Warm and cool is really real...
"Dude, here comes your woman."
Charlie looked up at Hurley's observation. Claire was trudging through the brush balencing Baby Aiden cradled on her arm and a grass-weaved mat in her hand.
"Looks like she's bringing you something…like food." Hurley continued as Claire came closer.
"Hi!" she greeted, a smile spliting her face.
"Hello, luv" Charlie greeted back with a nod. He held out his hands, and Claire slipped Aiden into his arms.
"Hey Claire," started Hurley, looking curiously at what was on the grass-weaved mat. "Whatcha got there?"
"Oh, I wanted to try my hand at cooking." She plopped down next to Charlie on the log. "I use to work at a fish and fry place. I thought it wouldn't be too hard to cook up something."
She proudly presented the mat to Charlie. The fish was nearly blackened and had some sort of liquid covering it. Charlie scrunched up his nose.
"What's that stuff on top of it?"
"I maranaded it in guava juice."
They heard a snort. Hurley was shaking in silent amusement.
Charlie cocked his head to look at his friend beside him. "What?"
"Dude, I so can't wait to watch you eat that."
"Hurley!" Claire snapped, but a smile betrayed her. "You have no faith in my cooking?"
The large man shrugged. "I'm not the one who's gonna eat it."
Claire shot a look at Charlie, who was convenantly distracted with tickling Aiden's chubby cheek. He felt Claire's eyes on him and raised his head, catching the determination on her face.
He smiled, winningly. "Looks delicious, luv. How 'bout a taste?"
"Gladly," replied Claire smiling back. She broke off a piece of the fish and fed it to Charlie.
Hurley rolled his eyes at the display. Claire giggled as Charlie sucked on her finger, savoring the drops of the guava juice. "Not in front of the kid!"
"How is it?" asked Claire.
Charlie nodded. "It's good! And I'm not just saying that."
She presented the mat to Hurley. "Want some?"
"That's okay." He held up a hand. "You made it for your man anyway."
"I'm happy to share," Charlie put in, "but don't expect me to share those lovely fingers I like to use as silverware."
Hurley through his friend a 'you-lousy-son-of-a-gun' look. He didn't want to disappoint Claire, in his good-natured way. So he took a piece of fish and hesitated before popping it in his mouth. Flashes of hacking up whatever Jin had given him nausitatingly danced in his mind. To Hurley's surprise, he liked the fish.
"It's good."
"Really?" asked Claire, happily.
"Yeah."
She poked Charlie in the side. "I'm glad to hear you weren't lying to me."
"Hey!" Charlie protested, leaning away from her. "I know better than to lie to you ever again. Now how about some more of that fish from those lovely fingers?"