Desmond felt as if his heart was about to burst. Penny had just placed his son into his arms for the first time.
"He's perfect isn't he?"
Desmond looked up into the tired, but beautiful face of his wife Penny.
"Aye. He is."
Desmond sat on the bed next to his wife still cradling his son.
Penny stroked the child's face.
"So, what are we going to call you?"
The couple had been discussing this, but had yet to decide. As Desmond looked into his son's wide eyes, he suddenly remembered another pair of eyes, which he had seen close for the last time. If it hadn't been for Charlie, Desmond would have been killed; he would never have been found by Penny, and his son would never have been born.
"What about Charlie?"
Penny gazed at their child for a few moments. Desmond had told her stories of his friend from the island who had knowingly sacrificed himself to save Desmond. Penny herself had even heard his voice a few minutes before his tragic death.
Penny smiled back at Desmond.
"Charlie. Charlie Hume. I like it."
Penny suddenly looked worried. "Oh god, my father. If he ever sees Charlie, he's going to think we named the child after him."
Desmond hadn't thought about that. Damn that man for ruining another aspect of their life.
"Penny. Look at me. Don't worry. We'll never see him again. I won't let him anywhere near Charlie."
Penny looked more relaxed.
"You're right."
"We'll never call him Charles anyways."