Thanks for all the reviews, now we're on to chapter five. This chapter focuses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I just want to say a very Merry Christmas to everyone and hope you have a great one!

Chapter Five: Oh What A Christmas

Christmas Eve

"I cannot believe I'm going to be meeting Charlie's parents," Claire exclaimed as she helped Karen roll out dough for cookies.

"Yeah, but don't worry. Shawn and Beth are great. They are very understandable and warm. They should take a liking to you," Karen replied.

"I hope so, Charlie was going to tell them about Aidan and I on the way home," Claire stated.

"Don't worry so much. They are going to love both of you," Karen said. As if on cue, Aidan was heard crying from upstairs.

"Better go see what's wrong," Claire said wiping her hands on a towel. She ran up the stairs and to Aidan's crib. "What's wrong little one?" Aidan looked up at Claire as he screamed.

"Don't cry," Claire said. "Mommy's here." Claire picked him up and held him close to her chest and rocked him. She then looked at him. "Well, today you are going to meet your grandparents or whatever they're going to be to you." Claire was scared about intruding on Charlie's personal life, especially meeting his parents. Aidan whimpered softly and Claire smiled.

"Hello? Karen! Claire!" Liam's voice called from downstairs. Claire turned towards the door.

"Well, let's go," she said. She walked out the door and to the stairs. At the bottom of them, Karen and Megan were meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Pace. Claire saw Charlie at the bottom standing in a corner and he looked up and smiled at her and motioned for her to come down. Claire smiled uneasily and headed down the stairs.

"Mum, Dad," Charlie said getting their attention. Mr. and Mrs. Pace turned towards their son who had his arm draped around Claire. "This is Claire Littleton, my girlfriend, and our son, Aidan."

"It's so nice to meet you both," Claire replied. Mrs. Pace smiled at her.

"Oh my dear, it is so wonderful to meet you as well!" Mrs. Pace said hugging Claire. "Charlie has bragged about you the whole way home. And he spoke fondly of Aidan as well."

"Claire, I explained the whole situation to them and they are cool with it," Charlie said. Claire smiled.

"That's great, I just didn't want to feel like I was intruding," Claire said.

"Oh not at all. We're just happy that Charlie has found love and quit using," Mr. Pace said. Mrs. Pace was looking at Aidan.

"Claire, may I hold him?" Mrs. Pace asked.

"Sure, yeah," Claire said handing him over. Mrs. Pace held the baby like it was one of her own and showered it with sweet sayings and kisses. Claire smiled at Charlie and he smiled back at her. He then took her hand and led her to the hallway.

"You made it through the worst part. Congratulations," Charlie said kissing her cheek.

"Thanks, your parents are so sweet. And here I was freaking out for nothing," Claire said.

"No need to flip. They already love you and they already see Aidan as their own grandson," Charlie said. Claire smiled.

"Thanks Charlie," Claire said getting deja vu. Charlie smiled.

"You're quite welcome," he said. Claire smiled and Charlie looked up. He looked back at Claire. "Mistletoe," he said. Claire smiled and they kissed.

Later...

Claire came down the stairs after putting Aidan down for the night. She wanted him to have a good nights sleep so he would be ready to open presents. Karen was fighting with Megan up in her room trying to get her to bed. Claire walked into the living room to see Mrs. Pace sitting at the piano playing Christmas carols.

Charlie and Liam were surrounding the piano and thinking of what songs to sing. Claire walked up and grabbed onto Charlie's hand.

"You want to sing some Christmas carols?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah," Claire said. They sang some songs together and then they all sat to talk. Claire went into the kitchen to get something to drink when she saw Mrs. Pace in there.

"Oh hi, Claire," she said.

"Hi, Mrs. Pace," Claire said. "You okay?"

"Yeah, fine. Just cherishing the moment I have both my boys together again," Mrs. Pace replied.

"Yeah, I'm glad we were rescued," Claire said. Mrs. Pace sat at the table.

"Could you tell me about it?" Mrs. Pace asked. Claire joined her at the table.

"About being on the island?" Claire asked. Mrs. Pace nodded. Claire took a deep breath and started the story. She included almost everything, from the plane crash, water shortage, Charlie helping her through when she passed out and went into labor, the peanut butter, and Charlie just being there for her 100. Then Claire went through the horror stories, Charlie's addiction and withdrawal, when she had the nightmares and when her and Charlie were kidnapped by Ethan. Then she had to tell Mrs. Pace the worst story, when Charlie was hung. Claire remembered the day Charlie told her about it, how he couldn't remember anything, but Jack told him he was hanging in the tree. Mrs. Pace shed tears and Claire comforted her.

"Let's get off the topic of that horrible island. Tell me about yourself," Mrs. Pace replied. Claire smiled.

"My story is not better," Claire said. Mrs. Pace looked at her with pleading eyes. Claire took another breath and told her story. Mrs. Pace was shocked at how tough Claire's life had been.

"I'm so sorry my dear," Mrs. Pace said.

"I'm okay now. We're doing fine. I've found someone who loves me and that's Charlie. And I want you to know, I love him too," Claire said. Mrs. Pace smiled and gave Claire a hug.

The Next Morning

"Claire! Claire!" Charlie said shaking Claire awake. Claire's half-open eyes flew over to Charlie hovering over her.

"What?" she asked. Charlie rolled his eyes.

"Get up silly, it's Christmas!" Charlie said. Claire smiled and sat up. Charlie kissed her. "Merry Christmas Claire."

"Merry Christmas Charlie," Claire said. He pulled her up out of bed and then raced over to pick Aidan up who was awake. "I'll be down in a minute."

"Why? Where are you going? Claire, it's Christmas!" Charlie said.

"I know, but it will still be Christmas when I get back from going pee," Claire said.

"Go to the loo later," Charlie said grabbing her hand.

"Charlie," she said laughing. He smiled and let her go. She went to the bathroom while Charlie went downstairs to join a screaming in delight Megan.

Claire joined everyone downstairs a few minutes later to see they were all waiting for her. She sat next to Charlie with Aidan in between them. They helped Aidan open all his gifts and opened one for him so he could play with it.

"Here's my gift to you," Charlie said. "You'll be getting your bigger gift later after dinner." Claire smirked.

"Well, here's your gifts, but you'll be getting your bigger gift after dinner as well," Claire said. Charlie pouted but then started opening his gifts.

Claire ripped open a gift and saw it was a jar of peanut butter. She laughed out loud and kissed Charlie. "This is great, thank you!" Everyone else looked at them weird except for Mrs. Pace who knew the joke.

"It's an inside joke," Charlie said opening his one gift. Soon they had all their gifts opened. Charlie had received clothes, CD's, and a bunch of little things from Claire. Claire got a CD from Charlie with her favorite songs on them, clothes (that actually fit), and a new journal for her to write in, plus a baby book to record Aidan's things in.

"And now, we have something for Charlie and Claire," Mr. Pace said. He reached under the tree and grabbed an envelope.

"We hope you like it," Mrs. Pace said. Mr. Pace handed the envelope to Charlie who looked at Claire and opened it. He looked at the papers inside and his mouth dropped open in shock.

"Claire, they...they bought us an apartment!" Charlie said. Claire's eyes widened.

"What?! No way!" Claire said a smile playing on her face. Charlie let her see the title deeds and he looked at his parents.

"You didn't have to buy us this," Charlie said. His parents smiled at him.

"We wanted to. You and Claire have a family, and a family needs a house," Mr. Pace explained. Charlie smiled and hugged his parents.

"Thank you," he said. Claire hugged them as well.

"Thank you," she whispered to Mrs. Pace.

"Anytime," Mrs. Pace whispered back. Charlie and Claire looked at each other in smiles and hugged each other.

That night...

Claire sat out on the patio on the swing as the breeze blew through her hair. She then felt a blanket envelop her shoulders and Charlie sit next to her.

"You're going to get sick sitting out here in the cold," Charlie said wrapping an arm around her. Claire smiled.

"You're always taking care of me," Claire said. Charlie kissed her cheek.

"It's my job," he said. He looked at Claire looking at the sky. "Did you have a good Christmas?"

"Yeah," she said looking at him. "The best one I've had in years. You?"

"Yeah, the best one I've had in years as well," he replied. "But, it's not over yet."

"What do you mean by that?" Claire asked looking into his eyes. Charlie sat up and looked at her.

"Claire, I just want you to know that whatever I said to you on the island, I meant that. I will always take care of you. I know you've been hurt in the past and I want to change that. I hope I'm in your future because I see you in mine as well as Aidan. I love you and I just want you to know that. You mean the world to me. I loved getting stranded on that island because I loved getting lost with you and I just wanted to know something," he said.

"What do you want to know?" Claire asked smiling at him. Charlie stood and then got on one knee in front of her. "Oh my God, Charlie!" she exclaimed in a breathless whisper.

"Claire, will you marry me?" Charlie asked opening the ring box. Claire felt tears rush to her eyes and her hand flew to her mouth. She tried to get the word out but it wouldn't come. She then sniffed and nodded and then it came, "yes." Charlie smiled and slid the ring on her finger.

He stood and pulled her up into a kiss. "I love you Claire," Charlie whispered.

"I love you too," Claire replied. They kissed again and then Claire pulled away. "Do you want your other gift now?"

"Sure," Charlie said. They walked up stairs and to their room. Claire went to the closet and then turned towards Charlie.

"Close your eyes," she directed. He smiled and closed his eyes. Claire pulled out her gift and put it in Charlie's hands. "Open them." Charlie opened them and yelled in joy.

"Claire! You didn't have to buy me a new guitar!" he exclaimed running his fingers over it.

"I know, but I wanted to," Claire said.

"Thank you," he said looking at her.

"You're quite welcome," she said. He leaned over and kissed her. Charlie looked at the stereo and got an idea.

"Do you want to dance?" he asked.

"Sure," Claire said. Charlie put his guitar down and went to the stereo. He put in Claire's favorite songs CD and the first song started playing. He pulled Claire into his arms and they slowly danced.

'I've heard there was a secret chord,

That David played and it pleased the Lord,

But you don't really care for music do you?

It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth,

The minor fall, the major lift,

The baffled King composing Hallelujah.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You're faith was strong, but you needed proof,

You saw her bathing on the roof,

Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you.

She tied you to a kitchen chair,

She broke your throne and she cut your hair,

And from your lips she drew the hallelujah.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Maybe I've been here before,
I know this room, I've walked this floor,

I use to live alone before I knew you.

I've seen your flag on the marbled arch,

Love is not a victory march,

It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time when you'd let me know,

What's real and going on below,

But now you never show it to me, do you?

And remember when I moved in you,

The Holy Dark was moving too,

And every breath we drew was Hallelujah.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Maybe there's a God above,

And all I've ever learned from love,

Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you.

And it's not a cry you can hear at night,

It's not somebody who's seen the light,

It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah'

Alright, this is my last update until after Christmas. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I really liked this chapter. Please read and review! I had a little trouble with the review responses last chapter. So sorry for those who reviewed and it didn't show up on Chapter Four. They will be in this one! Thanks so much! Merry Christmas!

Bloomy Angel

REVIEW RESPONSES

Lotr3-Hp3- Thanks for the review!

Randomly-lost- I'm glad you love the story! Thanks for the review!

Dom-Monaghan-Fan01- That is a coincidence. I just thought the song fit the moment. But I appreciate the review. Thanks so much!

Christina B- I'm glad you like the story! And I update a lot so keep on reading!

Ilovecherries123- Thanks for the review and I'm glad you love the story! More is headed this way!