Disclaimer: I make no profit from this. The Lost characters and universe do not belong to me.

This is the sequel to my LOST fic: Legacy. If you thought that was full of drama just wait until you see this! Thank you for reading!

A/N: This story started out as an RP on a forum I visit. This is the part that I wrote for the RP. Yes the plot jumps around and yes it is full of drama like a soap opera, but that is why I love it. Credit also goes to my fellow writers; tigerlilly, benlinusisagoodguy, and fearandloathin for their input and genius characters.

Flashbacks are in italics. Flash forwards are bold.

Chapter 14

Mel looked across the courtyard and smiled sweetly at her husband. She looked at the diamond on her ring finger. It was impractical for life on the island but Christian liked everyone knowing that she was his. She had been wearing it for so long it no longer felt like a noose around her neck, she barely noticed it anymore.

She sat up from the tiny garden she was tending and stretched her back. Her husband stood about ten yards away, deep in conversation with a man she had never warmed to, John Locke. It was normal to see them talking at any hour of the day.

She looked in the other direction and found Jack and Emma sitting on the front porch of their house. They were both smiling, obviously deliriously happy though Emma kept spacing out every so often as if she was listening for some phantom sound that never came.

Mel turned once more and looked out into the jungle. It had been a long time since she had ventured into it. Christian would no longer allow it. In fact, he rarely let her out of his sight. She knew he wanted her close so she couldn't cause trouble. In truth, she hadn't caused any trouble for him in ages. She had played her role as his dutiful wife well. Mel's eyes clouded as she turned away from the jungle, she tried to stop them, but the memories came flooding back to her.

Mel ran. She ran as fast as she could to get there on time. She was deathly afraid that if she wasn't there he would leave and he would be lost to her forever. Finally she stopped, panting, and glanced around her. Where was he? He was supposed to be right here.

"Mel." he spoke softly as he stepped from behind a tree.

She turned at the sound of his voice and felt her heart drop into her stomach. The sight of him was amazing. She felt as if she had never laid eyes on him before.

She threw herself into his arms and held him tightly.

"You said you'd come back. You took so long." she whispered.

"I know and I'm sorry. It took longer than expected. Complications arose."

"You've been gone for four months. I thought you had forgotten about me, about the island."

He smiled, "How could I ever forget about you?"

Mel looked up at him, "Are they safe?"

"Yes, they are safe."

"Where are they now?"

"With her."

Mel's eyes darkened. She knew it had been her choice to send her children away but she hated the idea of the woman who was now raising them.

"What can you tell me?" he asked.

"It's horrible. Christian and Locke have teamed together to carry out Jacob's wishes. They are planning another purge."

"Of who?"

"Nearly everyone. Only a few select will survive."

"I'll have to move more quickly then I thought." he mused.

"I have faith in you Ben." she smiled, happy to be in his arms once more.

Ben's eyes grew dark as he pulled her close again and nuzzled her hair, "Do you tell him that, your husband?"

Mel reveled in Ben's touch, "He is the last person I want to think about right now."

Ben smirked and backed her up against a tree. We he kissed her she felt a puzzle piece click into place, like he had never been gone. They suddenly lost all inhibitions. Mel returned his kiss wildly and before she knew it he was taking her against the tree.

Later, as she lay in his arms on the ground he looked down at her fondly, "I'm going to ask her to marry me."

Mel froze, there was no doubt who he meant when he said her; it was Sophie.

She stood and threw her clothes on.

"You bastard! What was this, one last hit for good time's sake? I trusted you! You said you would come back to save me from this!" she yelled and threw up her left hand, her wedding ring glinting in the light.

"I will save you Mel." Ben said desperately.

"I don't think you can Ben. I think this was your goodbye. You're going to abandon me and the island aren't you?"

"I would never do that."

"You don't have the control here anymore Ben! How can you do anything? So go, go marry that woman and don't you ever think of me again. But you better do one thing before you leave for good." she warned.

"What?" Ben asked.

Mel glared at him, "You better bring me back my children."

Mel shook her head violently trying to shake the image out of her mind. That wasn't the last time she had been in the jungle, but it was one of the worst. Who would have ever guessed she would lose her faith in the one man who had been her constant on the island?

Mel pushed all memories of Ben out of her head. It was silly for her to still be thinking about him. He was long gone and probably happily married to her enemy. She hadn't even seen him in months.

"Hello darling." Christian said as he walked up to her, his love for her evident in his eyes.

"Hi sweetheart." she said kissing him on the cheek.

"The garden looks great." he commented as he wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"It's nearly done."

"How is the little one today?" he asked as he placed his hand over her much expanded stomach.

"He's wonderful." she smiled and put her hand on top of his, it was as if they were both guarding the precious gift inside.

"How did your talk with Locke go?" Mel asked Christian when he came back into the house.

"For a first meeting it went quite well." he answered as he sat next to her. "I believe he is ready to do what we need him to."

"Good." Mel nodded. "Things didn't go so well with Jack."

Christian sighed, "Jack is stubborn, but he will come around when he sees what is at stake."

Mel looked away, "Do they really all have to die?" she whispered.

Christian pulled her onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder.

"Darling, you know they do. It is a purge after all."

"But there are so few left on the island anyway."

"And when it is over there will be far less. That is how it has to be. Trust me darling, this is for the best."

Mel didn't reply. She laid her head back down and closed her eyes. Christian ran his hands through her hair, lulling her to sleep.

"Where are my children?" Mel asked dangerously, the gun in her hand shaking slightly.

Ben had his hands raised in defense, "They are not with me."

Mel shook her head, "It has been two months Ben, two months since I told you to bring them back to me. I know you can do it so why aren't they with you?"

"It was safer for them to stay at home with their mother." Ben eyes widened when he realized his slip.

"I am their mother!" Mel cried.

"Sophie has been raising them for half a year now Mel. They think she is their mother."

"You were supposed to tell them about me, you said you would show them the video!"

"I couldn't bear to see the confusion on their faces, they are my children too." Ben countered.

Mel glanced at Ben's hands and saw the gold band on his ring finger, "How convenient for you both. One, big, happy family. Too bad it is all a lie."

"It's not a lie Mel, Sophie treats them as if they are her own."

"But they aren't Ben, they're mine. Christian was right about you. I should have listened to him from the start. You are one of the bad ones. You should stick around; next week is going to be quite an event."

"The purge?" Ben asked, "So soon?"

"You speculate all you want; I'm done being your spy."

"Mel this is important, we have to save the island."

"The only thing that I have to do is go back to my husband. I'm starting to think he is right about the purge. Maybe the island does need to be cleansed. But Ben, you're not going to be around to find out."

Ben looked at the gun in her hand, "Mel, don't do this."

"All you had to do was bring me William and Bella, but you couldn't even do that Ben. You're of no use to me now."

Without even blinking Mel pulled the trigger then walked to where Ben had been standing. She looked down at him as he clutched his arm, the gun shot wound bleeding profusely. He looked up at her and for the first time she saw actual fear in his eyes.

"Your days on the island are done. Go home Ben. Maybe your wife can stitch that up for you."

Mel walked into the house and found Christian sitting at the kitchen table. She set her gun down next to him, causing him to look up.

"Since when do you carry a gun?" he asked.

She didn't answer his question as she sat down across from him.

"I'm ready." she said, "I'll tell you everything."