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 25

Mel was taking her time getting back to the village when she heard something crashing through the jungle towards her. It came so quickly that she didn't have time to move out of the way and was knocked to the ground.

Mel picked herself up from the ground and went to look at who had run her down.

"So you really are still alive. I was half-hoping he made it all up." Mel said as she looked down at Locke and offered her hand.

Locke watched her warily before taking her hand.

"Why did you shoot me?" he asked as she helped him off the ground.

"Jacob told me to." Mel shrugged.

"Why?"

"As a test I guess. Don't worry; I'm not going to try again. I know you won't stay dead."

"That's good to know." Locke nodded.

"Where were you running to so quickly?" she asked.

"It's Emma, she's gone into labor. I need to find Jack, Christian, and Juliet."

Mel's brow furrowed as she thought back, "Jack's Emma?"

"Yes. She's early, the baby isn't supposed to come yet."

"Where is she?" Mel asked, worried for Emma.

"She's at the Orchid station."

"Were close to the village. Go find them now and John?"

"Yes?"

"Don't stop running."

John nodded and took off in the direction of the village. Mel started running the opposite direction.

She reached the Orchid in good time but it had still been hours since John had left Emma alone. Mel hoped she was alright. Mel felt around until she found the door and tried pushing it open. It wouldn't budge.

"Come on." Mel said as she tried again and again, but it wouldn't open. It was like someone had jammed it.

"Emma!" Mel yelled as she pounded on the door. "Emma!" but it was no use. The only answer she received was the oddly silent jungle.

Leaning against the Orchid door Mel saw Jack, Christian and Juliet approach.

"Thank God!" she said under her breath. As Juliet ran up to her with tears in her eyes and hugged her.

"You're really alive!" she cried.

Mel hugged her old friend back, "Yeah, Jules I'm alive."

"Where is she?" Jack asked her frantically.

Mel looked at Jack hopelessly and tried not to notice Christian staring at her intently. "She's inside Jack. I couldn't get the door open, I'm sorry."

Jack shook his head, "You didn't do anything wrong, you just tried to help Emma."

Mel nodded, "I think if we all try we can get the door open."

"Okay, let's do it." Jack said, worry evident on his face.

They all crowded around the door. Christian stood next to Mel and she did her best to ignore him.

"On three." Jack said and they nodded. "One, two, three!"

They used all of their strength to shove the door open and thankfully it moved. Finally there was an open path down into the Orchid.

"Come on Jack." Christian said darkly, "Let's go find you wife."

Mel looked down as the two men went in front of her. Juliet placed a comforting hand or her shoulder and gave her a knowing look before following them. Mel looked after them; she had a really bad feeling about this. She took a deep breath and walked down into the dark.

They found her quickly. She was alone in the dark strapped to an operating table, and she was no longer pregnant.

Jack was at her side in an instant and as she opened her eyes she looked clearly back into his. "He's gone Jack. They took our baby."

"They can't be far." Mel said trying not to let the horror of the situation overcome her. "Jules, let's look around. See if they left anything."

"There's nothing here." Mel said as she came back into the room where they had found Emma. Jack and Emma were still at the table and Christian stood at the back of the room. Juliet came back in soon after her.

"Anything?" Christian asked.

Juliet shook her head, "It's like they were never here."

"There has got to be something." Jack said desperately.

Mel shook her head and ran her hands through her hair in frustration. Her heart went out to Emma and Jack. She knew what it was like to have your child taken from you and taken from your womb no less.

Mel said the words she didn't want to say and she knew no one else wanted to hear, "We have to talk to Ben."

"Why?" Christian asked forcefully, anger showing on his face.

Mel looked at him, "Because he knows this island better than anyone and there is a good chance he knows where they have gone."

"You think Ben did this?" Emma asked weakly. "Did he tell those people to take Desmond from me?"

Mel felt tears prick her eyes and the name Emma had given her child. Desmond would be very proud knowing Emma had named her baby after him. Mel shook her head sadly and went to Emma's side, "I'm sorry Em, but it's a possibility. This wouldn't be the first time he's done this."

"Yes, he did the same thing to you. He took William from you so why would you even consider trusting him?" Christian asked.

"Are you really one to point fingers Christian? You kidnapped William from me as well!" Mel took a deep breath, "This is not the place for this."

She turned back to Jack, "You staying here?"

Jack nodded, "For the time being until Emma is ready to move and I want to check the place again."

"Ok, I'll go see what I can get out of Ben. Jules want to come with me?" she asked.

Juliet stepped forward to answer but was cut off by Christian. "No." he said, "I'll come with you. After all, this is my grandchild we are talking about."

Mel glared at Christian for a full minute before looking at Juliet. She shrugged, "It's okay. I'll stay with Jack and Emma."

Mel turned to Emma and Jack, "It's okay, we'll find him."

Without looking at Christian Mel made her way to the door of the Orchid and out into the jungle. She didn't bother to see if Christian followed.

"Would you slow down?" Christian asked Mel.

Mel continued her quick pace, "No, we're in a hurry."

Christian grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him, "What is wrong with you?"

"There is nothing wrong with me, now let me go."

Christian released her arm and lowered his head, "You really don't remember anything about our life together?"

"Who told you? Wait, only one other person knew, Ben." Mel said stepping away from Christian. Being so close to him made her feel uncomfortable.

"Yes, he took a little too much pleasure in telling me you didn't remember being my wife. Where is your wedding ring?" he asked noticing her bare hand.

Mel looked him straight in the eye, "I lost it."

"Right." Christian snorted.

"I don't understand why you are so upset." Mel began, "You're not the one who lost at least six months."

"You don't understand?" Christian said, becoming angry again. "My wife, the woman I love and who until recently loved me, who I gave up everything for doesn't know who I am!"

"I know who you are Christian. You are the man who broke my heart when I was in college and you're the man who kidnapped my son."

"I thought you'd forgiven me for that!" Christian said desperately.

Mel shook her head, "Right now that is all I remember about you. To tell you the truth, if I had a gun I probably would have shot you by now."

The color drained from Christian's face as he listened to his wife's threat. How could one day change everything? Not one day ago she had been his loving wife who would have done anything for him. Now she wanted to kill him.

"We should get going. We still need to speak with Ben." Mel said, trying not to look at Christian's torment.

"Why him?" Christian asked through clenched teeth.

"What?"

"Why Ben? You went to see him first and you can't stop talking about him. What is it about Ben that fascinates you so?" he yelled.

Mel took a step back at the forcefulness of his words. "Can you really not understand?" she said and turned away to start walking.

"Answer me!" Christian screamed.

Mel whipped around, her face red with anger, "Because I'm in love with him!" she yelled.

Christian froze. "No you're not."

Mel couldn't deal with this anymore. She turned her back on Christian and began walking towards the village, towards Ben.

Christian didn't move; he couldn't. He never thought he would hear those words from Mel's mouth. He stood there dumbfounded as she left him alone in the jungle.

Ben answered the door still shocked from not only Sophie's recent miraculous return from death but her quick departure from their home. "Mel." he said dully. "What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you." she said, out of breath.

"Are you alone?" he asked.

"For now, I'm sure my dear husband will be along shortly."

Ben nodded, "Come in."

As soon as Mel entered the house Ben threw her up against the wall and wrapped a strong hand around her throat.

Mel's eyes widened.

"You let me believe she was gone. You let me believe that you hurt Sophie." he seethed.

Mel pulled in vain at his hand as it tightened. "You have caused me so much trouble; I should kill you now and be done with you."

Mel pleaded with Ben with her eyes but he wasn't having any of it. He shook her roughly and threw her against the wall again.

Suddenly Ben was tackled from the side. Ben was forced to let go of Mel's throat as he fell to the floor. Mel sank to the floor herself as she watched Christian slam his fist into Ben's face. "Don't you ever touch her!" he yelled.

Finally Christian stood glaring down at Ben and backed away. Ben stood slowly, wiping blood from his mouth. He looked down at Mel who was lightly feeling the bruised flesh on her neck.

Ben paled and he looked instantly sorry. He knelt down next to Mel and she noticed Christian had to restrain himself from knocking Ben over again.

"Mel, I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I just saw Sophie and..." he trailed off.

"If you just saw her then obviously she's still alive." Mel spat feeling it took to much energy to be angry. He voice softened, "Don't worry Ben. I won't be trying to kill Sophie any longer. It wouldn't do me any good anyway."

Ben offered his hand and helped Mel off the floor. "Thanks." she said softly.

"You're thanking him!" Christian said obviously aggravated.

Mel turned towards him, "Are you going to start this again?"

"He just tried to kill you! How have you already forgiven him?" Christian cried angrily. "Oh that's right; you're still in love with him. Here," he said as he threw something at her feet, "I hope you're happy together."

Mel watched Christian storm out of the house. She knew that she should have been more thankful to him for saving her life but in honesty, he hadn't really given her a chance.

Ben kneeled down and picked up the item Christian had thrown down. He looked up at her from the floor and held his hand out. Mel saw her wedding ring that she had purposely dropped outside the day before.

Ben made to hand it to her but she couldn't move to take it. She looked at Ben kneeling before her and reflected that the scene was what she had always wanted. How long had she hoped for Ben to get down on one knee and offer her a wedding ring?

But this wasn't her dream, this was a horrible reality. Ben wasn't really proposing and the ring he held had been given to her by another man.

Ben sighed and clutched the ring in his hand as he stood and questioned her, "You still love me?"

Mel sighed in frustration, "As far as I know I never stopped."

"Mel."

"Stop Ben. It doesn't matter now does it? You're married; my feelings for you are a moot point."

"I'm sorry but I can't change the past Mel."

"I just wish I could remember it."

Mel moved to look out the window, "So there is a war? Who should I be looking out for?"

Ben chuckled, "Basically everyone except your husband, Jack, Emma and Juliet."

"Oh God, Emma." Mel remembered. "Ben, Emma was at the Orchid and someone stole her baby."

"What?" Ben asked.

"They claimed they had been there when Desmond was being held captive. They took her child right out of her."

Mel moved closer to Ben, "Tell me the truth, do you know who is was? Do you know where Emma and Jack's baby is?"

Ben looked away, "I might have an idea." he said softly.

"Well?"

"I can't tell you, not yet. It might put you in danger."

Mel laughed, "Didn't you hear me earlier Ben? I can't die. What could possibly be more dangerous than that?"

Ben looked puzzled at her claiming immortality but went on, "Trust me, there are worse things."

"Where are our children Ben? I'd like to see them."

Ben looked surprised, "They're at you house of course."

"My house?" Mel asked, then it dawned on her, "with Christian."

"Yes." Ben nodded.

"I guess that is where I'll be then. You're going to help Emma and Jack right?"

"Of course, I'll do what I can."

Mel found it hard to decipher what Ben was really thinking but didn't have the energy to push the subject.

"Bye Ben." she said as she left his house.

"Goodbye Mel." he said as he watched her from the porch, still clutching her wedding ring in his hand.