Hey Readers!

This is my second Lost fanfic. ever! And i'm really excited about this, because its new and creative and AWESOME. lmao, or, well, i think so.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy it. It will be a Richard/OC pairing. Probably T-Rated unless at some point i want to go M-Rated.

Trusting Futures

Chapter One. Trust Issues.

John Locke paused, looking up at the nice, grand restaurant he was about to enter in San Francisco, California. He sighed, grasping the handle, and if contemplating whether or not to enter.

He had just gotten back from visiting Kate in Los Angeles, and was staying in a small hotel nearby when he had noticed a small note laying on his bed. He opened it quickly, and read that it was a letter requesting a meeting with him at the Castagnola's top restaurant near the San Francisco Bay. It had also mentioned that it was critically important to not, whatever he does, tell Abaddon about this meeting. He was a bit confused at that, wondering what this person could have against Abaddon. He frowned, remembering Hurley and his fear of the man as well. Surely it could not be him at the restaurant; he was still in that mental hospital in Santa Rosa.

He shook his head, walking into the fancy restaurant and looking around. He walked up to the hostess and smiled as she looked up at him.

"Good evening sir. How many I help you?" she asked. She was pretty, probably around early thirties, with long golden hair and large blue eyes. She had a small birthmark on her left cheek, and was rather short in height. Locke smiled.

"I have been invited to dinner for two at 6:30pm." he asked, not really sure what to say. The note had given him no name to tell the hostess, nor where exactly they would be meeting. But the woman looked at the files and nodded her head in understanding, looking up at him.

"Yes, I believe I know what you are talking about, sir." she smiled, "Follow me to the Banquet Room." He followed her to the upper level of the restaurant, where very few people were dining. She led him to a small, circular table with a fancy white cloth. She smiled, sitting him down.

"I believe your date will arrive shortly. Last I saw her she got up to go to the bathroom, but I'm sure she'll arrive momentarily." she smiled, "Is there anything I can get you sir while you wait for the waitress to arrive? Champagne perhaps? Wine? Beer?"

Locke smiled at the friendly woman, shaking his head, "Some water would be just fine." he answered. She smiled again, nodding and walking away.

Locke frowned at the empty seat in front of him. The woman had said that there was a woman who was going to sit at the table. He sat there, confused, wondering who it could be. He doubted it was Kate; she didn't seem very happy to see him at all at their last visit. Perhaps it could be Sun, he thought; she surely seemed that she had enough money to afford this type of restaurant. But then he doubted she would come all the way to California from Korea just to arrange a small get together with him. Unless Abbadon or Widmore had convinced her to go back to the island. Though he highly doubted she would want to go back either. It could be Juliet, he thought, or maybe even Penny Widmore.

Before he could think of anything else, he heard the loud clicking of heels against the hard wood surface coming towards him. He looked down, looking to see if he was all straightened up and tugged a little on his tie. Finally he heard someone sit on the chair facing him, and his green eyes looked up to find someone he had never seen before.

She was looking at him, her eyes watching him intensely as if she were trying to figure him all out by just one glance. Her dark brown eyes watched him intensely through long, thick black eyelashes that contrasted beautifully against pale skin. She had shoulder length wavy black hair. She was wearing a nice outfit for a fancy place like this; a bright yellow sundress with white flowers on it. Pearls hung closely around her neck, and a large, sparkling diamond ring was twinkling in the sun on her manicured fingers. She seemed unreal…to perfect that it rather made Locke uncomfortable. He also noticed that she appeared, well, rather young, actually. Locke figured maybe nineteen, twenty at the most, and there she was, drinking the small glass white wine in front of her as if it was nothing at all.

She looked up at him, smiling a large, white smile, "Hello John Locke." she smiled, "I am glad to see that you had gotten my letter." she extended her hand for a friendly handshake.

Locke extended his hand as well, shaking her hand shortly before pulling back and looking at her, then around, in a slightly confused manner, "I'm not sure what this is all about." he said.

She grinned, "Well, I wanted to take you someplace nice." she said, "After all, you are extremely special John." she laughed lightly, "Or should I say Jeremy Bentham?"

John narrowed his eyebrows, "So I'm guessing that you know about the island, then."

She smiled, "Yes, that would be what this is about." she smiled, then her eyes widened a fraction and she laughed again, the noise ringing musically in Locke's ears, "I am so sorry, you must forgive my clumsiness. I swear, I can so mindless sometimes." she shook her head, smiling, "My name is Shiloh Alpert."

Locke looked at the woman, narrowing his eyebrows. Alpert. As in Richard Alpert? Is she a sister, cousin…what the. He raised his eyebrows, showing her he was confused. She just smiled kindly, grabbing her glass of wine and taking a small sip.

"Yes, John. I am Richard's wife." she had told him. She looked around, "I hope you like seafood, it's my favorite." she explained. He nodded, "That's fine."

"Good." she smiled, then looked down at the menu placed in front of her, "Well, I'm thinking of getting the clam chowder, I always get that. I'm such a New England girl it is crazy," she laughed again, "You can get whatever you want, though. Don't be shy about choosing pricy stuff. Richard always gets that fancy, high priced crap when he comes off the island like the lobster neeruli, fried calamari, snow crabs, you know. So don't be—"

"Stop, listen." Locke interrupted, and the woman looked up at him in wonder. Seriously, John couldn't understand how a woman could talk so much…and all in one breath too. It seemed odd that such a quiet and mysterious man such as Richard would possibly be married to such a bubbly and outgoing woman such as Shiloh. "I just," he looked around for something to explain how he was feeling, "Why did you send me a note to invite me to this dinner? And why didn't you want Abbadon to know?"

Shiloh looked at him, obviously not used to being cut off, god only knew why, Locke thought, and sighed, "I'm sorry, I know I'm quite a talker. Richard says it can be quite annoying." she sighed again, leaning back in her chair, and looked around to see if anyone was nearby, "I have invited you here to talk to you about how you are going to get the Oceanic 6 back to the island, which I know is why you are here."

"And why didn't you want Abbadon to know about this? You stated that it was absolutely crucial, why?" he asked. Shiloh looked at him again, her eyes searching his deeply. John almost laughed; Richard did the same thing, studying people like that. Maybe that's why they are together, he thought to himself, chuckling.

She looked down at her hands, "Tell me John, who do you trust most of all?" she asked.

John frowned, his eyebrows creasing together, "What do you mean? What are you—"

Shiloh shook her head, her black waves shaking with her, "I said, who do you trust? Why do you trust Widmore?"

John leaned back in his chair, his tone getting an angry edge to it "Who else should I trust? Ben? I mean, everyone is on different sides, telling me that I am special and that I should trust them because the other side is the "wrong side" that is just using me. Widmore told me that Ben was set against me, trying to kill me or something, while Ben told me that Widmore was going to destroy the island. And all this time, I have to figure out who to trust and who not to."

Shiloh looked at him, nodding understandingly, "That must be very difficult for you."

John nodded, "Yes, it is. And all the while, Widmore is telling me that there is no need for me to die to get me and everyone back to the island, while your husband Richard and his buddy there Ben is telling me otherwise!"

Shiloh nodded. Suddenly she moved forward, grasping Locke's hands and taking them in hers. She looked him straight in the eyes, her brown meeting his green, "Listen, John. You must listen to me. Don't, I repeat, don't trust either Charles Widmore or Ben Linus, John. Both of them are using you against each other in this crazy war they have to regain control of the island. What did Richard tell you the first time that you met him? Do you remember John?" Locke was silent for a second, "Do you remember?!"

John nodded, startled, "He told me that Ben…he was trying to embarrass me in front of the Others, because he knew that I wouldn't kill my father. And that…I was extremely special, and that Ben didn't want anyone to think I was special, and—"

"That's it, John." she interrupted him, grasping his hands tightly, "Ben doesn't want anyone to think you are special, John, because he still wants to be the leader. He doesn't like that you are extremely gifted and going to be the leader. But John, you cannot trust Widmore either. He wants control of the island just as much as Ben does and will do just about anything to get it back, even if that means sucking up to you." she told him, "They are both going to try and use you, John. John, you need to trust me, please!

"You know that old saying? Keep your friends close but your enemies closer? Do you, John? Well, that's exactly what you got to do," Shiloh told him, "You cannot let Ben or Charles know that you don't trust them. Pretend that you trust their every thought and idea; let them think they're the boss. But never, ever, believe that what they are doing, if it is somewhat dangerous to you whatsoever, is for your own good." she said, "They are liars, John."

Locke let all this information sink in. It made sense, actually, what she was telling him. Both sides seemed to want him to trust them, no matter what. Strange thing is, he trusted this woman in front of him, even if it was the first time ever meeting her.

Locke smiled, "How do I know I can trust you?" he asked. Shiloh smiled friendly, releasing her grip and sliding back comfortably in her chair.

"John, you know you can trust me. Or Richard. We want whatever is good for the island. You know that Richard has no underlying desire to become leader of the island. He has been before, and know he is quite content with being second in command," she laughed, "He wants what is best for you, John. No matter what, John, remember, you can always trust the two of us."

And for some weird reason, Locke did trust her and Richard. They seemed about the only ones, other than himself, to be solely interested in what is best for the island. He knew that Richard was a trustee of Jacob, and anyone who Jacob trusted was someone that Locke could trust too. But, then, where'd that leave Ben?

Locke nodded, and the waitress came over and took their orders. Clam chowder and marinated swordfish was ordered, as well as a bottle of champagne, and the dinner continued smoothly through the night.

And that was the end of the first chapter! Now, i was originally planning on making this a one-shot, but im not sure anymore. i think i want to expand it into a story.

Anyways, remember to review!

Thanks!

-Runs Like a Girl