Quickie:
Story was set in mid-March. So we're clear on that. Because I'm a totally lame detail freak. xD
Chapter 11
It was no surprise that a few months passed by quicker than expected, leaving only one month until the actual wedding. In that time, Charlie and Claire had set a date – August 15th – picked a cake, the wedding location, and were just getting started with the guest list. It was late one night and they were still writing it. They sat at their worst: Claire in sweatpants and a t-shirt, her hair tied back, and Charlie with just flannel pajama pants and a black t-shirt with the sleeves cut off. However, he looked like he was ready to pass out.
"What about all the tailies?"
"Tailies?" Claire looked up at him uncertainly.
"You know. Ana-Lucia, Libby, Eko…"
"Oh right. Yeah. We can add them," she said, quickly scribbling names onto the ever-growing list.
He sighed, rubbing his eyes. "You have Jack on there?"
She rolled her eyes. "That's the twelfth time you asked me. And yes I have him on the list."
"Oh. Right."
"What about Sawyer? You think we should bother inviting him?"
"Maybe we should ask Aaron," he joked.
She smiled tiredly. "I'll put him on the list."
"Wouldn't count on him showing up though."
"Did we forget anyone?"
"I don't know."
"Read it back to me."
"Are you mad!"
"Please, Charlie," she said, rubbing her head. "I just want to be sure."
He sighed. "All right. Mum, Dad, your mum, your dad, your sister, Liam, Karen, Megan, Patrick, Sinjin, - "
"Wait! What about Hurley?"
"Right," he said, scribbling Hurley's name down. "Do I really have to read the rest? There's so many!"
"All right. Just let me see the list."
He handed it to her and she read it in silence. Charlie let out a loud yawn, and tilted his head back, closing his eyes.
"Okay. I think we've got everyone," Claire finally said.
"You have Jack on there?" he muttered.
"Charlie!"
His head snapped forward and eyes opened. "Sorry."
She shook her head, smiling, but it quickly turned into a frown. "I wish Kate could come."
"Oh yeah," he said, regrettably.
"You don't think there's a chance they'd let her out just to come, do you?"
"Not a sodding chance," he yawned. "The prison she's in is bloody strict."
"It is?"
"S'what Jack told me last time I spoke to him."
"Oh." They were uncomfortably silent. "Well, I guess we're done then."
"Great." He stood. "We can go to bed then?"
"Yeah. I'll be there in a few minutes. I need to put everything away."
"Okay."
He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and left the kitchen. She gathered all the papers together and put them into a neat pile in the center of the table. Then she got up and found her small phone number book next to the refrigerator. She found Jack's number and hoped she didn't wake him. Luckily, his voicemail answered and she left him a message to call her back. After putting the papers safely away, she left the kitchen and joined Charlie in the bedroom. He was already lying on the bed, probably fast asleep.
"Couldn't wait to get to sleep, I see," she said softly.
"It's late!" he protested in a muffled groan.
She turned out the light and lay with him, pulling the blankets closer around her.
"Well I'm sorry I kept you up with me. I just wanted to make sure I didn't forget anyone."
"Don't worry about it," he said, turning toward her to wrap his arms around her. "It was fun."
"It was actually, wasn't it?" she smiled in the dark.
"Mmhmm," he moaned wearily and kissed her. "Good night."
"Good night," she snuggled into his arms.
The next morning, Claire woke up and saw a lily had taken Charlie's place on the bed. She picked it up and smelled it, closing her eyes, savoring the sweet scent. Her eyes fluttered open when she heard the door creak open. Charlie came in with a tray filled with all sorts of breakfast foods. She couldn't help but smile.
"Morning," he greeted her.
"Good morning," she sat up. "What's all this?"
"A little breakfast in bed. I figured, since Aaron's sleeping in today, what better time?" he smiled at her.
"Thank you."
She leaned forward and kissed him fondly.
"You're welcome," he muttered when they broke apart, still in a daze.
She began to pick and nibble at the food laid out before her, and Charlie watched her thoughtfully.
"You know, I was thinking," Charlie started.
"Uh-oh," Claire said, with a smile.
He laughed. "I was thinking…we still haven't picked a place for our honeymoon."
"Honeymoon?" she looked up at him uneasily. "Charlie, I don't know. What about Aaron?"
"We can get someone to watch him. Your parents. Or mine."
"I don't know," she frowned.
"Come on. If only for a few days? Aaron will be fine."
"But what if he cries for me? Or what if he can't get to sleep? And – "
"Claire," he took her hand.
She looked down at their hands, still frowning.
"I promise you, he'll be fine. A few days away might do you good anyway."
She sighed then looked up at him smiling sheepishly. "No island getaways."
"No," he laughed. "Definitely not."
