be haveing an equill punishment of a one-day suspension" Miss Clay explained.

"Right. So, do either of you know why your boy was messing with my son?" Sawyer turned in his chaire to face them. "Excuse me?" Claire raised an eye brow, now just as off put as Charlie had been. Miss Clay must have cought this and decided to jump in. "It was a simple miss understanding. You know, boys will be boys. I'm sure in a few day's it will all be forgotton." She mended, useing her plesent, easy going ways to calm them.

But a unwilling glare remained between the two. "Well, I'm sure your all in a rush to see your kids. I'll let you go" Miss. Clay added, riseing to her feet. After a lingering moment, the glare fadded and each party rose to theire feet and filed out the door.

Later that night:

Claire laid in their bed, letting herself sink into the matress. It had been a very long day, and she was completly exauseted. Charlie wondered in and slumped down beside her, looking just as warn out. "Did he say anything?" She questioned, takeing the effort to turn her head and face him. "Nope. He still dosen't want to talk about it" Charlie replied in a mumble that was rather hard to understand.

Claire sighed. "I'm sure he'll tell us eventualy. When he's ready" Charlie assured, his words bluring together in a overly-brittish slur. The poor boy was exausted. Claire smiled. " He will" she agreed, rolling onto her side and laying her arm arcross his chest. "Good night" She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Good night, luv" He replied, turning to kiss her before laying back agenst the pillow and closeing his eyes. They were both out within seconds.