Title: A Series of Sana Events

Summary: AU They met at a party, shared a night together and what would follow would make any cliché romantic comedy movie proud.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or songs. Songs are 'Night of My Life' by Damien Leith, and 'I Miss You' by Incubus.

Author Notes: Okay so I've decided that any singing is gonna be in italics as well as past flashback type things, just cos I feel like it. Once again, sorry about the delay. I've been pretty obsessed with this TV show I'm writing as of late, but I'm starting the finale of the first season soon, so that should get a break and I can concentrate more on SANA stuff, if the ideas present themselves to me readily. Sorry again guys, I try my hardest to get the longest, best quality chapters out to you but it usually doesn't work out. Also, any spelling/grammatical errors are probably due to the fact hat I'm writing this into the wee hours of the morning. And lack of a beta.

Anyways, enjoy...

Chapter 7: The Morning After

Sawyer watched silently as Ana slept, breathing quietly. He pushed her fringe, which had fallen over her face after she'd shifted slightly, back with two fingers. The beginnings of the sun's rays began to filter through the curtains of the hotel room and he glanced up to see that the sky was turning an orange-pink colour as the sun began to peek over the horizon.

His attention turned back to the Latina as she breathed in and out. He followed her every movement, his eyes going over her as he memorised every curve, every part of her skin, as well as the three blemishes that scarred her otherwise perfect skin - the mark that the bullets had left on her. He reached out and traced the scars gently, running his fingertips over them.

He felt his jaw clench as he thought of the man who had caused the pain that had haunted the woman he loved for so long, and had to remind himself that he was dead, or Sawyer would go out and try to kill him. He almost wished that Jason shared the same immortal properties as his namesake from the movie franchise, just so that he could bash the crap out of him.

Whenever he thought of that day, he felt an anger sweep through him, causing his caveman instincts to come to the surface as he felt the urge to hit something with a club - or possibly his fists - and it usually took him a while to return to his normal demeanour. This time was no different, but as he looked down at Ana, he couldn't help but feel the anger at the long dead robber change into love for the woman lying next to him.

He leaned over and kissed her softly on her forehead, and when he withdrew her eyes fluttered open slowly. He sat back against the headboard, drinking in her beauty as she woke up gradually, her eyes focussing after she blinked a few times. He saw the momentary confusion at her unfamiliar surroundings and then remembered his manners, that had gone forgotten.

"Sorry." He apologised quietly for waking her. Her eyes went up to him as he spoke and she seemed to remember where she was.

"Don't be." She replied with a gentle smile spreading over her face, "What time is it?" She asked, stretching slightly. Sawyer looked over at the hotel clock and winced.

"Six thirty." He replied and she groaned.

"Darling," She started with a 50's wife tone, making Sawyer wince further, "We just fell asleep three hours ago." The danger behind her tone was present and Sawyer tried to prevent a blow out the morning after their marriage.

"I haven't slept yet." He said matter-of-factly and she looked at him in disbelief.

"Why not?" She asked curiously and he shrugged.

"I like to watch you sleep." He replied and the smile was back.

"That's sweet. Stalkery, but sweet." She said and he looked insulted for a moment.

"Hey! I'm your husband, I get to watch you sleep." He started defensively but then just continued smugly and she noticed this, smirking.

"Well then I better practice my right as a wife to nag." She threatened and his eyes went comically wide.

"Oh no no no no, please, I'll do anything, anything." He mock begged and her smirk grew.

"That's right." Was all she said as she stuck her nose up in the air, revelling in her victory. Then they both stopped joking around as Sawyer lay down, Ana curling up against his side, resting her head on his chest.

"I'm so glad I went to that party." Sawyer said, half to himself as he let his mind run a course that was unknown to Ana.

"Which party?" She asked, they had attended quite a few parties as a couple, and she couldn't exactly read his mind. Yet.

"Libby's." He said and she understood immediately and he continued, "I wasn't gonna go. But I mentioned it to Hurley, and he convinced me."

"Hurley was there?" Ana asked and Sawyer nodded, looking down at her.

"Yeah. That was how he met Libs."

"It's weird that I didn't see him." Ana said, half talking to herself and Sawyer smirked.

"Well you were a little preoccupied." He replied with a wink, causing Ana to roll her eyes.

"Well it used all my attention to keep up with your activity. I mean, the way you just kept moving from girl to girl..." She trailed off, shaking her head slightly, as if shocked at his popularity with the fairer sex.

"Hey now, I told you they were hitting on me." He tried to defend himself but Ana continued to shake her head, this time just plain sadly.

"Didn't buy it then, I ain't buying it now."

"And for that I pity you." Sawyer returned and Ana rolled her eyes once more at the egotistical answer.

"Smartass." She replied with a single word, causing him to grimace, before they settled back into silence.

"You think anyone had their wedding day on a leap day?" Sawyer broke the silence with the question, causing Ana to glance up at him. Then she shrugged nonchalantly.

"Well we almost did." She replied simply and he frowned slightly.

"If it had been a leap year then sure." He pointed out logically and she shot him a look.

"Well sorry for answering your question." She responded tetchily.

"Touché." Sawyer said, not helping her current mood.

"I could say the same to you." She shot back and he clapped a hand over his heart, mocking as if he'd just been shot in the heart. Then he opened an eye to see her reaction and she couldn't help but laugh. He then settled back down, staring off into space.

"What're you thinking about?" Ana asked as she watched him curiously.

"Last night." He responded with a slight smile playing on his lips.

"What about it?" She asked and he looked down at her, his eyes twinkling.

"Just how it was the night of my life." He launched into song, bursting into the chorus of a song by the latest Australian Idol, an Irishman called Damien Leith.

"Show off." Ana muttered good naturedly and he grinned.

"Well it's true. Wasn't it for you?" He asked and a slow smile spread across her face.

"Yeah." She answered softly, truthfully.

"I think it was even better cos we waited." He added and she raised an eyebrow at him.

"I don't think that counted as waiting."

"What? It was a good day or so, counts as waiting to me." He defended himself and she laughed.

"You are so male." She retorted and he laughed at that.

"Hell yeah, 100 male, babe." He said in a pure grunt voice that made Ana scoff.

"Yeah, except for the part that cries during Moulin Rouge." She retorted and he looked pained at the mention of the incident were he had shed a tear or two at the end of the movie. Perhaps more than two.

"Hey! That is a very emotional movie ok?" He attempted to defend himself, but it didn't help when his voice broke slightly as he tried - in vain - to repair his reputation.

"Sure as long as you're okay with being 100 male and 10 female."

"You can't be 110 of something, it's impossible."

"Never heard of giving it 110?"

"Yeah sure, but I don't have 110 to give."

"Aww, you really are missing out huh?"

"Yeah, I was stuck in traffic while they were giving out the extra 10."

"Damn peak hour!"

"Actually it was weird cos it was 2 in the afternoon, but I was stuck behind this really big guy in a van..."

"You done?"

"Well," Then seeing the look on her face he resigned, giving up his pursuit of the pointless rant, "Yeah, fine. Okay I got it." He pressed his lips to her forehead for a moment and then proceeded to get out of bed, causing Ana to move with a disgruntled grunt and then watch him curiously, wondering what exactly he was planning.

"So what have you 'got'?" She asked and he held up his pointer finger, looking around for something. Then he found it. He picked up the bottle of champagne that still had some sloshing around in it and held it up to his mouth, holding it like a microphone.

"To see you when I wake up, is a gift that I didn't think could be real. To know that you feel the same way that I do is a three-fold Utopian dream." He sang the Incubus song proudly, and then bowed deeply, with a cheeky grin. Ana smiled lightly before repeating her earlier sentiment, although this time it was said softer, gentler and definitely with respect and awe.

"Show off."

"Well you know me, I enjoy singing to my girl." He defended himself via compliment, beaming down at her as she lay on her stomach, looking up at him.

"I know you do." She replied, the smile brightening slightly, before she reined it in as she rolled over on the bed, taking most of the sheets with her as she stretched. Sawyer watched her do so; the muscles in her arms and shoulders shifting under her tan skin and making him swallow as he thought of what was barely concealed by the 800 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets.

She stopped stretching and noticed that Sawyer's eyes had begun to glaze over and realised what was happening. She smirked to herself and wiggled her eyebrows at him, sitting up with her back to him and letting the sheet drop. Then she looked over her shoulder at him and winked.

"Up for round two cowboy? Or is that round seven?" She asked, her voice husky and she thoroughly enjoyed herself as she watched him struggle with himself as he tried to get his body's reactions under control.

"I think it's eight actually." He replied confidently, having finally overcome his momentary mental breakdown.

"Well then," She began, as she sent him her sultriest expression, "I think I hear the bell." Then she turned to face him, making him swallow once more.

"Hell yeah, bring it on." He said to himself as he scampered back over to the bed, and to the waiting Latina.

o00o

A couple of hours, a few meals from room service, and many rounds later, Ana and Sawyer were lying on the bed, askew as they both panted hard.

"So where'd you learn the last one?" She asked, finding it hard to catch her breath. He just looked over at her, on her opposite side of the bed and smirked.

"I been doing some reading." He replied and flopped back down on the bed, also trying to catch his breath as his well muscled chest heaved up and down.

"You can read?" The tongue-in-cheek insult from the other side of the bed reached him and he weighed up his options before finally deciding to take action. He gathered all of his strength and then launched himself from his side of the bed, across to Ana's side and began to tickle her mercilessly.

Eventually he had her pinned to the bed and looked down at her with a triumphant expression.

"Say it." He said and she remained defiantly silent, a smirk on her face. He tickled her, causing a new eruption of laughs to spill from her lips and he repeated, "Say it." She continued to remain silent, but when he threatened her by poking her waist experimentally she finally gave in.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. You got mad skills." She caved and his grin widened.

"And?" He prompted and she looked confused for a second.

"And I love you?" It was more of a question than an answer, as if she wasn't really sure what he was expecting but her answer satisfied him, as he let her go and rolled over to lie beside her.

"You ever think we'd get here?" He asked and she looked over at him.

"You have been thinking a whole lot, you know that?" She asked and he shrugged.

"Can't be helped. But seriously, did you?" He was persistent with the question and Ana sighed heavily before answering, it wasn't exactly the most reassuring build up but he waited for her answer, not wanting to think he knew what she was going to say before she said it.

"There were moments when I doubted it. Very seriously." Her tone made Sawyer's stomach drop, but she saved it when she continued, "But in others, I could picture us growing old, arguing out on the front porch while grandkids raced around, laughing and yelling." His heart warmed immediately, he too had seen these images once in a while and it tugged at his heart strings, making him yearn for the future.

He also knew what she meant by the moments that had brought doubt into her mind. He knew exactly which moments she was talking about...

"What are you doing?" Ana demanded and Sawyer looked up at her in surprise. He hadn't been expecting her back so soon.

"Nothing." He lied, quickly trying to cover up evidence of any wrong-doing on his part, but he had been too late. She had seen it. Her expression changed so fast, it was one of the things that had always astounded Sawyer, her ability to change tacks. She could go from deliriously happy, to incredibly angry with the ferocity of a person suffering bi-polar. Not to say that he didn't deserve it, he knew that he was responsible for her changeable moods, and hated that he made her feel the way she did.

But instead of the all-consuming rage that he was used to, she just shook her head in disappointment. Oh no. At least with anger they could yell, scream, fight with each other, but they'd make up and the sex... Oh the make-up sex was amazing. But with disappointment there was no make-up sex. Just sulking, avoidance and straight out ignoring.

He was always scared, because disappointment was most likely to bring their whirlwind romance to an end. Anger could be forgotten easily, but disappointment would stay in the mind for the longest time. He'd seen it in other relationships he had counselled, no matter how hard the couple tried, that disappointment could not be overcome.

He didn't want the same to happen to them.

But he saw that look in her eyes, heard the sigh that escaped her lips, the slight slump in her shoulders as she seemed to resign to her fate. He could tell that she was readying herself to do something that would leave them both alone and miserable, something they'd been before the other had entered their lives. No matter how they surrounded themselves with people, they were somehow always alone.

"Please don't Ana." He pleaded with her, not only for their relationship, but for their well-being, for both of their health.

"Don't what?" She asked irritably, he often pre-empted her motives and she was beginning to tire of the marriage counsellor who knew everything.

"Don't break up with me." His eyes begged more than anything, his tone was so vulnerable that it made her soften for a moment. But only a moment.

"Why not?" He winced at the harshness of her tone and forced himself to meet her eyes.

"Because I can't lose you." His voice was nothing more than a whisper, his eyes alive with fear and something that made something in her stir. A pang of sympathy began in the bottom of her chest and slowly spread up, reaching her heart and making her feel her chest contract painfully. She was about to say something when a crack of thunder beat her to it.

Their problems were forgotten for a moment as they stared in wonder as suddenly a storm came down upon the city, the sheer force of it making the window rattle and the electricity waver for a moment before righting itself.

"There hasn't been a storm that strong since-" Her thought remained unfinished verbally, but they both finished it in their minds. Since the first night she'd spent with him. When the electricity had actually given in and caved to the power of the storm.

They shared an uncomfortable moment, looking at each other but neither sure of what to say. Ana sighed and turned on her heel, walking into the bedroom that they shared. Then, at the doorway, she stopped and turned to face him.

"I don't want to lose you either." She finally said and Sawyer was left alone in the lounge. He began to seriously contemplate what life would be like without the Latina. He decided he'd rather go to hell, so he followed her into the bedroom and told her that.

But for every bad time, there were multiple good ones. Sawyer had been spoiled, most took the good with the bad. He took the good with the good, the bad such a small part of their lives that it was barely worth mentioning. He could recall every bad moment, because they were so scarce.

But what he loved the most, were the little things. The quiet moments that he would suddenly realise something that made his heart swell. The times he could truly see himself and Ana doing this for the rest of their lives, spending it together that is.

Sawyer had cooked dinner, something he did to relax Ana, because she usually came back from her job stressed. Plus there was the fact that she couldn't cook. Today was no different, and as he unveiled his culinary masterpiece for the night, he watched her light up and kissed her on the crown of her head, pride for himself and her welling up in him.

"Well, dig in." He encouraged and watched as she did her usual stare down. Every night after he unveiled their dinner she would stare at it intently, as if trying to figure out which way was the best to attack the intricately decorated meal. Her stare caused a line to appear between her eyebrows and Sawyer loved that line, her look of concentration was so adorable he had to do his best to not laugh.

He had laughed the first night and she looked so hurt that he apologised immediately. Her unwavering stare was no doubt something she had gotten from her mother, and Sawyer was sure that if she had become a cop, it would have scared most criminals into confession. But every night, the food that received the stare never gave up the secret of how to eat it. But over the months she became acclimated to the complex meals and knew how to attack each one.

Still, she stared at it dangerously, as if warning it: I'm gonna eat you, now you have no say in the matter, but I just thought I oughta tell you. Any last words?

His smile was so large that he was sure he would start laughing any second, but like the previous nights he managed to keep himself from offending his other half. The meal went without any large events, mostly small talk and gossip was exchanged as Ana complained about her workmates, while Sawyer complained about his tough clientele.

They weren't the most professional people, but they knew that the small indiscretions would stay with the other to the grave. They allowed themselves these unprofessional moments so they had to strength to continue in jobs which were trying at times, especially for Ana who detested her job openly.

Then Ana put the dishes in the dishwasher, her part of the meal was to do the clean up afterwards as she was hopeless with preparing food that didn't go beyond boiling water. After everything was put away they would sit in the lounge room, often with a drink of coffee or something similar, and would talk or just enjoy each others' company.

This time he lay on the couch, with her next to him, her head on his shoulder. They spoke in soft murmurs, nothing too big. It was more for the sake of talking than anything else, nothing too deep would be discussed tonight. A sleepy, satisfied quality had overcome them, thanks to the utter full-ness they both felt, the meal had been more than filling. It had been positively stuffing.

The waft of Ana's shampoo, soap, and her own distinct pleasant aroma reached his nose and he breathed in deep. He felt the pang of love strike at him and he grimaced, it was still a new experience for him and he had to get used to it.

His feelings for Kate were more of a companionship. They were both lonely, craving something that they both knew they would never have, and they took solace in each other. But they never truly loved one another. Sawyer knew this and that was why he did not look so harshly upon Kate and Jack. True, he hated them for going behind his back. But if they had come to him, with their declarations of love for one another, he would have probably let them be.

As he entered the somewhat soporific daze he became aware that this was the way he wanted to spend the rest of his life, content, in love, and with Ana Lucia Cortez.

He went out to buy the ring the next day, with the help of one of Ana's - somewhat more subdued - best friends, Claire.

The ring buying procedure had been painful, he nearly tore his hair out during it, despite Claire's patient and calm matter. He even ended up having dreams of Princess, Heart, Emerald, Step, Brilliant Round and Death Trap diamond cuts. He was pretty sure the last one was a concoction of his imagination, but you never knew.

Finally he gave up on the jewellery industry and took Claire's advice, deciding to design his own ring, the ring he would propose with. Of course he needed help, which Claire willingly offered. Finally he came up with something that he thought would look pretty damn good on Ana (which, of course, it did) and didn't eat into his salary too much. Not that he minded, he made an absolute killing.

He still didn't know how he was going to propose, it troubled him up to the last moment. At first he wanted to do it at the dinner table, instead of revealing a culinary delight, reveal a ring, but he decided that some clichés were better left up to men who didn't have ravenously hungry possible- fiancé on their hands.

So he wracked his brain, so much so that Ana often caught him in contemplation and asked him what he was thinking so hard about. He was bound to give himself an aneurysm, according to her. He just shook it off and smiled secretively.

Then it came to him all at once, when he heard her humming along to a Lifehouse song. It was so obvious he didn't know why he hadn't thought of it before. Music had been such a part of their lives, especially since the Southerner loved to serenade his girl, that it seemed natural for him to propose to her through such a means.

Still, he didn't tell anyone of his intentions, except Claire, who he made sure to run the idea by, just to check that it was viable. She found absolutely nothing wrong with it, and encouraged him gently, causing him to light up. She was level headed, smart, and she knew Ana in ways that he would never grasp. Some things stayed between women, and women alone.

He trusted her with his plans, and she guarded them with a ferocity that Sawyer knew was her loyalty to Ana. He found himself gaining respect for the Australian, and in his mind thought of his own quirky foreigner best friend who was similar to her in a way that was awkward, shy and accommodating. Perhaps he'd introduce them later on.

But for now his head was filled with concerns about the proposal. What if she said no? Claire had dismissed his fear when he first mentioned it, but it still lived in his mind. Hell, what if she fell in love with his best man? He had been planning to ask Hurley, but that didn't mean that he felt any less threatened by him than he did Jack. Jack was attractive sure, but he was also an ass, an arrogant ass who thought he knew better than everyone else. Libby had proved to everyone that Hurley was easy to fall in love with and Sawyer had never doubted it.

Hurley had always held a higher place in his mind than Jack had, he trusted Hurley with everything. He was much more guarded around Jack. Jack was more his competitor than his friend, someone who he jousted with for everything, popularity, friends, girls. Hurley was the one who stood by his side no matter what, and he knew that he would give his life for his jubilant friend in an instant, his sacrifice for Jack would have been much more hesitant, even long before the wedding.

Of course any thought of Hurley betraying him, was dismissed within a second. He knew the impossibility of it, almost as much as he knew the possibility of Jack doing it. But he still had other fears, fears that gnawed at him and created a knot in his stomach.

So, as he pulled up next to the warehouse which was practically a second home to him, he felt his stomach do flip flops. Looking at the passenger seat he realised that Ana wasn't doing any better. She was wringing her hands, and looked about ready to throw up the breakfast he'd come up with on a whim. For a second he thought that Claire had slipped and told her, but he dismissed the thought. He trusted her, and knew that she wouldn't betray his trust, if not for his then at least for Ana's sake.

"What if they don't like me?" She asked nervously and he tried to smile as reassuringly as possible as he turned off the engine.

"Ah, c'mon now sugar, what's not to like?" He asked and kissed her temple, hoping she wouldn't realise that his hands had been shaking as he did it. He quickly squeezed his hands into fists, shaking them out, before climbing out of the car. Looking back, he realised that she was still sitting in her seat, seeming permanently fixed to it.

He gestured for her to follow, and was grateful that the gesture managed to mask the fact that his hands were still shaking. She sighed, and got out of the car slowly. She went to stand next to him, looking up at the warehouse that probably looked imposing to her. It had to Sawyer when he first saw it, but now it was a place full of happy memories.

"Attagirl." He said and winced at how it sounded. She isn't a dog, he scolded himself and then they walked in.

When they got inside and got everything worked out (trust Charlie to throw a diva tantrum the day he wanted to propose), he called the guys into a meeting, as if they were a football team readying themselves to go out on the field.

"So what's goin' on Sawyer?" Charlie could tell something was up, Sawyer never brought his girlfriends to the warehouse. Not only the fact that ht had never really had one before, but Charlie doubted that Sawyer enjoyed showing off the rusty, empty place that they practiced, just because anywhere else got sound complaints.

"I'm gonna propose to her." Sawyer replied and Hurley was the first to react, jumping and whooping. Then he realised his mistake and looked around surreptitiously before rejoining the circle. Sawyer regarded him coolly.

"You done?" He asked and Hurley grimaced.

"Yep."

"But why here?" Jin, forever the logical, asked and then a grin spread over his face that made all three guys' stomachs drop in warning.

"You guys are going to help me." He said with a wolfish grin and they traded looks.

"How?" Hurley asked and Sawyer leaned in, causing the others to lean in as well.

"Breathing." Was the only thing he said and at first the others were puzzled. Then it dawned on them slowly, some slower than others, but as the looks of recognition flitted across their faces he leaned back with a self-satisfied grin.

What followed soon after was probably the smoothest Sawyer could have ever dreamed of wishing for. He was a firm believer in Murphy's Law, but apparently Murphy had forgotten the address or something, because everything that could go right, did.

And now he was laying in bed next to a beautiful, smart woman on the morning (or was it afternoon now?) after their wedding, watching her as she snored ever so lightly, the lack of sleep finally getting to her. Resting his chin on his arm, he smiled wanting to memorise every little detail of this day. Every feeling, every sight, sound, every face she pulled in her sleep, and every little mumble that came from her lips.

Because it was goddamn perfect.