TheLovelyNatalieRose: Thanks for the ideas! Its really nice to have readers who can actually give there opinions, it helps me know what they are looking for in a story. after all, if I didn't want to please the readers, I wouldn't take the time to post my stories. I like the idea of him telling Claire about him beating his drug habit, and it is going to make for a very sweet chapter.
Alabelle: Hey, thanks for the input and glade you liked the story. Hope to hear more from you soon.
Confession
"Its about time those two got over that silly little fight" Rose noted, looking off in the distance from her tent to where Charlie and Claire sat by the campfire, flirting playfully.
"I wouldn't necessarily call it silly, Rose. After all, the boy was doing drugs and he tried to steal her baby. Twice" Bernard reminded skeptically, looking at his wife as if she'd lost her mind.
"Oh, please, Bernard. We all know that boy wasn't doing any drugs. Claire was just upset" Rose confirmed, rolling her eyes at her husbands lame attempt at arguing with her.
"Besides, look at them. Do you see a junkie?" She questioned, turning her attention from the baby in her arms to look back across the sand at the flirtatious pair.
"No" Bernard replied simply, looking in the same direction over his shoulder. "I didn't think so. Face it, Bernard. Those kids are meant to be together" Rose concluded, looking back down at the gurgling baby as he reached his chubby arms up in the air, trying to grab one of her ear rings.
"If you say so, dear" Bernard agreed with a sigh, finding no use in fighting her on it.
meanwhile...
The fire burned close by, its gentle crackling serving as the instrumental in the background of Charlie and Claire's conversation. It had been so long since they'd spoken anything more then a hello, Charlie out of desperation and Claire out of both politeness or her inability to fully ignore him, hard as she'd tried. But now it seemed as if nothing had happened. They were a pair again.
Charlie had just told one of his cheesy jokes, and Claire's harmonious laugh rang out like a flute, probably over reacting to the only mildly humorous joke to her heightened mood.
She felt giddy, hyper, bursting with energy. Charlie smiled, ecstatic at his ability to make her laugh once again. It was only after the angelic sound had faded and her smile of amassment turned to one of shy embarrassment, did Charlie realize he'd been staring.
Feeling a bit red himself, Charlie looked down at his lap, unable to hide his own nervous grin. He felt Claire's hand against his forehead, toying with a piece of hair that had been sticking up. He looked up at her out of the corner of his eye, appreciating the caring look on her face as she smoothed the wild strands back down.
"You know, Claire. As much as I enjoy you grooming me, I think I've had enough for one day. After all, if you keep making me look all clean and pretty, its gonna be a lot harder for me to keep the rest of the ladies on the island away" Charlie noted jokingly, moving her hand away from the side of his head and holding it with both his hands, placing a soft kiss on her knuckles once he'd stopped speaking.
"Are you trying to make me jealous?" Claire questioned impishly, raising an eye brow at him as she leaned forward, laying her other hand on top of his and running her finger across his knuckles.
"Is it working?" He asked in reply, an hopefully grin on his face. Claire giggled again and gave him a playfully smack on the head.
"Ow" Charlie found in response, freeing one of his hands and holding the back of his head. Claire hadn't hit him hard enough to hurt him, but the spot her hand had come in contact with was a bit bruised, and the light impact had sent a sharp pain through his skull.
"Charlie.." Claire gasped, removing his hand to inspect the area of his head he'd been holding.
"I'm fine" He assured, although by now the words had lost meaning. Claire's motherly instincts were raging, and if she thought he was hurt, she was going to take care of him. Not that he minded.
"Well, there's no blood, and I can't feel any bumps" She explained, her finger tips filtering through his hair, making his scalp tingle with their touch.
"That's good, right?" He questioned, not knowing much about injuries or how to care for them. "It means you may have a concussion" She explained, flatly, giving him a disappointed look.
"Ok...what do I do about it?" Charlie questioned, trying to do his best to reassure Claire that he was concerned for his own safety, as well as her's and Aaron's. Claire smiled, seeming pleased with his response. She tilted her eyes upward in through, her hands still holding onto his as she tucked them under her chin.
"Well, there's not much we can do about it. You just have to be carefully when you go to sleep" She explained, trying to remember the way her mother hand handled the situation years ago when Claire had gotten a concussion from falling off her bike. Charlie gave her a confused look.
"No offense, luv. But its gonna be a bit difficult for me to keep an eye on myself if I'm unconscious" Charlie noted, not quite understanding what Claire was trying to say.
"I know, that's why I'm going to keep an eye on you" She explained simply, although it was more like a demand then a suggestion. "Oh, Claire. You don't have to do that-" Charlie replied, not wanting her to lose any sleep over his silly bruises. The look on her face shifted quickly, once again turning to a look of regret.
"Yes. I do" Claire assured, her voice far more serious then the situation called for. He sense that she wasn't really talking about her concern towards bump on his head, but that this was another way she could make things up to him. Charlie sighed.
He wanted to tell her she didn't owe him anything. That she had every right to be angry and the fact that she was being so forgiving made him feel unworthy. He wished he could go back in time, skip all the drugs and the girls and all the other bad things he did so that he would be able to feel as if he actually deserved her.
"Ok" He agreed softly, his longing to feel back at home near her tent overwhelming his wishes to relieve her of her guilt. Claire smiled in accomplishment, glad to see him cooperate.
Later...
Charlie had made up his bed only a few feet from Claire's, close enough so that if he started having seizures or what ever it is that she was worried would happen, he wouldn't be far, but also enough so that they had their distance, knowing it was way to early for them to start sleeping side by side after just two kisses.
After all, this was Claire, not some groupy. If he was going to make her want him, he was going to do it right. No matter how long it was going to take.
Claire returned with Aaron in her arms, his little body already heavy with sleep. His eyes lightly shut as his tiny fist clung to her shirt. Charlie smiled, the urge to hold him over whelming.
But he kept it at bay, knowing the little guy was tired and ready for sleep. So instead, he scooted over to the crib, watching as Claire laid him onto his back, a yawn emerging from his little mouth, bringing a smile to both their faces.
"Night, buddy" Charlie spoke softly, running his hand over the top of Aaron's head to smooth down his fluffy blonde curls.
Aaron's eye lids opened half way, looking up at Charlie with big blue eyes that filled with excitement as he recognized the familiar face, a sleepy grin washing over his face. Claire smiled as she watched the two, remembering how well Charlie took care of him. How much he loved him.
After a moment, Aaron's eyes fell shut again and he was soon fast asleep. Charlie continued to stare at him long after he'd drifted off, the love in his eyes as he stared down at her baby making feel all the more sorry for the way she had treated him.
Feeling tears form, Claire turned away, pretending to fold down her blanket so that she could slip into the mat where she'd be sleeping.
Charlie took this as a hint that it was time for bed, and made his way back to his own. He laid on top of the comforter which served as his mattress, resting his head back against his crummy pillow before turning it to one side, watching as Claire got her self ready for bed.
She sat on her mat, the lit torch near by catching the outline of her hair, making it glow as she shifted in the dim light, trying to pull off her constrictive jeans beneath the thin blanket.
She managed to find her way out of them and kicked them off, not worrying about putting them away.
Once comfortable, She settled down against her pillow, rolling onto her side so that the two were face to face. Claire smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed after being startled when she turned to find his eyes on her.
"Good night, Charlie" She said softly, hugging her fluffy white pillow. "Good night" He replied with a sleep grin before rolling back onto his back, knowing that if he stayed that way he wouldn't be able to stop staring at her, which would probably make sleep a bit difficult on her part.
He let out a gentle sigh, not of aggravation or anger, but a happy one. One he could release with a smile as he looked up at the dark blue sky sparkling with thousands of stars, not a single cloud in sight. It was a clear night, for sure.
One accompanied by a gentle breeze rolling in with the waves, the air crisp and smelling a bit like snow. It wasn't a smell he'd noticed before, seeing that the sent of snow was pretty rare on a tropical island. But the frosty smell reminded him of his home, where the air was always cold and usual coated with that same icy aroma.
He let himself relax, lifting his head and tucking both hands behind it, his elbow stinging slightly with the movement. But the little pain soon dissolved, and he could rest comfortably as the breeze blowed through his hair, cooling his skin with its chilled sea air.
Listening to the waves as they crashed against the shore. He'd been so loss in the tranquil atmosphere around him that he hadn't noticed Claire slip out of her matt or move the short distance between them until he felt her hand against his chest.
The feeling startled him slightly, the sudden warmth and gently pressure of her palm luring him out of his daze. But before he had time to react, Claire snuggled up against him, her head resting on his chest, eyes closed as if she were already asleep. He could feel the warmth form her body rolling onto his, making him feel as if he were going to melt in her embrace.
He lowered one arm, wrapping it around her so that his hand rested on her bare shoulder, feeling the softness of her skin as he gently ran his thumb back and forth soothingly. Claire smiled, nuzzling her cheek against his chest, feeling the cotton of his plain white shirt against her skin, enjoying its softness as well as the fresh, clean smell that was filling her nose.
His hand slid off her shoulder and moved to her back, rubbing it gently, moving his hand in small, soothing circles. Claire gave an appreciative murmur, one she was barely aware of making in her half-asleep state.
"Claire?" He spoke up softly, half worried he would annoy her by talking while she was trying to sleep.
"Hm?" She questioned, sounding half asleep. Charlie hesitated, wondering if he should continue or just let it wait. Oh well, he'd already woken her up, he might as well finished what he'd started.
"I...I just wanted you to know. About...about the drugs. I quit" He explained, his words coming out in frantic, uneven patterns due to his sudden overwhelming nerves.
Claire looked up at him, now fully awake, sobered by the seriousness in his voice. She propped herself up on one elbow, looking down at his face as she waited for him to continue.
"A long time ago. Before you'd been kid napped. Before you and I had really even become good friends. I'd had a little stash with me from the plain and I threw it into the fire" He explained, his voice shaking with unexpected sadness that had arose to accompany his nerves.
Claire listened attentively, still feeling a brush of anger when he spoke about the drugs. It didn't make since to here.
All the people she'd known in her life who did drugs had been idiots. Ignorant fools who loved nothing but sex and partying. Not caring who they hurt on their was as long as they were having a good time. Thinking only about themselves.
Charlie was the exact opposite of them. He cared about her and Aaron far more then he cared about himself. If the opportunity arose, Claire was sure he would give his life for them. So how, then, could someone as good as him do something so stupid as to get hooked on drugs?
"Then later, when me and Sayid were in the words, he showed me a plain that had crashed. A plain full of statues of the virgin marry, which just so happened to be filled with heroine" He continued, a hint of bitterness in his voice.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempting. I'd been hooked for a long time. Cravings like that don't just disappear." He added, feeling his heart grow tight in his chest, as if it were being squeezed by some unseen hand, making his veins twitch in response.
"But...I never did it" He confirmed, his voice suddenly crystal clear. Claire stared down at him, hearing the ring of honestly in his voice, knowing now without a doubt that he wasn't lying. Wondering why she hadn't believed him before.
"I wanted to. It wasn't something that was easy to fight. But I did fight it, Claire. When I was on drugs, I hated my self. I was moody, I was depressed, and I hurt a lot of people. I didn't want to be that guy any more, and I defiantly did not want to hurt you." He explained, his eyes sparkling with oncoming tears. He tried to hold them back, but it was no use.
He continued to look at her, making no attempt to blink them away. He wanted her to look into his eyes, to see that he was telling the truth.
"How did you get hooked?" She questioned curiously, her voice soft and sincere as she stared down at him, gently moving his bangs out of his face with her finger tips. At first, Charlie was surprised by the question. But if she asked, it meant she wanted to know, and at this point, he could deny her nothing.
"It started with my brother. He was really into parties and some dumb bird got him hooked" Charlie began, the memory all to fresh in his mind. "I'd tried to talk him out of it, but every time I brought it up he'd get defensive. It would always end in a argument. We'd been having trouble getting along then any ways. He used to take care of me, you know? Like a big brother. But then, for some reason, he just stopped. I guess the fame got to his head" he continued, feeling as if he were talking to himself.
"I missed it. The way we used to be friends. I would have done anything to have my brother back. So I did it. I took the drugs, thinking it would make him want me again. Thinking that if I was more like him, he'd appreciate me. After all, no one needs a little brother telling them what to do all the time." He sounded distant, reliving the memory in his head with a vivid familiarity.
"Did it work?" Claire questioned, finding a peculiar sadness in her own voice. His story was starting to effect her emotions as well.
"For a little while. We started hanging out again, getting along. For a while everything was great." Charlie replied, a mild smile crossing his face.
"But Liam started to get worse, especially after Karen got pregnant. The band wasn't making any more money and Liam used all his on the drugs. I tried to help him but he never listened. Him and Karen would fight, and he'd take it all out on me. Then, Karen had her baby and he finally got some since. He got moved to Australia, got clean. Got a nice little suburban house with his beautiful wife and his adorable baby girl. And I was alone." he finished, another wave of tears rolling down his checks.
Claire couldn't bare seeing him like this. She could hear the pain in her voice, and she felt it in the pit of her chest, as if it were her own. Claire gathered him up in her arms, holding his head against her shoulder as he pulled his arms around her, letting his emotions run free.
He'd never told any one about it. After all, he never had anyone close enough to him to tell. It felt good to finally get it all out, as if a great weight had been lifted off his chest.
The tightness slowly faded and his eyes began to dry up, the feel of Claire's fingers combing through his hair and gently tracing circles along his back helping to calm him back down.
She placed a kiss on top of his head as tears beaded at the corner of her own eyes, ready to over flow. After another moment or so, Charlie lifted his head, his dark blue eyes shimmering as he looked at her, feeling a bit embarrassed for breaking down like that.
But Claire smiled comfortingly and ran her fingers along the side of his face, her thumb caressing his check. Charlie smiled through his tears, her tenderness once again making him feel good. As if nothing in the world could go wrong as long as he was with her. As if by habit, she leaned in, placing a soft peck on his lips before pulling back, keeping her hand in place.
"You should get some sleep" She suggested, biting her lower lip to keep from letting her smile get any larger.
"Good idea" Charlie agreed in a whisper, his voice a bit hoarse after crying.
He laid back down against the pillows, holding her close as she retook the position she'd been in before, her head on her chest and her arm stretched across his stomach, his arm around her shoulder. Only this time, she was up a bit higher, and instead of resting her head against his peck, her face was nestled against the curve of his neck.
Charlie turned his head to the side, placing a firm kiss on her forehead as he gently moved the hair out of her face. "G'd night, luv" He whispered, his breath falling lightly against her skin. "Night, Charlie" she murmured in reply, letting her eyes fall shut once again.
The End
