Pairings: Bana, Sana, mentions of Jana, Chaire, Shayid and Shoone. Basically it's pretty well rounded. I might even throw in some Jate (no promises though).

Disclaimer: Lost and the characters in Lost do not belong to me, obviously. If they had Ana Lucia and Sawyer would have ended up together (meaning she wouldn't have died).

A/N: Right, well, basically this is a pretty sucky chapter and like the last one I was iffy about posting it. I also think I get a little out of character with Ana Lucia in her Flashbacks, though it was kind of intentional because I don't see her as the tough-as-nails woman she is in Lost before she got shot. I tried to make her happier and more fun but I don't know if I over did it. It's had to make a character like her softer and not go completely out of canon. Anyway, tell me what you thing (good and bad), so I know where I go wrong or right.

. . .

Chapter Seven: Issues

Charlie took in a breath, preparing himself. It had been a good while since the 'incident', as he had taken to calling it, and he figured now was as good a time as any to make a move. After all, if Sayid could forgive Ana Lucia for killing the love of his life – as he so seemingly had, though Charlie still had his doubts – then Claire should be able to forgive him for trying to save her son's life (not that anyone saw it that way).

The young mother was currently seated on the sand by herself, studiously trying to feed Aaron tiny bits of mango. The baby didn't seem to be appreciating the effort.

"Hey," Charlie greeted, hands in his pockets, as he stopped in front of the pair. He smiled.

Claire looked up at him but didn't smile. "Hello, Charlie."

"So, um, how are things?" he asked. "Aaron doing alright?"

The blonde frowned. "Look, Charlie, I know you want to talk but I'm sort of busy right now."

Charlie's spirits fell. "Oh, alright then. Maybe another time."

She didn't look convinced. "Maybe."

Charlie watched dejectedly as she rose to her feet and walked away, Aaron placed securely in her arms. She was never going to forgive him. She would never understand that he had just been trying to save Aaron. He sighed and watched her go.

His eyebrows rose in surprise as she stopped in front of Ana Lucia who was determinedly sharpening a stake with such brutality that Charlie almost felt sorry for the poor stick. Claire smiled in greeting and the two exchanged a few words before, much to his horror, she took a seat beside the brunette. Ok, Charlie boy, it's not that bad. They can talk. Just because she prefers the crazy woman's company over yours doesn't mean anything. His expression deepened in disbelief as he watched Claire hand over the baby to a surprised but not at all unhappy Ana Lucia.

"Unbelievable," he muttered. You just knew something was wrong when a mother decided that her son would be safer with a murderer than with the guy who had basically been there for her since day one. Clearly, something was being added to the water; it was the only explanation.

. . .

Ana spared a glanced at Charlie who was marching off in the other direction, head hanging forlornly. She almost felt sorry for the poor guy. Sure, he'd been nothing but a little bastard to her when travelling to find Not-Henry's balloon but then . . . she deserved it didn't she?

She looked back over at Claire who was pointedly ignoring Charlie's presence in her life. The whole thing kind of reminded her of her and Danny. Sure, the guy had never tried to drown her kid but she had pushed him away just like Claire was doing right now. Danny had always been the kind of guy to always be there for her, though, and it had taken him a while to get it through his head that she didn't want him anymore, didn't want anything to do with her old life. Charlie was being just as stubborn as Danny had been but just like Ana's ex-fiancé, she had feeling it was only matter of time before he gave up.

Claire would probably be happy when he did until, like Ana, she realized what exactly she had lost.

The Latina sighed, unable to believe she was actually going to do this. She wasn't one to meddle in other people's lives and she hardly ever cared just how badly they were fucking them up. But she liked Claire, as strange as that was, and she didn't want her to make a mistake. Well, she had told Sayid that she'd given up on trying to make people like her – this certainly wasn't going to make Claire like her any better. "He seems pretty sorry, you know."

The brunette glanced down at Aaron, searching for an escape goat so she could keep avoiding Claire's eyes. She'd been happily surprised when the blonde had decided to sit down next to her and even more so when she had handed off her precious bundle of pink chubbiness. Now she had a feeling she'd be giving the baby back soon as Claire was sure not to like the conversation coming.

"He should be sorry," Claire muttered, taking a bite out of one of her mangoes. Ana Lucia had never been one for variety but, God, she was getting sick of all these mangoes. What she wouldn't give for a hamburger, just one.

"Yeah . . ." Ana didn't disagree with that. If it had been her baby she probably would have crucified the guy. "Maybe you should think about givin' him another chance, though."

Claire glanced at her in disbelief. "He tried to drown Aaron. He's a druggie. I don't want him anywhere near my baby!"

The brunette shook her head. "I'm not sayin' that. You keep him as far away from Aaron as you see fit, for all I care. Just sayin' maybe you should start to spend some time with the poor guy again, see how he's doin'. Who knows, you might like what you find."

The blonde still didn't look convinced, in fact, she looked about ready to bite Ana's head off.

"Look, we're on a frickin' island here. You're not about to find many guys who care like Charlie. He made a mistake, but I've heard the others talkin', he's done a lot for you." Including getting himself hung from a tree.

Claire pursed her lips and reached across to take Aaron back from the Latina. "Thanks for your concern, Ana, but it's really none of your business. Besides, it's not like you exactly have the best track record with relationships."

Ana watched as the blonde got up and stalked away in a huff and shrugged her shoulders, unbothered by the outcome. At least she'd tried and she doubted the girl would stay angry at her for long. All she had to do was give her a chance to cool down and they'd probably be sitting around the campfire doing sing-alongs in no time. And even if it didn't turn out that way it would probably be for the best; after all, the last friend Ana had now lay six feet under. Claire was better off without her.

FLASHBACK

"God, I can't believe you're getting married!" Shannon gushed the moment she stepped in the door. Ana Lucia blinked as she let her in, surprised by the unexpected visit. Sure, she had told her friend over the phone what was going on but she hadn't expected her to come right on over. Even more surprising was the person who followed her in.

"Hey, Ana," Boone greeted with a small smile.

Ana grinned back; it had been years since the last time she had seen him. "Hey, yourself." She closed the door behind them. "Nice that you finally decided to stop by."

Shannon rolled her eyes at the remark. "Yeah, he heard you were engaged and started jumping up and down like a chicken who'd just been told the sky was falling. I had to bring him along." She said the last part as though it was a real pain and she was apologising for the inconvenience. The Latina laughed while Boone blushed in embarrassment in the background.

"Shannon!" he hissed.

She looked back at him in faux innocence. "What? You know it's true."

Now it was Ana Lucia's turn to roll her eyes as she took in the two siblings and their constant rivalry. Time was they used to be like two peas in a pod but ever since Shannon's father had died and her step-mother, Sabrina, had cut her off things between them had taken a turn for the worse. Boone still liked to follow after her like a puppy dog when he got the chance but Shannon seemed to have decided that his company wasn't worth the effort.

Ana knew about the conning her friend had been doing and was hesitant in letting it go on – she knew it would only end badly. It wasn't the fact that Boone was losing money that made it so bad but the fact that he was continually being betrayed by the one person he trusted above all others, the one he held up on a freaking pedestal. Still, it was her friend's choice and she was aware the blonde would never learn from her mistakes if they didn't have a chance to actually become mistakes first. She was going to have to let this play out.

"As true as that may be, I'm still waitin' for my hug," Ana spoke up, deciding she had let the staring contest go on long enough. She grinned and opened her arms up in invitation.

Shannon smiled and ran at her, having to bow down so she was actually level with the shorter woman before pulling her into a hug. Ana hugged her back with a smile, happy that she at least had this one friend. After the blonde pulled back, she turned to face Boone and paused. After not seeing each other for so long it was hard to know just how to act. Should they hug?

Hesitantly, Boone stepped forward with a small smile and pulled her into a warm hug that reeked of safety and their childhood years. Ana sighed and buried her chin in his shoulder. There was nothing that could compare to the feeling of being back in his arms again. Whilst her feelings for Boone had long since evaporated he had always been her friend, much like Shannon, and the past few years without him had been hard. She'd needed him back when she was nineteen and 'it' had happened but she had been too scared to call and he had been too scared to come. Now, it was good to have him back.

"Missed you," she murmured into his shoulder. Boone didn't reply but only held her closer as though he was afraid she'd slip away if he didn't.

Shannon, in all her glory, broke the moment. "Wow, this all incredibly touching and all, but we've got a wedding to plan, people!"

Smirking, Ana pulled back and rolled her eyes at Boone; typical Shannon. She sighed and turned to face the blonde, preparing herself for the coming horror.

"The wedding's not until next year, Shan," she told her. Shannon didn't seem to get her point though.

"Exactly! We don't have much time," she stressed before breaking out into a grin. "I can't believe you're getting married. And to somebody I set you up with no less!"

Ana rolled her eyes again and took a seat on the couch. This was going to be a long day. "Yeah, yeah, Blondie, soak it up."

"But, seriously, I'm the reason you're getting married. Me."

Ana huffed. "That also means you're the one who can be held responsible for any depression if we ever get divorced. You'll be payin' for my councillor, I'll have you know."

Shannon waved the comment aside and Boone smirked in amusement. "Oh, boo. You're not going to get divorced. You're going to have a happy marriage and lots and lots of children for me to play with."

The Latina gazed at the younger woman with a raised eyebrow. "I just love how you seemed to have mapped out my entire future for me. Tell me, is there room for winning the lottery in that future of yours?"

The blonde just grinned, not rising to the bait. "Yes. Five times."

Boone snorted and took a seat on the opposite couch. He had a feeling he wasn't going to be needed in this conversation.

"Now," Shannon continued without delay. "We need to start looking for your dress. As well as one for me since I'm going to be your Maid of Honour."

Ana nearly chocked at the assumption. "What makes you think I'm going to be making you my Maid of Honour."

She just grinned, brighter than ever. "'Cause I'm your best and only friend."

The brunette sighed and leaned back in her seat. "You just had to put in the 'only' in."

Shannon ignored this and Boone smirked in the background. "Now, I'm thinking pink dresses for myself and the only bridesmaid, which will of course be Boone."

The man in question chocked. "What?"

Ana scowled. "I'm not having pink at my wedding." She apparently didn't have a problem with Boone being her bridesmaid though.

Shannon scowled and placed her hands on her hips, gazing defiantly back at her friend. "You're going to have pink at your wedding."

"I'm not going to be a bridesmaid!" Boone protested, not at all caring about whether there would be pink or not. They ignored him.

"No," the Latina said firmly.

"There is going to be pink."

"No there isn't," Ana denied strongly, glaring at Shannon.

"Yes there is." One would think it was her wedding they were planning for.

"And no way am I wearing a dress," Boone continued.

"No there isn't."

There was a knock on the door and all three heads swung around to stare at it. Sighing, Boone rose to his feet to go answer, already knowing that Ana and his step-sister would prefer to continue their debate instead. True to his thoughts, the two started up again, drawing closer as they furiously fought for their own will.

Boone shook his head and pulled the door open. He immediately wished that he hadn't. Teresa Cortez stood on the other side, face its usual expression of grim. He inwardly swore; Ana's mother had hated him from day one, the fact that he had cheated on her only daughter only added to the fact.

Ms Cortez pursed her lips upon seeing him, clearly not happy. "Hello, Boone."

Boone ducked his head and stuttered like a schoolboy. "Ms – Captain Cortez." He wasn't exactly sure which one she preferred.

Both Ana and Shannon exchanged a look, having given up on their debate for now.

"What are you doing here?" Ana asked as her mother came in the door, Boone closing it behind her with a grimace. He'd been hoping to avoid her mother during his stay in L.A.

Captain Cortez frowned. "I'm here because I had to find out from Officer Ragg that my daughter is engaged." She crossed her arms and gazed at Ana with a look that clearly read I'd-like-to-see-how-you-talk-your-way-out-of-this-one.

The three young people shared knowing looks – it was definitely going to be a long day.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Well, howdy, Mama Lulu," a voice greeted, stopping at her place in the sand.

Ana flinched at the nickname and resisted the urge to snap at him. It was hard hearing a constant reminder not only that Sawyer knew about her secret but that that secret also existed in the first place. Strangely enough though, it was kind of a relief to finally find someone who wouldn't tiptoe around the subject but would rather parade it around as though it was nothing to be concerned about. It helped. Ana had a feeling Sawyer knew that only too well.

"What do you want, Sawyer?" she bit off. The guy had hardly spoken to her since she'd found him, Locke, Bernard and Sayid outside Claire's tent. Since then, Bernard had been avoiding her like the plague, Locke had taken up more of an interest in her, and Sayid had not only agreed to go on a massive trek through the jungle with his lover's killer but also, at some extent, to forgive her. Sawyer had just remained plain Sawyer, though he seemed to be smirking a lot more if that was at all possible.

"Just wonderin' what's got Mamacita's panties all in a twist. You say somethin' insultin'?"

Ana resisted the urge to smack him upside the head. "Depends on your idea of insulting. I didn't start calling her stupid nicknames though."

The Hick raised a hand to his chest in mock pain. "You wound me, Chicka."

Ana Lucia rolled her eyes and inched away as he plopped down on the sand beside her; just the kind of company she was looking for. If she hadn't been convinced before that somebody up there hated her then she certainly was now. "Good."

"Well you really ain't in a good mood today, are yah?" he responded with a smirk and Ana scowled at him.

"Fuck off, Sawyer."

His smirk widened. "Love to, Chika. But got a feeling if I do I'll run in ta Freckles an' the Jackass, two have been hangin' off each other all day and it's startin' to make my stomach turn."

Ana returned his smirk; it was no secret that Kate spent most of her time dancing between the two men and it looked like those men in question were beginning to notice as well. "Jealous, cowboy?"

"Nah. Just a bit sickenin' is all." He gazed at her, not dropping the grin. "How 'bout you, Mama Lulu? You seem to be spendin' a bit o' quality time wiv the doc, you jealous?"

Ana snorted at the question. While she may have been interested in Jack before the crash and, hell, even after she just couldn't really see it going anywhere. That wasn't to say she didn't get the slight butterflies in her stomach when the two of them touched or when one of them said a comment that had bit of innuendo attached to it but she really wasn't looking for a relationship at the moment and like Sawyer had said, there was always Kate. "I think that ship sailed a long time ago."

"Ah, but there was a ship in the first place, was there?" God, she wanted to punch that smirk off his face.

Ana pretended to think about it for a moment. "Not really a ship, more of a boat, if that. Maybe even a raft."

Sawyer chuckled and he raised his water bottle to his lips. "I hear yah, Chicka."

She smirked across at him before snatching the water bottle out of his hands and taking her own sip. She did it more to annoy him than because of any real thirst but it seemed to have the opposite effect. Sawyer just shook his head, eyes twinkling in amusement.

"So, this guy, what's-his-face? Danny?" Ana stilled at his words but the Southerner didn't seem to take notice. "Need me ta kick his ass for yah when we get off this damn island?"

FLASHBACK

"What about this?" a voice asked, breaking into Ana Lucia's thoughts as her eyes combed her surroundings uneasily. She was in a store and it was . . . There were no words to describe how terrifying it was. All she could see was . . . pink. Everywhere. Up the walls, across the ceiling, even the carpet had its own special shade. The whole thing made her almost want to throw up.

When she'd agreed to go baby shopping – not to be confused for actually shopping for different kinds of babies – she hadn't expected to find herself in a place so pink. Danny didn't seem to mind which brought forth the earlier question of whether or not he really was gay.

Ana glanced across at what he was holding up – surprise, surprise, a cute little pink dress. The cop's stomach did summersaults, a true testament that the kid inside was not pleased. "Hell, no. It's pink."

Danny sighed. "Yes, Ana, that is generally what baby girls where."

Ana scoffed and crossed her arms. "Not my baby. And besides we don't know it's a girl."

Now it was Danny's turn to cross his arms. "Weren't you the one who was announcing that, for sure, we were having a girl, no doubt?"

Busted. "Yeah, but what if it isn't? We'll have messed the poor kid up before he can even walk straight." She shifted her weight to the opposite foot and gazed up at him defiantly. "Now I don't know 'bout you, but I think that's just bad parenting."

Her fiancé shook his head in amusement and turned away, placing the dress back on its wrack. "Whatever you say, Ana." He turned back and swung an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his chest. Ana smiled and snuggled up. She wasn't really one for the public displays of affection but there was something about Danny that just made her feel so safe and tingly all over. She didn't mind showing the world that they loved each other, though at times it did seem a little mushy for her taste. "I think we're gonna have to find a new store though if we're going to be getting any clothes at all, everything in here is pink," he continued, glancing around.

"How 'bout we just go look at toys," she suggested, curling her nose in disgust at the thought of trying to find a store that didn't have so much pink in it. "Bit of a waste of time looking for clothes when we don't even know the baby's sex yet, anyway." Not to mention the fact that Ana had never really liked shopping for clothes in the first place.

Danny smiled and pulled her closer. "Admit it, you just want to search through the toys so you can find something for yourself."

Ana laughed. "Maybe just little. I like video games better though and I'm expecting to get a whole bunch for my birthday this year."

He nodded and kissed her forehead. "At least that's better than your last request. Do you know how weird it was shopping for that gun you wanted last year; there were all these guys with tattoos staring at me funny. I felt for sure some guy was going to make me his butt-monkey."

Ana Lucia rolled her eyes, undisturbed. "That's 'cause you went into all the stores that I specifically told you not to go into. You even went into that one that I said was under surveillance 'cause of drug dealing."

"See, now I thought that was the one down the street."

She snorted. "Though, I have ta admit it was pretty funny when one of the rookie cops pulled you into the station 'cause he thought you were the big drug dealer we'd been after all year long. Broke the poor kid's heart when he found out you were just my dumbass boyfriend." She poked him in the chest and he winced.

"Hey, you love this ass! And, anyway, I finally got you the gun didn't I?"

"Yeah, yeah, but let's just stick to video games this year OK, babe?" She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek as they made their way out of the stupid pink store.

He rolled his eyes and moved his arm to wrap around her torso instead, hand positioning itself protectively over her stomach. Ana felt a rush just thinking about what rested beneath that skin. Their baby. It was all just too surreal. "Whatever, Ana. But I really think you're gonna have your hands full planning this wedding with Shannon and taking care of that baby of ours. I don't think you're going to have time to play video games."

She shook her head and poked her tongue out at him. "Nah uh! You're the one who's goin' to be takin' care of this baby, fiancé o' mine. I'm doing my due by carrying it and poppin' it out, you can do the rest. And, hell, since you're the one who fucking proposed to me, you can deal with the Shan-Monster as well. No way am I planning this wedding with her." She scowled in disgust at the mere thought. "Do you realize she's tryin' to bring pink into it?"

"She is Shannon," was his only reply to which Ana only grumbled. She looked down at her stomach and placed a hand besides Danny's. In just a few months time she'd actually be able to feel the baby kick, real evidence that it was there.

"Don't worry, baby, ain't goin' to let that blonde-pink-wearin'-monster near you. Mummy's gonna take care of you," she promised to which Danny laughed and pulled her to him for a kiss. Life was good.

END OF FLASHBACK

The Latina shrugged, trying to appear unbothered by the topic. She could still remember faintly what it had been like to be in love with him. But only faintly. There used to be a time when they existed for each other but after they'd lost the baby neither of them seemed to be able to remember that time. Somehow, there had only ever seemed to be the baby; Ana couldn't see anything before then and she was having trouble making out everything that came after. Life was a blur of unimportance outside those few months of pregnancy and Ana Lucia didn't know how to change that. "That's assuming we do get off this damn island. And no – I don't need you to kick his ass. Danny's a good guy and besides, if there was going to be any ass-kicking, then I would be the one doing it."

Sawyer chuckled. "Oh, I know, I just thought we could go a little easier on the guy. You don't exactly hold back much, Muchacha."

Ana rolled her eyes at his words. "That's the point, cowboy."

"Yeah, yeah, Chacha," he responded, stealing the water bottle back.

They sat in silence for a while, watching the going-ons around them. Sometimes Ana wondered how they did it, the other survivors, how they continued to go on as if nothing had happened, as if they weren't stranded on some island in the middle of nowhere. She wondered how they could play poker, hold tea-parties (without the actual tea) and basically still just have fun. Most of all, she wondered why she couldn't.

She glanced across at the hick beside her. He was an annoying man at best and most of the time she couldn't stand the thought of his company but there was something about him that made her feel like less of an anomaly. And she was thankful for that.

"Thanks," she said suddenly, tearing Sawyer out of his respective thoughts. For a moment he looked like he couldn't quite believe her words and, to be honest, Ana couldn't quite believe them either.

"What the hell for, cupcake?"

She shrugged, suddenly uneasy. It was one thing to thank the guy, it was another thing altogether to explain why. Not to mention the fact that his ego was already two countries too big.

"Everyone's always tiptoed around . . .'It'," she trailed off, not knowing quite how to continue. She was hoping he would get it from that short sentence though it was doubtful – the thing was so open-ended. Ana wasn't ready to talk about what had happened with Sawyer of all people so she certainly didn't want to put anymore explanation into her words. To her relief he did get it, and get it well.

"Ah," he breathed, leaning back slightly. "Way I see it, Chicka, each to their own issues an' all. Can't spend your whole life tiptoein' around 'em." He glanced around the camp as the Latina took that in. "Ever notice how we got the most messed up crew o' expeditioners 'ere? Why, they could set up a psych ward just for the bunch o' us. Damn irritatin' if you ask me."

She raised an eyebrow at him in question and Sawyer proceeded to point out exactly what he meant with those around them. His first gesture landed on Hurley. "Food issues," he said with a shrug before pointing to Jack. "Daddy issues." Jin and Sun came next, the two smiling lovingly at each other and Sawyer shook his head in disgust. "Couple issues." Charlie walked out from the bushes, followed by Locke (odd, since the two seemed to hate each other), presenting the Southerner with his next two victims. "Drug issues and faith issues." Ana rolled her eyes and sat back, preparing herself for a long speech. Claire was next as she fawned over Aaron in the distance. "Baby issues." They watched as Libby went over to talk to her and the two broke out into laughter and smiles. "Woman's a shrink, enough said," to which Ana only snorted. Finally his pointer finger settled on Kate who was flirting with Jack and Sawyer paused, raising his eyebrows, "Every issue," he finished and Ana had to choke back a laugh.

He turned back to her and frowned mockingly. "I mean, couldn't they 'ave just let a few normal folks on to that plane o' ours? Seems to me like they're just askin' for trouble."

"And what about you, Sawyer?" she asked, turning her gaze on him. "What issues do you have?"

The southerner just grinned. "Who me? Don't got no issues, Lucy. Me, I'm perfect."

Ana Lucia scoffed at that and turned away; arrogant asshole.