Chapter 3

Charlie woke up to the sound of crying. He looked at Claire, who was still asleep. He smiled to himself. It looked like it was the first good night of sleep she had in months. It probably was. He got up and went to get Aaron.

"Hey, Turniphead! I see you're an early bird, huh?"

He took Aaron to the kitchen and put him in the high chair. Charlie then prepared some mashed bananas for him. "Okay, Aaron. Open up for the plane!" He swung the spoon around, the baby's eyes fixated on it. "It's going in and... oh no! The plane is shaking! It's gonna crash on the island! Boom!" Charlie made the spoon fall back on the bowl. It was enough for Aaron to start to cry.

What the bloody hell was I thinking? Charlie felt really stupid for joking like that. And with a baby.

"No, no, no! Calm down! The plane's fine, mommy and daddy are fine, see?" He lifted the spoon again, but the baby just stared at him.

"Dada?" Aaron asked with curious eyes. Then Charlie hit himself in the head. He had barely woken up and already blurted out enough stupid things for the rest of the day.

"Dada!" Aaron repeated, more excitedly, as if he understood what Charlie meant.

"What? No, no, no dadas here."

"Dada!"

"Shh, your mom can't hear you say that!"

"His mom can't hear what?" Claire appeared at the kitchen door.

"Claire! You're up!" His voice sounded higher than he intended.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing!"

"Dada!" Aaron said at the same time.

"What did you say, sweetie?" She asked, coming closer to the baby.

"Oh, you know babies... always blabbing nonsense."

"Kinda like you?"

Charlie didn't have an answer to that. He quickly walked out of the kitchen before -

"Dada!" Aaron said, kicking and frenetically pointing to the doorway. Charlie slowly made his way back. He hoped a hole would swallow him before he got back to the kitchen. No such luck. "Claire, listen –"

"Charlie..."

"I-I didn't meant to, it just slipped, I-I didn't know he'd repeat that..."

"Charlie, I..."

"No, listen. I, in no way, would force that thought on Aaron, I mean, why would I? I..." This time Charlie's babbling was silenced by Claire's lips. "What was that for?" He asked when she pulled away.

"That was to shut you up." She leaned in and kissed him again "This is because I don't mind that Aaron thinks you're his father." She smiled and Charlie grinned in return, glad she wouldn't try to murder him.

But soon her smile faded "That's what'll hurt the most when I leave." Charlie was shocked with that statement. "I mean, I can't stay here forever... they'll find me."

"I won't let that happen."

"It's not up to you, Charlie."

"No, I didn't mean that. I'm coming with you."

Now it was Claire's turn to be shocked "No, I can't ask that of you... you have your job, your family..." she said, thinking about Charlie's job as a musician at a local bar and about his brother.

"They'd understand. I've been here for only three months. I have a lousy job that's only barely enough to pay for rent. Besides, you're not asking me anything."

"But Charlie..."

"Nothing is going to change my mind, Claire. I've been looking for you ever since that day at the airport. Now that you're here, nothing is going to stand in our way," he replied, sure of himself.

Claire was in tears again. She knew that she'd never forgive herself if anything happened to Charlie, but the look in his eyes alone told her that he wouldn't – or better - couldn't let her go. He held her and they stayed that way until Aaron started to fuss, clearly feeling left out. Claire dried her eyes and took her son from the high chair "So I reckon you have a plan?" she asked Charlie.

He grinned "I do indeed."

A/N: Short chapter this time, I'm sorry about that... I'm just not sure when I'm posting again. Also, I have another story that I'm working on... if you want to check it out, just click on my profile... And thanks for the reviews, guys! You make me smile :D