Pairings: Bana, Sana, mentions of Jana, Chaire, Shayid and Shoone. Basically it's pretty well rounded. I might even throw in some Jate (no promises though).

Disclaimer: Lost and the characters in Lost do not belong to me, obviously. If they had Ana Lucia and Sawyer would have ended up together (meaning she wouldn't have died).

A/N: Right, well one of the worst things about Ana Lucia's death to me was the fact that even in her last moments she didn't seem to find any peace, she still hadn't really dealt with any of her problems. Which to me is just plain sad. So I wanted to write a story about what could have been happening in-between her moments on screen that could show her slowly coming to accept her situation (not completely but mostly). It's also a look into just how well some of the other survivors got to know her.

It will also be rather AU in some parts. Generally I'll be following the outline of the episodes but in some of the Flashbacks I'm doing I will have taken a lot of liberty.

It starts after the episode THE LONG CON and continues until after Ana's death.

I hope you enjoy.

. . .

Chapter One: Cries

Ana stared at the baby in Claire's arms as it continued to cry away like its whole existence depended on just how loud he could get those screams. She'd been sleeping until the baby's cries had eventually woken her, torn her out of the numerous nightmares of her past where and eventually drawn her out of the comfort of her own shelter; like a moth to the flame.

"Everything OK?"

Claire glanced up startled at the sound of her voice. "Oh, Ana! I hope he didn't wake you."

Ana Lucia raised an eyebrow at the young mother, clearly questioning her sanity if she thought that anyone at all had managed to sleep through Aaron's loud protests. Claire blushed, apparently realizing this.

"I'm sorry," the blonde apologised, wondering whether she would have to do the same to everyone on the beach tomorrow morning as well.

Ana just waved her comment away. "Don't be. Ain't nothing wrong with a baby crying." She meant it too, not for the first time wishing she'd been allowed to hear her own baby's cries.

Claire glanced at her doubtfully, clearly not agreeing with her statement. "He's kept me up for four nights this week. I don't know if I can last much longer."

Ana resisted the urge to snap at her that those nights were a blessing, just the knowledge that your baby was there and alive. But she knew that Claire wouldn't be able to see the constant wailing that way – she'd never lost a baby.

"Do you think he's OK?"

Claire nodded. "I was worried at first but Jack's checked him over. I think he's just growing petulant."

The Latina nodded her head with a slight smile. Her eyes strayed to Aaron's face and her heart twisted unbearably. She couldn't describe the feeling that surged through her – a strong need to hold that baby in her arms mixed with the knowledge that such an action would cause her only pain in the end. She knew that to hold a baby, any baby, in her arms would only prove to be bittersweet at the least.

The mother noticed her staring. "Do you have any kids?"

It was a stupid question really - what would she have been doing on a plane from Australia to L.A. without her kids if she had any? - and the Latina wondered just how many times she would have to answer it. "No."

The blonde didn't seem surprised by this. "Do you want any?"

Ana shook her head. "I used to. Not anymore."

Claire looked confused and hugged Aaron closer to her. The baby continued to cry. "Why?"

She shrugged her shoulders, working hard to keep her face blank. It wasn't a question she wanted to answer so she came up with something that was as close to truth as she could allow. "They're too fragile."

The blonde furrowed her brow at this but was stopped from commenting when her baby's screams got louder. She made a desperate noise and started jiggling him up and down. It was obvious that she wasn't going to be able to calm her baby, not when she was as tired and frustrated as she was now. Aaron was probably even picking up on his mother's stress and it was only making things worse.

Ana Lucia sucked in a short breath, preparing herself for something she wasn't at all sure she was ready for yet. "I can take him for tonight if you want," she offered. The words were out of her mouth before she'd even thought them through and instantly she regretted them.

Claire glanced at her in unconcealed surprise. "Really? You would do that? You realize you won't be getting any sleep?"

She shrugged her shoulders, trying to appear unbothered by the situation. Inside her emotions were in turmoil. Was she really going to do this? Play happy family with somebody else's baby for the night? Could she do this? "From where I'm standing it looks like you could use the hours more than me." In all honesty, Ana doubted she'd even get those hours with or without a screaming baby to look after. Her nightmares had been haunting her so far, ever since Aaron had started his screaming match four days ago, and she doubted they were going to cease anytime soon. She'd probably had about as much sleep as Claire-Bear. But there was no way she was going to tell her that.

Claire eyed her hesitantly. It was obvious she was a little cautious about handing her precious son over to someone who had killed a member of their group and Ana couldn't blame her; if that had been her son she wouldn't have let the likes of her anywhere near him. Eventually though, exhaustion seemed to win out and the blonde nodded gratefully. "Thankyou, Ana," she said, carefully handing Aaron over.

It happened so fast that Ana barely had time to register it all before a small form was settled in her arms. She nearly let out a cry of protest before biting down on her bottom lip to stop herself just in time. Aaron continued to cry even harder as both Ana and Claire worked to make him comfortable in his new owner's arms.

He was so small.

Ana closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gain control of her emotions. What the hell had she been thinking?

Opening her eyes again she held the baby closer and Claire leant back, watching her carefully, trying to make sure that she'd just entrusted her baby in capable hands. Countless hours of babysitting from her teenage years kicked in and Ana began to jiggle the baby a little like Claire had, only her movements were a lot more fluid and calm, less agitated.

This seemed to please him a little for his cries quieted but still didn't completely stop. "Shh, bebé dulce. Pasito." Aaron blinked up at her, cries petering away. Apparently he was stunned by the foreign voice and unusual words and it seemed to have a slightly calming effect on him.

Ana-Lucia smiled. "Hola . . ."

She could almost swear she saw him smile slightly back. She grinned elatedly and glanced over at Claire, proud of her accomplishment. She was just about to rejoice when she saw the blonde slumped back on the ground, her eyes shut to the world. She was already asleep.

Ana licked her lips and glanced back at the baby, a little unsure just exactly what she was supposed to do now that she'd gotten him to be quiet. "Guess it's just you an' me now, huh, Baba?"

Aaron gurgled happily and, almost without her consent, Ana's face relaxed into a soft smile. For the first time since arriving on the island, the Latina felt content.

….

Bebé dulce – sweet baby

Hola – hello

Pasito – quiet

Note that I have no experience in speaking Spanish (though I would have liked to have learnt it if it was one of the subjects my school offered) and these words have been taken off the internet. Needless to say they could very well be wrong so I apologise if that's how things turned out.