I don't own Lost but if I could well I would take Charlie.

Character death. Written before Claire's diseappearnce.

Light became darkness

Darkness became despair

but he didn't believe it

The only woman that he cared about the most was gone. Sure she seemed healthy but after the

birth of the baby all the color was gone from her face within minutes. He didn't want to believe he just

couldn't. The baby however was alive and breathing in his arms. Jack and Kate told him life would go on

but he felt even more miserable when they said it. Claire had died.

He felt darkness close in around him.

He felt nothing but the coldness of the air surrounding him.

There was nothing to live for anymore.

Charlie looked around not wanting to face the facts. Sure he had tears going down his face but he just

didn't want to believe it. It was like someone or something wanted his life to be miserable no matter how

much he turned his life around. He wished that his brother, Liam, was there to comfort him to tell him

something but that thought was gone before it even went on. Charlie watched as Jack put a blanket around

Kate and turned away feeling more tears come to his eyes. He didn't understand why he was crying he

had only know Claire for a month and half but he felt like he knew her for a long time. He got up and walked

to the cave opening, someone stopped him.

"Charlie?" Jack asked in a voice that didn't seem to register in his mind. He looked at him.

"Take him." Charlie said to Jack handing the infant to him. He didn't know where he was going but his feet led

him to the grave where Claire was buried earlier that day.

The air felt icey

His footfalls bothered him

He wanted comfort

Charlie sat down and tears came down his already tear-stained face. He didn't understand and he probably

wouldn't ever understand. He layed down next to the fresh dug up earth wanting to die as well.

"Claire, it's me Charlie...your baby is beautiful...but not as beautiful as you. I wish you were here...I don't think...

I can take care...of him. I'm scared...Claire." Charlie said whispering to the ground. He heard footsteps and looked

up to see Locke.

"Charlie." Locke said with sympathy in his voice.

"I don't want to leave her." Charlie said looking away and laying back down.

"I know its hard but please come back to the caves with me. Your going to have to take care of Claire's baby." Locke

said. Charlie knew he was right but didn't move for a long time. He soon followed Locke an hour later. They got back

to the caves and Jack put the baby in his arms and knew that it was time to let go and move on. It was time and he

didn't like it. The baby looked at him and Charlie knew Claire was watching over him wherever she was. He smiled and

sat down enjoying the quiet moment with him.

Years past after that and Charlie had named him Matthew C. Pace. Even though people asked him about the middle name

he never told anyone. The only people who did where the people that lived on the island with him.

The End