A/N: Yes, I am aware that this is the third time this chapter has been posted, but my beta finally got back to me. Life has been very crazy lately (Especially since Valentines Day…), so I apologize for the delay. I promise you, though, if you do not review, there will be no next chapter. I'm gonna wait until I get at least 4 reviews to update. Also, I've decided that the official Hurley/Libby ship name shall be Hubby. Yes, I am in charge. So there. Review or else.

It gave Hurley a nice, warm feeling in his heart to know that he'd made her feel better. Of course, he wasn't exactly sure what he'd done to do that, other than talk to her. He expected there was something more to her misery, other that what she had told him. But he had pushed his luck enough for one day. Perhaps she would tell him later.

>>>>>>>>>

A though occurred to Libby out of nowhere: there had been extra clothes, since the entire luggage had been in the fuselage, but what had they done with useless things? She'd had important stuff in her suitcase. There was her diary, her jewelry box (there was no way she would have ever left that back at home), and her photo album. What she wouldn't give to have those items back…there was a lifetime of memories in each of those.

"Hurley, what did you and all your buddies do with, like, useless things from the luggage?" She asked, "You know, things like books, toys, photo albums, et cetera,"

Hurley considered the question for a moment, and then spoke.

"Well, first we went through everything, looking for names and information for the memorial service we had," He began, "Then, I dunno what really happened to it. I guess stuff was just left for people to take whatever they wanted,"

"Oh," Libby said disappointedly, "So there's probably no chance of finding all the contents of my suitcase together?"

"'Fraid not," Hurley replied, "You'll just have to ask around,"

Libby didn't reply. She had just lost the last chance of finding the one item that kept the memory of both her husband and her father alive.

Libby stared, nauseated at her husband's pale form lying on the hospital bed. He had died before she had even gotten there, from a bullet wound in the head. She sat by the bed, staring at the shell that was once her husband. Her hand drifted to her stomach.

Oh, god, She though miserably, What am I going to do? Andrea…and the baby…I can't raise them on my own!

"Why did you do this to me?" She sobbed, clutching her husband's cold hand in her shaking one.

"Libby?" She looked up to see her older sister, Celia, standing in the doorway. Libby could tell she'd been crying too.

Celia walked over to Libby and stared at Joe's body.

"How could this have happened?" Celia wondered aloud.

Libby ignored the question, "Cece, could you take Andrea home?" Libby asked her sister in a hoarse voice.

"Of course," Celia murmured, "Is there anything else you need?"

Libby shook her head numbly and her sister nodded and headed out the door.

She wasn't planning on leaving anytime soon. Leaving would be like admitting he was really gone. Silent tears were streaming down her face as she slipped the wedding ring off his finger.

"You sure you're okay?" Hurley asked gently. She must have looked upset.

"Yeah, I'm just a bit homesick," Libby murmured.

"I know the feeling," Hurley sighed, "I was coming back to LA for my mom's birthday. Nice present, huh?"

"You and your mom were close, then?" Libby asked.

"Yeah, I was close to my whole family"

Libby felt close to tears again

"Me too,"

>>>>>>>>>>

Hurley felt bad for making her upset again. There was clearly something haunting her, causing her pain, and he didn't like reminding her of that…whatever it was. He decided to try to steer the conversation to something more cheerful.

"What do you do in the real world, Libby?" He questioned casually.

"I'm a psychologist," She replied, losing her melancholy tone, but not sounding exactly cheery. "What about you?"

"I own a couple companies," He boasted. He wasn't going to tell her about his lottery win quite yet, but it wouldn't hurt to make himself sound impressive.

"Wow," Libby did look impressed, so far so good, "I wouldn't have taken you for the business man type"

"I'm a man of many talents," He laughed.

She studied him for a moment.

"I just can't imagine you in a suit and tie," She remarked with a slight smirk.

He chuckled, and his heart swelled at the smile on her face.

"Well, I don't have to wear one here, and that's one of the few perks of living on an island. That and getting to sleep in every morning,"

She let out a small giggle, and though it wasn't much, it was music to Hurley's ears. He was glad to have taken her mind off her miserable thoughts.

>>>>>>>>>>

It shocked her how easy he was to talk to, how he could bring her from misery to laughter in mere moments. He was just so sweet and friendly. But as their conversation wore on, her mind couldn't help drifting back to the only other man who she had felt this comfortable with-her husband.

Her mind and heart were engulfed in a black fog. She couldn't think ,she couldn't breathe, she felt like she was the living dead. God only knows how she managed to drive home. She was almost disappointed that she hadn't crashed and killed herself. The only thing strong enough to penetrate her fog was the thought of Andrea, and that's all that kept her from flinging herself into the middle of the highway.

When she finally managed to stumble home, Celia greeted her sorrowfully.

"Sis, I'm so sorry," Celia pulled Libby close to her, trying to offer solace, but no amount of consolation could heal Libby's broken heart. She broke away and asked in a hollow voice, "Is Andrea in bed?"

Celia nodded, her blue eyes fixed on her sister pityingly.

"Thanks for watching her," Libby said softly, "I've got everything under control now,"

Celia opened her mouth, undoubtedly to ask Libby if she was sure, but a look from her younger sister stopped her. Instead, she just nodded, and headed towards the door.

Libby leaned against the wall briefly, the house feeling suffocating empty.

As if in a dream, Libby made her way down the hallway to her and Joe's bedroom. On top of her dresser sat a rosewood jewelry box. Etched into the top was her full name, Elizabeth Lucille Simmons.

She dumped the contents onto her dresser and began sorting through it without really knowing what she was doing.

She pulled out the diamond necklace from their first anniversary, the delicate gold earrings she had worn on their very first date, the silver bracelet he had given her as a graduation gift, and other things, all things symbolized the love she had lost. These were carefully placed in the jewelry box. The rest of the things were unceremoniously pushed to the side.

Silent tears streamed down her already blotchy cheeks as she pulled Joe's wedding ring out of her pocket. She stared at the gold band, turning it over in her shaking fingers before placing it tenderly in the box. Finally, she pulled her own ring off her finger and placed it next to her husband's.

"Daddy, when you gave me this box you said you'd always be there for me, even when you weren't actually with me!" Libby cried, sobbing inconsolably, "But you broke your promise! I lost you, and now I lost him! Why couldn't you protect me from this!"

>>>>>>>>>>>

Hurley was completely caught up in his conversation with Libby. He loved making her smile and her laughter was intoxicating. Maybe, just maybe, she could think of him as more than just "the fat guy", the guy who was good for a couple laughs, for cheering up. Maybe she wouldn't end up running off to one of the good-looking guys. Maybe he actually did have a shot with her. It was all about the maybe, and it was a maybe that he wasn't about to let slip away.

He was so distracted by her, that he totally lost track of time. When he finally glanced at his watch it was already 5:15.

"Dang it…" He muttered angrily.

"What?" Libby asked, clearly worried.

"I'm fifteen minutes late for button duty," He grumbled, "I'm sorry, Libby, but I gotta go. Unless…" He perked up like a puppy dog, "…You wanna come with me"

"Sure!" Libby replied with a smile, "I haven't seen the hatch yet,"

"Great," Hurley grinned, getting to his feet, "C'mon, let's go,"

He helped her to her feet, and they headed towards the hatch, chatting amiably. Hurley felt like he was walking on air. He wasn't sure if this was love, but whatever it was, it sure made him feel good.

"Hurley?" Libby piped up. Her tone worried him, but he kept his voice cool replying only with a small "Mmm-hmmm?"

"I really appreciate you trying to help me and all, but I have one small request," Libby chewed on her bottom lip.

"Go on…" Hurley prompted uneasily. That didn't sound nor look good.

"Please don't fall in love with me,"