Disclaimer - I don't own LOST.
"Catch a falling star and put in your pocket, never let it fade away.." Claire sang quietly to Aaron as he lay peacefully in bed; unaware of what was going on downstairs. The song had always brought comfort to her, and she needed it now more than ever, as she continued to struggle against the urge to go downstairs. She smoothed Aaron's hair back and continued singing.
"Just a minute," she heard Kate call from downstairs; Kate sounded nervous. Claire stopped abruptly at "Save it for a rainy day.." and listened intently. From downstairs, the sound of the door opening and Kate gasping reached Claire's ears. Claire pulled her hand away from Aaron and clenched her fists. Something is wrong, she thought to herself. Kate said something inaudible to the person at the door. Just as Claire was about to go downstairs, Kate's voice came ringing up the stairs.
"It's okay Claire," Kate called excitedly, "You can come down." Claire pushed herself off of the bed slowly, worried that all of the noise would wake up Aaron. As she reached her door, Claire remembered that Aaron was born on the island; he could sleep through anything. Claire smiled to herself slightly as she opened the door.
Claire saw Kate standing in the entryway. The gun was held loosely now in her right hand as if she didn't need it. Claire made her way down the stairs, holding onto the railing tightly. From her point of view, Claire still couldn't see who it was.
"Can I come in?" a voice asked in a familiar accent.
"Yes ... yes, of course you can." Kate replied in a hushed, but happy voice. Kate moved aside and let the visitor into the room. Claire let out a tiny gasp and put a hand up to her mouth, stifling a tiny gasp, when she recognized the face. Claire hadn't seen Desmond since he stayed with Jack's group and she left with Locke's. That was the night that she found out Charlie died. Claire pushed the memory away, and walked the rest of the way down.
"Desmond?" Claire asked cautiously. Her tense stature relaxed a bit when he nodded.
"Aye, it's me." he replied. Desmond was hardly recognizable to her; cleaner and more handsome. His hair was cut short, and he didn't have his usual scraggly beard. Desmond walked to Claire, hugged her, and then stepped back to arm's length, pausing with his hands on her shoulders.
"It's good to see you Claire," he told her. But Desmond appeared to have other, more pressing things on his mind, and he hastily made his way to the kitchen. Claire noticed that he was carrying a large manila folder. Kate and Claire followed him at a slower pace exchanging puzzled looks.
"When did you get back?" Kate asked questioningly. She walked over to a coffee machine and turned it on. The sweet aroma filled the room, and made everything seem more comfortable and relaxed, more familiar. Desmond sat on a chair and slid the folder on the table in front of him.
"Two days ago" he replied. "You?"
"We'll look what the cat dragged in ... If it ain't Mr. Scott. We got back last week, brotha," said a groggy southern voice from the living room entryway. Claire had almost forgot that Kate had invited Sawyer to stay at her house too. He didn't have anywhere to go either. "Coffee smells good." He added casually. Behind him, Claire could see the television flashing quickly through a commercial. Sawyer had fallen asleep the night before watching a Little House on the Prairie marathon on Lifetime - again.
Claire was surprised that Sawyer hadn't rushed to the door. And then she noticed the gun in his left hand. Sawyer walked up to Desmond and they shook hands.
"Glad you're back," he said. Sawyer put his gun on the table and reached for the cabinet. He pulled out a mug and offered one to Desmond. "So how's the real world treatin'-"
"Where is Jack?" Kate interjected, "Is he alright, is he alive? Is he-"
"I don't know," Desmond answered honestly, "He was alive, last I saw him." Desmond looked at Kate apologetically. "That's all I can say. I'm sorry I can't tell you more."
"Why are you here then?" asked Claire, speaking in a hushed voice. "Is something wrong, did you have another vision?" Claire looked at him pleadingly, hoping desperately that he hadn't; Desmond's visions were rarely good news.
"Aye, I did," he answered cautiously, "it's going to take a bit of explaining though." He added thoughtfully. "Do you mind if I stay awhile? I'll try my best to explain everythin'. Besides, we have a lot of catchin' up ta do."
After a moment of silence which everyone used to situate themselves around the table, Kate asked "How's Penny?" Desmond smiled at the table, then took a sip from his mug.
"Penny's fine. Her, and Charlie." Claire's heart jolted at the name, but then she relaxed; Kate had already told her all about Desmond's son. Claire lifted her own mug and took a drink. The warm liquid surged through her, giving her strength. She downed the rest in a few gulp. Sawyer chuckled and poured her some more.
"Been a while since you drank coffee then, ay' Rambina?" Claire giggled at the nickname and drank some more. For the first time in a long time, Claire felt safe.
"How is Aaron, by the way?" Desmond asked Claire. At the mention of Aaron's name, a smile came across her face. Desmond didn't ask Kate about Aaron, he asked Claire. Aaron was her's again.
"He's fine. Great, actually," Claire replied happily, "He's sleeping upstairs at the moment." "So what did you come here to talk about?" She asked casually. Claire felt completely safe now, and her mood was improving. Desmond shifted uncomfortably. His demeanor suggested that he had been holding something back. He drummed his fingers nervously on the side of his mug. Claire immediately felt on edge.
Kate and Sawyer leaned forward to hear Desmond better. Whatever he had to say, they could tell it was important. "Well,..." Desmond began slowly, "I don't really know how to explain it properly... I've started having visions again ... flashes." He paused then for breath and another drink of coffee. "The thing is..." He continued, "Well, they don't make much sense, because..."
"Get on with it, crystal ball!" exclaimed Sawyer impatiently. He was sitting on the edge of his seat, gripping his mug like it was a lifeline. Kate sat quietly in the corner, a puzzled expression on her face. Claire was tapping her fingers impatiently on the table.
"They don't make sense because Charlie is in them."
"Why? Because he wasn't there with us ... Because Charlie was born later, off the island?" asked Kate. Claire's heart nearly stopped. She knew before he said it that Desmond wasn't talking about his son.
"No," Desmond shook his head, "You don't understand..."