Banana Pancakes

Something smelled horrible.

Juliet sat up in alarm. Wisps of smoke were curling around her, impairing her vision. She stood up coughing, drew in a big breath and screamed.

"HELP! FIRE! HEL—"

A strong hand covered her mouth and her eyes widened. She was going to die right here. In 19 freakin' 74. But if she was going to die, she thought, she was going to die fighting.

She grabbed her attacker's arm and flung him over her shoulder with as much strength as she could muster.

"OW! JESUS BLONDIE!"

The smoke began to clear, and Sawyer lay on the ground clutching his stomach.

"What are you, Tomb Raider or something?"

Juliet rolled her eyes. "I don't know if that's a compliment or not." She smirked, "Last time, I checked, Tomb Raider was a brunette."

"Don't get picky, Barbie. Now be a dear and help me up."

Juliet stepped over him and walked into the kitchen. "Did you try to blow up my kitchen, James?"

Sawyer glared from the room and helped himself up. "Well excuse me for trying to make nice. And it ain't your kitchen, Julie."

"What am I doing in your…"

Oh, that's right, she thought, she had fallen asleep on his shoulder. How embarrassing.

Her embarrassment didn't show, and instead, she rose her eyebrow. "Did you carry me here?"

He growled. "If you're going to mock me, you can head home while I clean up this mess."

Now she was curious. "What mess?"

She giggled.

The counters were spattered with…something. That same something was in a steaming ball of charcoal over the stove. He had tried to make breakfast?

Cute.

She might as well put him out of his misery.

"Okay," she said, rolling up her sleeves, "I'm going to need eggs, flour, sugar, milk, bananas…and an extra pair of hands."

"Am I supposed to feel honored?" he asked, nevertheless getting what she asked for. "What're we makin' anyways?"

"It's a surprise."

"A surprise, huh Blondie?" he chuckled, "If I didn't know any better, I would say you were apologizing for nearly breakin' my back in my own house."

"Crack three of those," she said, pointing at the eggs.

For once, he truly looked confused. "Crack?"

"You don't know how to crack an egg?" she asked, amused. "Didn't your mother…"

She stopped.

"No," He hissed, "If I remember clearly you read in my file that my father—"

"Give me your hand."

"What, you goin' to kiss it all better?"

She grabbed his hand and placed an egg in it. Then she placed her hand over his hand and helped him crack it. She took a second to marvel at how large his hands were.

"You tryin' to sex me up Martha?"

She had almost forgotten who she was dealing with. "Crack the rest of those, sous chef."

She mixed the flour, milk, and sugar while he cracked the rest of the eggs in silence.

"Sous chef?"

She cracked a smile, while he cracked the eggs. "When you're finished, mash those bananas."

"You're really sending me some mixed signals."

She shook her head. "Don't be crass."

"You going to tell me what we're making?"

"Nope. I figured it'll be worth my while to torture you just a little longer." she said, "Pass me the bananas."

He mumbled something under his breathe, but did as he was told. Juliet combined the ingredients in bowl and placed the frying pan on the stove.

"Never pegged you for the domestic type Barbie," Sawyer said, smirking. "Did you make breakfast for your boyfriend ol' bug eyes?"

Something flashed in Juliet's eyes as she turned and placed the bowl on the counter. It scared Sawyer enough to keep his mouth shut.

"Make your own damn pancakes."

She walked angrily to the door, and yanked it open, with the full intentions of heading "home."

It was raining.

But she never let a little rain stop her.

"I take it you and Praying Mantis weren't very close?"

Juliet closed the door, turned around, and stared at him for a full minute.

Then she started to laugh.

Praying Mantis indeed.

Sawyer, though never one to laugh at his own jokes, smiled as well. "We gonna make those pancakes or what, Martha?"

An hour later, they were finished, and sitting down in Sawyer's dining room.

"Banana pancakes, hm?" Sawyer mused through a mouthful of food, "That's what I was trying to make."

"'Trying' being the operative word."

"Wise-ass." he grumbled.

Silence, then, "James?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks." A beat, "And sorry for flipping you over earlier."

"Fine." He placed his fork against his mouth in thought, "Teach me how you work your Martha magic in the kitchen, and we'll call it even."

Juliet shook her head, smiling. "I don't know how much you can learn in 13 days, James. Judging by that charcoal mess in the kitchen, I can make a good guess."

He shrugged, ignoring her slight." Seeing as Dharmaville's boring as hell, you ain't got nothin' to lose, Martha."

Juliet could feel herself relenting. She blamed it on those damned dimples. "Alright." She said, sighing. Lifting her head to look him right in the eyes she added, "But don't call me Martha."

Hey again! I just can't stop writing for some reason, so here's yet another chapter, which is much longer than I expected! I was thinking that I might do 75 chapters if I feel up to it. It should be enough to cover the 3 years. Credit for the song "Banana Pancakes" goes to Jack Johnson of course! The next chapter will be inspired by the song "Disturbia" by Rihanna, which is not really a favorite song of mine, but seemed to fit the theme I was thinking of for next chapter. Let me know what you thought of this chapter! Until next time!

Miki-hime