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 36

Christian walked into the living room to find a frantic Keamy. He held little Bella in his arms lovingly but was searching the living room as if he has lost something. Keamy turned to face him with wild eyes, "Is she with you?"

Christian shook his head, "Who?"

"Mel!" Keamy started to yell but caught himself so he wouldn't scare the baby.

Just then William walked in from the hallway and tugged in Christian's leg, "Papa, where is mama?" he asked.

Suddenly Christian understood what had Keamy worried. He turned to Keamy, "I thought she spent the night with you?" he told him.

Keamy shook his head, "No, the last time I saw her she was asleep in here."

Both men turned to look at the bare couch where Mel had laid the night before.

Christian sighed, "She's gone."

"Then he took her." Keamy said knowingly.

"You think he knows? He guessed what happened?" Christian asked.

"Benjamin Linus knows as much about the island as Widmore. He was in the village when the Tempest blew, he couldn't have missed it. He knows damn well what is going to happen to Mel and he is going to try to keep us from her."

Christian glanced out the window, "But why would he take her away? He understands what could happen to her if she doesn't succeed." he asked more himself than the man in front of him.

"He doesn't want to help Mel Christian." Keamy scoffed, "He wants to kill her."

"Open the door!" they heard from the front door. Someone was banging on it so hard it sounded like the hinges would come loose.

"Shit." Keamy said under his breath as he walked to the front door and pulled it open. Sayid stood there, in his hands a gun pointing at Keamy.

Keamy quirked an eyebrow at Sayid then glanced at the baby in his arms. "How about you put the gun away."

"I want to know where Emma is!" Sayid yelled.

Keamy nodded, his outward appearance calm, while his mind raced on thoughts of Mel and where Ben may have taken her. "Calm down Sayid. Shooting me isn't going to get you anywhere."

"It would make me feel better." Sayid intoned.

"No doubt." Keamy chuckled. "But then I couldn't tell you that, that man in there, Christian? He talked to your Emma last. He might be able to give you a clue on where she went. But, you don't get inside unless you put the gun away."

Sayid looked ready to argue again but then he looked at the man standing in front of him. He had at least a foot up on him in height and probably at least sixty pounds or more. If Keamy didn't want him in the house he would have no problem keeping him outside.

"Very well.' Sayid said as he made to stow his gun in his waistband.

"Leave it." Keamy warned.

Sayid relented and placed his gun on the seat of a chair on the porch. Once he did Keamy stepped aside. "Be careful here." he said ominously.

Sayid took a deep breath, wondering if he got himself into more than he could handle. But it didn't matter, he would do anything to save Emma, and he had the feeling she was in definite danger. He stepped through the doorway, into Mel's house which currently held two very dangerous men. Sayid felt as if he was stepping into a lion's den.

Sayid's hesitation wasn't unfounded. Once he entered the living room he found both men to look positively livid.

"What can I do for you Sayid? This is not the best time so forgive me for needing to make this quick." Christian said as he stood.

Sayid glanced quickly around the house, he didn't see Mel anywhere.

"Is Mel gone as well?" he asked.

"Where Mel is, is really none of your business. What do you want?"

Sayid glared at Christian, "I want you to tell me what you did with Emma."

Christian shrugged, "I didn't do anything with your new beloved. Have you asked Jack if he has seen her?" he mocked.

Sayid took an angry step forward and heard Keamy tut in warning behind him. "The last time anyone saw her she stormed into this house with you. Where is she?"

"Emma did come here Sayid and she was mad as hell, I will give you that. But I haven't done anything to her. She is practically my daughter in law, what reason would I have to hurt her?"

"What reason did you have to kill all of those people in the Purge? I don't think you have a reason for any of the crimes you commit."

"I don't have time to argue with you Sayid. I saw Emma stalk off into the jungle sometime yesterday evening. She said she was off to find someone. An Oliver maybe?"

Sayid felt his blood begin to boil at Oliver's name.

"I see that name rings a bell. I guess you should be after her now shouldn't you?" Christian said in dismissal.

Sayid turned toward the front door, this meeting hadn't gone how he had planned at all.

"Don't forget your gun." Keamy called good naturedly as he opened the front door and took his exit.

As soon as he was gone Christian turned to Keamy, "Take the kids to Sun's house and ask her to watch them, we need to leave, now."

Mel knew it wouldn't do her any good to try and run from Ben and Richard, so she let Richard tie her hands in front of her and lead her through the jungle.

'Where are you two?' she said to herself. She had faith that Christian and Keamy wouldn't stop until they found her but she was becoming more and more worried.

Suddenly Mel began to feel dizzy. She stopped walking and took a deep breath. She felt Richard tug on the rope that bound her arms but she didn't move forward.

"Ben!" Richard said urgently when he took a look at Mel.

Ben came to her side and grabbed her face. He forced her to look into his eyes. "It's happening." he said.

"What is happening?" she whispered but he didn't answer her, he only watched her closely.

"Ben?" Mel whispered as her vision grew dark and she began to fall. It felt like it took an eternity for her to reach the ground. When she finally did she slowly opened her eyes and realized she was somewhere else.

Mel sat up quickly and was hit by a dizzy spell. When it finally faded she was able to look around. To start, she was lying in a bed. The walls around her were painted a calming pumpkin color and the furniture looked very expensive. Mel threw the covers off and swung her legs to the edge of the bed. She looked down and froze when she saw what she was wearing. She had on a black negligee that barely brushed the beginning of her thighs.

"Where am I?" she whispered to herself as she stood and walked hesitantly around the bed.

Suddenly she heard a noise coming from what she guessed was the bathroom. She heard the shower turn on and before she could hide the door swung open.

"Good morning darling." a charming voice crooned as he walked over to her wearing only a towel around his waist. "I started the shower for you."

Mel could only stare at him with wide eyes. Her husband stood in front of her, Christian Sheppard, only something was wrong. She glanced down at her left hand and didn't see her wedding ring. She hadn't taken it off once since she had gotten it back from Ben.

She looked back at Christian as he dropped his towel and began dressing for the day. Mel studied him trying to figure out what it was about him that seemed so different. All at once it hit her as he ran a comb through his hair. His hair. Her husband had pure silvery gray hair. The man in front of her was just beginning to show bits of gray.

Christian turned to her, "If you don't shake a leg darling you are going to be late for class."

Mel nodded absently and moved towards the bathroom door. "Christian?" she said tentatively.

"Yes darling?" he said turning his steel blue eyes to her.

"How old am I right now?" she asked.

Christian's smile faded a touch as he considered her question. It was obvious her age was something he didn't like to discuss. Finally he answered her, "Mel, you're twenty-one, you know that."

Mel had to grip the door frame to remain standing. She ignored Christian's questioning look and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Once shut inside away from Christian's eyes she sank to the floor. She was terrified as she considered the possibilities of what had happened. How was it possible that she was over ten years in the past? Mel closed her eyes and covered them with her hands. She wanted this to go away, right now.

Both Keamy and Christian heard the scream.

"That was her!" Keamy stated. "Do you think it's already begun?"

"I don't know. She didn't sound too far off, let's go." Christian answered.

"They'll be moving her by now." Keamy said darkly.

"Then we should hurry."

They continued to race through the jungle, guns ready to shoot anyone who came in between them and Mel.

Mel's eyes shot open as a piercing scream came from her mouth. She looked around frantically, confused by the sight of trees.

"Christian?" she called wildly looking for her dark haired suitor.

She saw Ben bend over her and for a moment she didn't know who he was. Then everything came back to her.

"Where did you go Mel?" Ben asked gently.

Mel stared at him, "You know what just happened don't you?"

Ben gave a slight nod.

"You bastard, you want this to happen to me." she said.

"We need to move, now." Richard approached, "The entire jungle will have heard her scream."

Ben nodded and leaned closer to help Mel stand. She offered him her hand as her other whipped behind him and grabbed his gun. She took a step back and pointed it at him, loosening the safety as she did so.

"We're not going anywhere until you explain what the hell is going on Ben."

"I won't do that Mel." Ben said, eyeing the gun.

"You will and then you're going to tell me how to stop it."

"You tell me why I just blacked out and travelled back to when I was in college or I will shoot you." Mel threatened Ben.

"So you saw Christian. He must be her Constant." Ben said looking past her to talk to Richard. Ben was ignoring the gun in her hands all together.

Mel aimed for Ben's shoulder and moved up a fraction of an inch. He visibly flinched when she pulled the trigger. The bullet tore into the tree right behind him.

"Next time, I won't miss." Mel said.

"There may not be a next time Mel." Ben said seriously.

Losing her nerve Mel knelt in front of Ben, who sat on a large rock. "This is going to kill me isn't it?" she whispered finally beginning to understand Ben's double talk.

Ben nodded.

"Why?" she asked.

Ben sighed, "When the Tempest blew you were exposed to a rather large amount of electromagnetism. This is causing you to begin to bounce back and forth in time. If you're telling to truth about who you saw then I'm guessing you went back in time to your college days when you were having an affair with Christian Sheppard."

Mel didn't like the accusing tone in his voice, "I didn't know he was married." she defended, "But why do I have to die? How do I make it stop?"

"You have to find your constant. One person who will anchor you both in the past and the present. If you don't find them, then your brain will begin to hemorrhage from the travel and you will die."

Mel looked off into the jungle, lost in her thoughts, "My father said he gave me two constants." she mulled.

"What?" Ben asked in surprise. "He did what?"

Mel smirked, "This is why you had Richard take me. You don't want me to connect with my constant, you want me to die. Why Ben?"

Ben's eyes hardened, "Because you and your two paramours have caused enough chaos on my island. It is time for my take back my rightful place."

Mel laughed, "You can't be serious!" Mel braced her hand on Ben's knee so she wouldn't fall over from laughing so much, "You think he still wants you as leader? He gave up on you a long time ago."

Ben was silent.

"You don't know do you?" she wondered as she studied him.

"Why don't you enlighten me?" he spat.

Mel was slightly amused by his petty tone, "He's picked John. John is going to finally have a chance to fulfill his destiny. He is going to move the island. I can't believe Jacob didn't tell you."

"Of course he didn't tell me." Ben said shoving her hand away, "But that doesn't mean I didn't know. I was with John when he went into that cabin."

"Then why are we even having this discussion?" Mel said.

"John will not be the new leader." Ben said surely.

Mel fought the urge to laugh, "I know that Ben. I know that his task will cost him everything."

"My son will be the leader." Ben said suddenly.

Mel stood abruptly. She looked down at Ben and found he was completely serious.

"Mine and Sophie's son of course." he added. Mel slapped him across the face.

"You are truly a fool. How long are you going to be blinded by that silly woman and her illusions of grandeur?" Mel said in a rush. "I'm willing to bet that she is the one who told you that nonsense."

Ben's silence told her she was right.

Mel turned from Ben, his gun still hanging in her hand, "Tell me something Ben. Who are you out in the jungle with right now?"

There was a long pause before he answered, "You."

"Yes and where is your wife?"

"I can't be sure, in the village I would guess."

Mel nodded, "Who is on your mind more, me or her?"

"Sophie, of course."

Mel looked at him over her shoulder, "Be honest."

"You." he said gruffly. "But only because you cause me so much strife."

"I thought as much. When are you going to understand Ben that as long as I am around there will always be something between the two of us? I thought you had gotten over that but it seems you haven't."

"That is all the more reason to let you die." Ben said darkly.

"I know that you think it will, but it won't change anything Ben."

"I'm willing to find out." Ben whispered in a pained voice.

Mel closed her eyes and shook her head. They may have been crazy in love at one time but they had fallen out of it hard. They had messed each other up for good, there was no undoing that kind of damage.

Suddenly Mel heard the sweetest voice she'd ever heard, "Mel!" Keamy yelled crashing through the brush behind her.

"Keamy." she whispered, smiling as she began to turn around. Ben grabbed her and stopped her ripping the gun out of her hand in the process.

"Let's not ruin things." he said into her ear. He aimed over her shoulder and began shooting. He held her tightly to him so she couldn't turn around to see Keamy.

She heard a loud, angry yell and then Keamy curse. He had been hit.

"No!" she cried and fought harder against Ben.

"Richard, get her out of here!" Ben yelled.

Richard grabbed her roughly and began pulling her in the opposite direction of Keamy and Ben. She tried to fight against him but began to feel that same dizzy feeling from earlier.

"Please, not now." she whispered as she felt herself falling to the ground.

She was already gone when Richard threw her over his shoulder and carried her away from one of the two men who could save her.