Disclaimer: I don't own Lost.
AN: Review, please! I have cookies. (She smiles and holds out a plate of eight sided cookies in the shape of an octagon.)
When Charlie walked into his hotel room he found Claire sitting on the couch starring at a piece of paper. "What's that?" He asked sitting down next to her.
"It's a letter from my mum. You got one too; from Liam I mean." She said not looking up from the envelope.
"You haven't read it yet?" He asked.
"No."
"Are you going to?"
"Are you going to read the letter Liam left you?" Claire asked. Charlie just sat there and realized that he didn't know if he wanted to read Liam's letter. He picked the envelope off the table and stared at it. No he definitely did not want to read what Liam had to say. "Not so easy is it?" Claire said. Charlie nodded and then made a decision.
"We open them together. We read what they have to say and if it's not good then we toss them and move on." He said. Claire looked like she was going to argue but then nodded her head in agreement. Charlie counted to three and they opened the letters. Charlie pulled his out and immediately recognized Liam's sloppy handwriting. The letter went
Dear Charlie,
I messed up. Obviously a lot has changed since you left. I missed you so much when you were gone and I want you back in my life. You're my family and I hope you'll let me be a part of yours. You said you were coming to Australia. Please call me. Karen and Megan want you back too. The number is the same as always.
Love Liam.
At the bottom of the letter Liam's phone number was scribbled, obviously an afterthought, in case Charlie didn't remember. Charlie smiled and turned to Claire. "What's she have to say?" Claire looked confused and handed the letter to Charlie. Unlike his letter hers was typed. It looked like it had been a message copied off over the phone.
Claire
So relieved to know you are safe.
Couldn't make it to LA.
Call me as soon as you get here.
Looking forward to your return home.
Carole Littleton.
Charlie smiled. "It's a little short but she did say that she's glad you're okay. She probably just didn't want to gush to the message guy over the phone." Claire still looked concerned.
"She thinks I'm coming back to live with her."
"What do you mean?"
"Looking forward to your return home; she thinks that I'm going to come back and live with her."
"Isn't that good. Doesn't that mean she wants you back?"
"Yeah, of course, I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to explain everything to her."
"What's to explain?"
"Let's see; when I left I was single, pregnant and my life was a complete mess. Now I have a three year old son, I'm married, and I'm pregnant again for starts. That's not counting all the things that happened on the Island."
"Well at least the pregnant part should be familiar to her." Charlie said smiling. Claire smiled back and hit him on the shoulder.
"It's just a lot to take in. I lived it and there's times I don't believe all of the things that have happened to me."
"She'll be so excited to see you and her grandson that she won't even blink when you get to the part of the story with the polar bears." Claire smiled again but was still worried. She wanted her family to be a part of Aaron's life; her mother was a wonderful person. So why was she so scared to go back and see her? Claire shook off her fears. Things were going to work out fine.
"So I guess Aaron decided to hang out with Hurley for a while." Claire said.
"Actually I asked Hurley to watch him for the night. I wanted it to be just us for a bit." Charlie said suddenly seeming nervous.
"Oh, and what exactly did you have planned?" Claire said smiling flirtatiously.
"Something special." Charlie turned to Claire and took her hands. "Back on the ship people kept telling you that things were going to change when we got home. The more I see happen here the more I'm starting to think that's right. We're not going to be a big group anymore. Hurley's staying here, Michael and Walt are going to New York, everyone's going their separate ways. Lots of things about the way we got used to living are going to have to change." Charlie stopped talking and Claire looked at him nervously. "Some of that is for the best, but there are some things I don't want to lose." Charlie reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "We got married on the Island. For me that will always be real; but people keep reminding me that it won't count here." Charlie opened the box revealing a diamond ring. "I'm sick of hearing people call you Ms. Littleton. I hate people thinking of Aaron as not having a dad, or questioning who this baby belongs to. I want us to be a family and I don't want anyone to be able to question it. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Claire Littleton. Will you marry me; again." Claire couldn't even speak. All of her fears for the future were forgotten as she kissed Charlie and took the ring.
"Yes." She said kissing him again. She slid the ring and laughed.
4-8-15-16-23-42
Sayid was working on his third glass of scotch and trying his best to forget that he had ever left the Island. "You know, I always pictured you as more of a rum man." Ana Lucia said sitting down on the stool next to him. "I'll have a gin and tonic." She said to the bartender before turning back to Sayid. "So what's got you down?"
"Just reflecting." Sayid said draining his glass.
"Really; and exactly how long have you been down here reflecting?" Ana Lucia asked.
"About an hour; give or take." The bartender returned with Ana's drink, refilled Sayid's then left. She took a quick drink before talking again.
"What happened an hour ago?"
"You all returned from your shopping trip and I saw Shannon. A man was offering her his number; and she took it." He said taking another drink.
"Bitch." Ana Lucia said under her breath. "I know what you need." She said smiling.
"I highly doubt that." He said hardly looking up from his drink.
"You need a job." This clearly wasn't what Sayid was expecting and he gave Ana Lucia his full attention. "I watched you on the Island. You're a born cop. I have connections; I could get you a job by the end of the week."
"Thank you for the offer, but I doubt I would fit in such a career."
"You're wrong about that. I know my own; you are a cop." She downed the remains of her drink and stood up. "When you get over, Malibu Barbie, call me." She handed him a card with her number written on it. "I look forward to working with you, Sayid." Sayid watched her walk away and picked up the card.
4-8-15-16-23-42
Claire woke up and immediately remembered what had happened the night before. She held up her hand with the ring and smiled. She rolled over to Charlie and kissed him. Charlie opened his eyes and smiled. "That's one way to wake a person up."
"I thought the night after a proposal deserved something better than coffee." Claire said getting up to get dressed.
"Who needs coffee?" Charlie said walking around the bed and wrapping his arms around her waist. "You'd better try that again, I think I might still be dozing a little." Claire pretended to be annoyed but gave him another kiss. She began to pull away when he picked her up and flipped her onto the bed. He leaned over her and smiled. "So tell me again how much you liked the ring."
"I love the ring." She said. Charlie moved onto the bed.
"What else do you love?" He said leaning in.
"HEY, Brady Bunch, open UP!" A deep southern voice called from outside their room. Charlie rolled off of Claire.
"Damn it, Sawyer." He muttered.
"I've got your kid out here and if you don't hurry up and claim him then he's coming with me!" Sawyer yelled. Charlie pulled on a robe and went to open the door. "Well look who finally decided to get up. I was about to call child welfare about this poor abandoned boy."
"Morning, Sawyer." Charlie said moving aside so that Aaron could come in. "Why is Aaron with you anyway?"
"I just came from saying my goodbyes at the International House of Hurley and I thought I'd drop him off on my way. What's wrong; did I choose a bad time?" Just as Sawyer finished talking Claire walked in also in a robe. "I've always had the best timing." He said smiling.
"Didn't you say you were making goodbyes?" Charlie asked annoyed at the way Sawyer was ogling Claire.
"I'm leaving for good. I figure I may as well do some traveling and enjoy that nice little gift from Oceanic." Sawyer said still staring at Claire.
"Well we'll miss you." Charlie said quickly.
"Stop by if you ever come through Sydney." Claire added.
"I will." Sawyer said enthusiastically. "See ya, small fry." He called to Aaron.
"Bye, Sawyer, love you." Aaron said from where he was lying on the couch. Sawyer seemed a little unsure of how to respond to the last bit so he just waved and headed out the door. A little while later Claire was sitting alone when she noticed a piece of paper had been slipped under the door. She picked it up and saw that it was addressed to her with the words 'for your eyes only' on it. She unfolded the paper and read the note.
hey Claire
Don't tell Charlie, but I saw the engagement ring. Congratulations.
Sawyer.