SUMMARY: Paradise has never been about places. It exists in moments. In connection. In flashes across time. MinhoxOC, NewtxOC different OCs, no love triangles

A.N: Yeah, hi, I know I totally neglected this story and all the others and I am sorry. I am just in a place where I can't seem to write anything. Just life happened and everything is shitty, but I definitely want to end all my stories one day, it just might take a while. Also Guest I am really sorry you have to wait so long for an update, and thank you for the support and still reading this.

Enjoy

CONNECTION

Eventually, you will come to understand that love heals everything, and love is all there is – Gary Zukav

Newt

He found Claudia not far from the campfire near the bushes and trees. It was a small green place on the beach where people were starting to gather for the later bonfire.

Newt went to the medic's room, but she wasn't there and there was a mess like someone purposely threw things around. He grew anxious. He knew Gally was keeping an eye on Jack, but it still didn't calm his nerves. He just wanted to make sure she was alright.

It took him a moment to realize what was happening when he found her kneeling and holding her stomach her hair covering most of her face. Once he got close he noticed that the ground along with her shoes and pants was dirty. She puked all over them.

'God,' he hissed before he rushed to her putting his hand on her back, 'Hey, come on now. What's wrong?' he asked but she just shook her head little defenseless sobs coming from behind her covered with hair face.

'Alright, alright, I'm here,' he said softly brushing her back as well as kissing the back of her head. She sobbed a bit more but turned toward him hugging him. She kept her hands from touching him probably cause she was puked all over, but at the same time, she was pressing against him as if she wanted him to hold her which he gladly did.

'It's alright, love. I'm here. I got you,' he said and meant it hoping it was bringing her at least some confront that he did.

She nodded against his shoulder still unable to say a damn word with all the sobbing. It didn't matter. She had time. He would hold her until she was ready to talk until she was ready to let him in if she ever was.

He brushed her hair a few times kissing the side of her face, 'I'm here. No one else but me, alright?'

She nodded against him pressing as close as possible into him. It made him feel incredibly good about himself that she trusted him so much even if he knew this wasn't about him. He had a hunch it was about whatever the damn hell was Jack's problem. She said she would tell him afterward so she must have been struggling with it all day and then just got to this point.

It might have been an hour or something before she finally calmed down, but he didn't care. Not really. He simply held her vowing he would keep her in his arms until she needed and wanted him to. The sun was setting down. They could hear people walking close by on the beach. Probably preparing the bonfire.

He kept on brushing her back even though she long since calm down knowing that if she didn't let him go she probably wanted him to.

She leaned away and looked at him after what seemed like forever and a moment. He dared to casual brush her hair a bit away to look at her face properly, 'Shit, I wiped my mouth into your shirt,' she said looking hysterical, but he just shrugged his shoulder and kissed her forehead, 'I'll wash it. It's no big deal.'

She swallowed nodding probably getting some common sense back.

'I need to get clean clothes too,' she said as she looked at the mess she made. He nodded and stood up helping her. He walked her back to the medic's room making sure they avoided as many people as possible. Neither of them was in the mood for someone else's questions. She took a pair of new pants, shoes, and socks and started to undress herself in front of him.

Newt looked away. Even if she didn't seem bothered by it, he wanted to do the decent thing with her. He looked back at her messed up desk before he started to pick up things and put them back maybe not to the same place but close enough.

He felt better when he could do something, and not just stand there.

Claudia

She sighed once she had her pants on before she looked at Newt. Funny. She always managed to deal with things on her own. Always. She was used to it. She was expecting herself to die trying to save those kids not…find him. Or maybe he found her? How did that even work? You think you're okay with being alone with having a plan and then someone comes. A boy with British accent which makes you weak in your knees and his warm and sincere eyes and his…and you're screwed and the plan goes to shit.

He was a kid for Christ's sake.

He's younger than you!

But he doesn't act like it. He doesn't treat you like you were older either does he now?

He was putting things back on her desk. Things she threw away from it in a violent fist because she felt like screaming and crying at the same time. She wasn't used to be this emotional. She was used to wearing a mask and keep everything inside. She had no one to talk, and frankly, she didn't really want to. When you keep things inside you are in control of them, even if you are fighting them. Maybe she was just tired of always being the one in control.

'What Jack said,' she started and he looked over at her, 'Yes?'

'It…,' she looked away some things were easier said not looking into his warm brown eyes, 'Just…he, Carter, came over. I didn't ask him to. He just did. In his mind we were in this flirty relationship,' she said brushing her hands almost hard enough that her skin burnt from the touch. As if somehow the pain would be better than having to remember his hands on her body.

'You don't need to tell me anything you're not comfortable telling me, love,' he said and she smiled a bit even if she didn't feel like doing so. He always called her that. She started to pay foolishly attention to the way he spoke with other female members of their survivor group wanting to know if it was just something he said or he used it only for her. She was twenty-five for heaven's sake she should know better than to act as a school girl with a crush. Maybe it was because she was twenty-five she was overdue for some school crush intense and young and free. A teenage love maybe.

She touched his hand, 'I trust you. Uh, he came and wanted something. Jack was in my room and I just knew that if I would start a fight with Carter or something.'

She looked away feeling nauseous again just thinking about the events of that day.

Newt

He nodded. He might not have known much about life, but understood this. He got it. He had spent all his life which he could remember trying to protect people he cared about.

'You did it to protect Jack. You did it so Carter wouldn't shout or do something which would cause Jack to reveal he was in your flat.'

She closed her eyes and nodded looking almost in pain. She was so pale on the face.'It was so bad. I felt like puking the whole time. I just…I couldn't even tell him to stop. I just let him do what he wanted and then waited until he left.'

He wanted to hug her. He wanted to hug her so bad. He wanted to pull her into an embrace so she would know she was safe and sound.

'I am so sorry,' he said feeling utterly useless. She sacrificed so much for them, for strangers she didn't even know just some kids that crossed her way. She did so much for them, so much. He felt sorry for all she had to go through alone. He felt sorry he didn't meet her sooner. He felt sorry he wasn't the one who killed Carter for doing this to her.

He found his eyes watered and his face turning hot from anger. She had to…She had to let him to protect Jack, who acted to her like shit to her now using it against her. He knew he didn't like the guy before, but now he felt disgusted with him that he would use this against her.

'Can I hug you?' he asked and she flashed him a hurt look which made him want to punch himself, 'I'm not some broken thing that-'

'I'm sorry, I'm sorry,' he instantly hugged her pulling her into his arms feeling even worse. She was right she was not some broken thing that needed to be fixed or treated like damaged goods.

'I'm sorry, love,' he whispered into her hair. She was so ridiculously short.

She calmed down a little bit in his embrace. He hoped she felt safe enough in his arms at least now.

He brushed her hair softly feeling her lean her whole body weight on him. 'I got you, love.'

He felt he never loved her more than in that very moment as she was standing there in his arms depending on him.

She pulled him even closer than before if that was possible, 'Thank you.'

She didn't have to thank him. He didn't want her to thank him. He just wanted to hold her close that was all. And so he did until she took him to her bed and made him lie down with her head pressed against his chest both listening to their friends' laugher from the bonfire before they fell asleep tangled within each other.

Cora

She tried to look for Claudia all day, but somehow she kept on missing her with her work and then her not being in the medic's room. She had another bad fight with Sonya, and she really wasn't in the mood for the bonfire.

She decided to try the medic room again, only to find Newt walking Claudia inside. Well crap. She didn't want to intrude now.

Some of the people started to walk to the bonfire. She rolled her eyes deciding she had no other choice after all.

Right at the beginning, she got a jar of some liquid which nicely burnt her throat making her think and feel something else than she was feeling which was what she didn't know. Luckily when she had enough her head was in a nice enough fog that she didn't need to deal with it until she saw her friends standing not so far away clearly having a good time. Mainly Sonya.

It wasn't that she hated her now, but it was obvious there were issues they couldn't deal with at least not yet. It bothered her. Everyone seemed to be working with everyone just fine. Was it her? Did she have some sort of problem which caused her to aliened people away from her? How many people did she really have left now?

Not that many. Not many at all.

'Hey, want another one?' asked some guy who got in front of her offering her another jar.

He was smiling in a way that reminded her of how a cat would not to mention looking down at her chest hidden behind her shirt.

'No thanks.'

'You sure? I know you're name is Cora. We could get to know each other,' he said the smile still on his face, but it was throwing a sort of shadow she didn't like.

Her head was already cloudy, but gone was the good mood she felt before.

'Come on, it will be fun.'

Minho

He gave up on trying to find Newt after about an hour into the campfire and just spent the majority of time around Thomas and the others. It wasn't the worse idea to have a bonfire like this. He felt himself relaxing easily and just spending time with his friends laughing and genuinely enjoying himself. He needed this.

After he lost interest in finding Newt, and really into the party mood, his eyes just had to catch her.

Minho saw her from the distance how she pushed some guy out of her way. The boy looked at her with an upset look on his face before he made a gesture like he was done with her anyway and walked away. He knew better than anyone that Cora knew how to take care of herself.

He was also talking to some blonde, but the moment he saw her, he completely tuned her out.

They shared a look, and suddenly everything faded. He was a bit buzzed, but he seriously couldn't take his eyes of off her just like hers stayed on his. It was like they were the only two people on the beach just like that night.

He swallowed feeling thrilled and dread inside his stomach as he recognized the familiar electricity around them. He felt it two times now, both times it ended with them having sex.

'Oh, so you're with her?' said the girl suddenly and he looked down at her. She gave him an understanding look and then looked at Cora who now was looking away because the eye contact was broken.

'She's lucky then. Well, enjoy your night.'

Minho wanted to say that he was lucky one or that they were not like that because honestly, he didn't know if they were or weren't like that. How do you call someone you pin after and occasionally have sex with?

Yet, when he looked back at her, she was already coming toward him. He looked down at the girl, the blonde, he was talking to but she disappeared in the crowd.

Cora was now by his side.

'Hey,' she had to lean close to him as everyone seemed too loud. He instantly put his hands on her waist. It was instinct or whatever it was that those crazy shanks made in the jars they were passing around which made his head spin so damn hard.

She didn't push him away instead she put her hands around his neck and leaned closer, 'I missed you.'

He pressed his forehead against hers, 'I'm right here.'

He wasn't sure who kissed who first. Maybe it was both of them at the same time. Either way his mouth was on hers and her tongue was inside his mouth and it felt so shucking good. His hands were at her back and inside her hair while hers were on his. Both were pushing and pressing against each other so much it was almost like they were fighting.

There were teeth and biting involved, and he shouldn't want it to be like that. He was waiting and wanted it for so long, he should want it to be sweet and nice, but he couldn't help still feel pissed. Pissed that it took that long, that they could have been doing that all along and most importantly, he was a bit drunk.

When she broke the kiss, he thought she had enough or he was too rough or hurt her. Cora didn't probably think so cause she grabbed his hand and dragged him through the crowd. He blindly followed her. He would follow her anywhere. He knew that by now.

She stopped once they were far from the others and grabbed his face. She kissed him passionately he almost stumbled backward. He hugged her around her tiny waist feeling himself going hard. He wanted her so bad.

They heard someone laughing close to them, and he growled breaking the kiss, 'We should...'

'Your room?' she muttered before licking her lips.

He barely made it pass the door before he had her pinned to the wall kissing her throat.

'Minho.'

Her hands were in his pants ripping them away from his body, down to his legs.

'Cora,' he breathed against her neck as he stepped away from them.

He lifted her long skirt to her stomach and pulled down her panties ripping them a little bit. It did the job done. Her nails were sharp on his face as she dragged him closer. He didn't think. He didn't at all as she put her fingers around him and he gasped into her mouth as he closed his eyes.

He pushed her hand away though and put his hands under her thighs lifting her up. He didn't tell her what to do but she instantly put her legs around his waists. His cock twitched as he felt her soft skin against his. He needed to be inside her so badly. It had been so long.

'Minho...please,' she whispered into his ear, and he pushed himself inside her. It felt like the time stilled for a moment. Everything seemed to freeze.

He breathed hard against her neck catching his breath before he leaned away to look at her.

She was wrecked, swollen lips, wild hair, a bit unfocused eyes. She was beautiful.

She was biting her lip before she pressed the back of her head against the wall, 'More...'

He kissed her and started to thrust into her. It felt so natural. It felt just like it did their first time. It felt like the world around them disappeared. He was still a bit drunk and so was she, but it felt so good and the way he felt it was just...there was a connection.

He looked into her eyes seeing how magically dark they were in the brief light coming from the bonfire.

Her fingers went into his hair before she kissed him. It was wild and raw like she was an animal and he loved it because it was just the way it should be...it was so completely them so completely real nothing ever felt as real as the building up sensation from his trust into her.

She let one of her hands out of his hair and put it behind her head trying to find some leverage to grip at the wall. He had to pull her higher finding a new angle when he trusted into her and they both groaned. He was going to lose it soon. He knew so much.

He speeded up and let his hand wander under her shirt and bra cupping her breast and twisting her nipples a little bit.

He groaned loudly as he came inside her not even thinking about the consequences. He pressed his head against the crock of her neck nearly dropping her when the wave hit him, but kept her safe in the end. He would always keep her safe first before anything even if his mind was clouded with lust and alcohol.

They both continued to breathe heavily against each other. Cora was slowly stroking his hair as they were both coming from their highs.

He leaned away to look at her, 'You good?'

'Never better,' she answered looking at his lips before he kissed him. He slowly let her down carefully still keeping a hold on her if her legs were still too weak.

He brushed her hair pulling away some loose hairs from her mouth they got glued to.

'I missed you,' he said looking into her chocolate brown eyes. She smiled at him before she repeated his words back to him, 'I'm right here.'

She leaned toward him kissing him with her eyes opened. They just had sex and yet that kissed felt just as hot as the whole act. But he wasn't hard yet. He needed a moment.

Still, he wanted to do more. He moved his hands under her shirt stroking her skin leaving almost burning marks there.

She nodded at him as if she was giving him permission. As if he needed one. He pulled the shirt slowly pulling it over her head before he let it fall to the ground. She was left just in her skirt and bra looking at him. He pressed her against the wall before he let his hands touch the zipper on the skirt pulling it open. She was so skinny that the shirt just fell down leaving the only piece of fabric on, her bra.

She moaned when he touched her there. He kissed her again devouring her or maybe she was the one devouring, either way, he carried her to his bed and let her fall down soundly. She watched him as he pulled the shirt over his head tossing it to the side before he reached down her for her again kissing her while he let his hands run through her chest and stomach to her center. She moaned a bit as he let his fingers stroke her clit a little bit.

The moan broke the kiss so he leaned away a bit to look at her, 'I love when you do that.'

He started stroking and touching her watching as she pressed herself against the bed moaning and slowly falling apart from his touches. It was a completely new and wonderfully breathtaking experience to be able to see how she reacted and knowing he did that to her, just to her, just for He leaned down to kiss her neck hearing her moan his name in a way which was definitely doing something to his stomach.

He fell in love with his name probably for the first time in his life coming in moans from her lips.

He started to place kisses lower to her breast while his fingers went inside her pumping in and out before he added another.

Her breasts were so soft and warm. He remembered the first time he touched them with his hands still cold startling her a bit. Now she wasn't complaining one bit.

He was almost delicate with how he was touching her yet it made her go primitive, wild, animalistic. She grabbed the back of his head when he touched her just right sending her over the edge.

His name echoed in the room after she cried it out pressing herself completely again his bed. Her fingers let go of his hair and the sheet she was gripping before she let them into her hair.

'Oh my God,' she finally breathed out and he chuckled, 'You like that?'

She looked at him before she rolled her eyes, 'You're a dick.'

He chuckled again before he leaned down and kissed her.

'You're so amazing,' he said and let his hands run into her hair. He wasn't sure if he was still drunk on alcohol or on the taste of her.

She hooked her legs around his waists, 'Just kiss me.'

He leaned down and kissed her once again stealing her breath away. She let him take the control like before for a while before she pressed against him slowly sitting up. He leaned with her without breaking the kiss until he was sitting on the bed.

She broke the kiss brushing his hair a bit before she sat into his lap. She could feel he wasn't tired anymore. His breath hitched in his throat and she smirked at him as she moved her hips against his, 'Like that?'

He would have shot her a look but he was too aroused again.

They watched each other for a moment before she leaned toward him and kissed him one more time before she guided him inside her again.

Hours later when Minho woke up he felt extremely good. It was like he finally got to do a good work out, the kind he used to do before he would run into the maze for the day. He didn't realize he missed it.

He quickly realized that he didn't wake up by himself but the movement and noise Cora caused as she left the bed walking over him. He froze keeping his eyes closed. He knew what it meant. She wanted to get dress and leave before he would wake up so she wouldn't have to face him. It was like she slapped him. It would definitely hurt less if she did.

He heard her move around the room for a while before the movement stopped and there was silence. He wanted to open his eyes, but he knew he would feel crushed if he opened them and she wasn't there and at the same time he didn't want to make it harder or awkward asking her why she was leaving.

However, he suddenly heard her footsteps again and in the next moment she was in the bed again putting her head against his chest, 'Scary cat, thought I would sneak out?'

He smirked a bit feeling overjoyed from the fact that she was still there, 'Nah, I know you couldn't get enough.'

He finally opened his eye only to find a pile of nicely folded clothes on a small table he had in his room.

'You're obsessed,' he mumbled but it wasn't mean. He brought his hand to the top of her head and softly stroke her.

'I just feel better when everything is folded. In the Spring I couldn't even fall asleep if I didn't fold them,' she confessed and he felt like that first time when they talked to each other on Claudia's bed. Just talked. Everything was nice and simple then.

He hummed brushing her hair, 'It's fine. I like you have odd habits.'

She tilted her head and kissed his chest softly.

'Are you awake?'

'Kind of,' he answered not sure what she meant. She smirked and started to trail a line of kisses to the lower part of his body.

His breath hitched in his throat and his eyes rolled to the back of his head as she took him into her mouth. She might not have said good morning but she was definitely giving him one.