Disclaimer: I don't own lost. On another note, because I'm facing an creative dry-spell, and because I want to keep some of the information as close to the true plot as possible, it may be a while before this story has another good twist. I will be updating, but anthill after "Raised by another" atleast, the story will continue to be shot and most likely romantic. But don't be discourage, because something interesting will happen soon.

Lauren Williams: always a pleasure

A A Battery: aw, thank you. They are adorable, and for the record, you can sew me if you like but I don't have any money :D.

FATE:

The Eye of The Storm

Charlie awoke to the sound of rain beating down on the shifting plastic ceiling as it had for the

past three nights. He sat up and looked around, waiting for his eyes to adjust in the dark. The

majority of the candles had been blown out, minus a few on one of the tables in the far left corner.

He felt the empty space beside him, still warm from where Claire had laid. He was suddenly aware

that he couldn't see her, and didn't know where she was. "Claire?" he whispered, hoarsely. He

heard a rustle from the door area and looked over. Claire had been sitting in the door way the

entire time. She sat with her back to him, head stareing back with surprise over her shoulder. Her

bare legs outreached into the rain. "Hi" she whispered back, wrinkling up her nose. "Did I wake

you?" she then asked, pulling one of her legs up to her chest. "No" he lied, still half asleep. "What

are you doing?" he asked, flipping the blankets off of what little was covered and scooting over to

her. "I can't sleep" she replied, rubbing her hand across her knee. "So sticking yourself out the

door is going to help?" he questioned sarcastically, pulling up beside her. He was almost in a laying

position, putting most of his weight on one hand, witch laid right before her thigh. "Your not

afraid of a little rain, are you Charlie?" she teased playfully. "Not at all, just, thought It might be

cold" he replied with a shrug. "Of corse its cold, its rain. Theres not warm rain" she agreed,

playing master of the obvious. "So you are cold?" he accused playfully, rasing one eye brow. "A bit" she confessed, biting her lip. "In that case, maybe I should warm you up" he replied,

suggestively, leaning in teasingly close to her so that their faces were only inches apart.

Claire, unable to keep a straight face, burst into to laughter.

"what?" he questioned, innocently, laughing himself. She tried to hold it together, closing

her mouth, but couldn't resist. She put her head down on his shoulder as her entire body shook

with laughter. "Very funny" he agreed Sarchasticly. "I'm sorry" she apologized in between giggles,

covering her mouth in an attempt to stop. "Alright, its not that funny, is it?" he questioned,

skeptically, tilting his head to the side. She nodded, unable to talk. A quick snicker, then burst back

into another full-blown laughing fit. Charlie waited for a moment impatiently hoping she would

grab a hold of herself. It didn't work. "theres no stopping you, is there?" he questioned, wearily.

She tried to say no, but no sound came out. There for, she responded by shaking her head. She

was caught off gard when he leaned in to kiss her. Needless to say, she stopped laughing. Stopped

breathing, thinking, she couldn't even remember what she had been laughing about. Charlie was,

by far the greatest kiss she had ever experienced. Before him, she had developed the Idea that a

kiss, is a kiss. A simple jester that took no talent or skill. A act witch she would normally respond

to with a general appreciation and slight embarrassment. But Charlie was a whole new world of

reactions. Kissing was now phenomenal, a act that only he could masterly perform. And

afterwards, her cheeks turned red and her smile would not fade away. They're lips parted and she

felt her skin turn red. She looked down, shyly. Charlie placed another kiss on her forehead, then

leaned back with a contempt smile. They sat silently for a moment, recovering. Glancing at each

other ocasionly. After a moment, Claire pulled herself off the ground and ducked out the door

way. "Where are you going?" Charlie questioned from inside. "Come on" she suggested, leaning

down so that the could see him through the door. "Its freezing!" he protested, giving her the 'are-

you-mad?' look. "No it's not. Oh, come on!" she insisted, tugging at his arm. He couldn't resist.

With a sigh, he pulled himself up and fallowed her out into the pouring rain. "So what exactly is

the point of this?" he asked as he walked quickly behind her. "Oh stop being such a baby" she

teases, keeping a lose grip oh his hand. "I'm not" he replied, defensively. "Are too"

she protested playfully, stopping to face him. "Am not" he insisted childishly, wrapping his arms

around her waist. "Fine, you win" she gave in, giving him a quick peck. "Good" he replied

triumphantly with a sly grin. He went in for anther kiss, but before even a second had passed, they

herd a cry coming from inside the tent. Claire gave him a quick smile, then headed back to the tent.

Slightly disappointed, he fallowed. Claire kneeled down and lifted him out of his 'crib'. Charlie

pulled up beside her, resting his head on her shoulder as he attempted to compere the him as well.

Her skin was ice-cold, he couldn't believe she wasn't shivering. He himself was shaking like a leaf,

but then again that had almost become and involuntary habit. "I never know what wrong with him"

Claire sighed helplessly. "Maybe he's cold" Charlie suggested, coming out far more sarcastic than he

had meant. Claire rolled her eyes and continued to rock Ben in her arms. Charlie's hand rested on the

bundle of blankets, trying to calm him. There was nothing they could do but keep him company. "I

guess we won't be getting much sleep tonight" Claire noted with exhaustion. "That's alright" Charlie

replied, planting a quick peck on her cheek, witch then led down to her neck."Charlie"she

whispered with a giggle, pulling herself away. "Sorry," he muttered,"I can't help it." She smiled and

leaned back agenst him. He pulled his arms around her waist and rested his head on top of hers.

After a while, the crying stopped, and his eyes slowly began to close. "I think hes asleep" Claire

whispered, looking back at Charlie over her shoulder. He smiled back, looking over her shoulder at

the child's sleeping face. They sat silently for another moment, admiring him. Suddenly, they herd a

heavy rumble from out side. Claire jumped, surprised. "What was that?" she questioned, looking

around the room. It sounded again, louder this time. They jumped again. "I don't know. Thunder

maybe?" her replied optimistically. They both knew full well it was not thunder. Suddenly, the door

flap to their tent flung open. "Guys, come on" Jack whimpered from the door way. Confused, the

two fallowed him out. The whole island was covered with people in night close, scattered across the

sand. "What's going on?" Charlie whispered loudly, standing close by him. "Shh" he replied, looking

out into the woods. Another rumble came from within, the trees bending and snapping with every

sound. The dark grey clouds rolled furiously over head. Rain still poured down. Every one seemed

to be orbiting towards jack. "What do we do?" Kate asked, moving up beside him. "How am I

suppose to know?" he whispered back, appearing to be offended by the question. The whole island

stood in panic and confusion. What ever it was, it was getting closer and there was no where to run.

A screech came out from the bundle wrapped tightly in Claire's arms. Evry one's attention fell on

her."hey, keep it down. You trying to get us all killed?" Sowyer snapped, speaking over the

wavering cries. Claire continued her weak attempt to calm him, unfazed by the comment. "I don't

think it matters" Sayid shoot back, passive aggressively. Slowly, as they watched, the creature

seemed to stop and turn away. The volume fadded as it moseyed back into the jungle. The island

breathed with relief. The rain ceased, only Ben's faint cries remained. As the tension fadded, every

one slowly departed, heading back to their own sections of the island.

It had been two months since the plain crashed, and life on the island had become entirely bearable.

Despite the limited supplies given to them, they had managed to build a small community, that was

growing bigger and more efficient every day. Locke provided the food, taking three out on a hunt

twice a week. Sayid was the scientist, he had managed to explore about half the island and was

constantly working out any mathematical or geographical issue that came to them. Kate was the

sherif, she took it upon herself to keep the peace. Jack, of chores was the doctor, Michael the

handy man, Boone was the safety inspector. Hurly had come up with various ideas to improve

their enjoyment of the island. An unspoken system of government had fallen upon them, each day

growing closer and closer to civilization. And though the idea of being rescued remained fresh in

every ones mind, a part of it had been forgotten. Life on the island wasn't very different from life

at home. But Charlie and Claire had excluded themselves from this system. Claire, having to care

for her child day and night, was normally unable and un wanted at help, and Charlie had

subconsciously labeled himself useless, tending only to Claire and her little one. They rarely left

their tent on the shoreline, and if they did, it was together. Every day the sun would be bright and

hot, and they would sit either inside in the shade, or out infront of their home in the sun. around

mid after noon, it would begin to go grey. They'd get their daily share from Locke, sit around with

the rest of the tribe at the local campfire and eat, then head back home before the rain came. Rain

came sequentially every single night, the tent would glow red with the flickering lights of the

candles. And they would sleep side by side in each others arms, with no words. Jack, Sayid and

Michael had been working on a radical idea of erosion, to bring the fresh water from various points

on the island to the beach. They had been in and out of the jungle off and on for about three days,

word was they were makeing progress. Jack some how managed to return every night for the

community cook out where he would make his usual teasing advances with Kate. "They're the

reason why it rains every night, always macking up a storm" Charlie noted, on one of their most

disgusting waves of flirtation. Claire had told him to bite his toung, his reply was the suggestion

that she bite it for him. Hurly's remark to both was that they were becoming more like Jack and

Kate every day. After that comment Charlie ceased to tease them until after a particular night

when some questionable moaning noises could be heard far and wide. The source, though not

proven, was un mistakenly close to their neighboring tents belonging to Jack and Kate. That night,

unable to sleep because of those very sounds, Charlie concluded that they had taken his advice and

had half a mind to go over there and interrupt.

Yes, life on the beach had become routine. And it had been long since they had even herd from the

unknown creature from inside the jungle. Nor, had any one gotten hurt. Life on the island had become

almost boring as they found themselves trapped in a tropical suburban hell. On the surface, it appeared

natural. Every one was contempt, agreeable with the situation. But underneath they were enveloped in

a deep state of panic. This was the tragedy waiting to happen, the eye of the storm. Because all knew

there was no way in hell the island would let them live in peace. Something was bound to go wrong.