hugs and kisses for my reviewers!

Now the fun begins. :-D


The torches blazed against the evening sky as Steve and the other background characters arrived carrying huge plates (i.e.

pieces of sheet metal) full of fruit. Jack, Kate, Sayid, and Michael came next with more than enough water for everyone. He

was amazed that they could carry so much. As they went to set the table, Hurley noticed Jin coming towards them with a net

full of fish. He ran down to help the smaller man carry the heavy load, thanking him profusely, being pretty sure he understood.

They carried the fish to the luau and put the net by the pit where Jack was already starting the fire.

As it got darker, more and more people started to arrive, and soon all but three people were there. Hurley hoped that

Locke and Boone would arrive with the boar soon; the survivors were getting hungry. As if on cue, everyone made way as

Locke and Boone arrived carrying two large, already-skinned, ready-to-cook boars. The survivors cheered as Locke set

down beside Jin and started preparing dinner.

Meanwhile, Charlie took over the role of DJ, and the survivors danced, mingled, and just goofed around. A few of the girls

even attempted the hula! Hurley looked out on the scene and smile. He loved to see all the survivors interacting like this.

Everyone was talking to everyone else; meeting people they hadn't met before and getting to know those they'd only talked to

once or twice. It was especially great to see people like Jack and Sayid – normally the solemnest of the group – laughing and

dancing and having a great time. And hour into the luau and not a single fish had broken out. Hurley hoped that his luck wasn't

about to change as he saw Sawyer coming towards the group with his hands behind his back. Hurley was a bit nervous, but

walked out to meet him.

"Well?"

Sawyer just smirked and brought out from behind his back a bottle of tequila and a bottle of margarita mix. "Been saving these

for a special occasion," he said. Hurley just stood there at a loss for words, then hugged Sawyer, catching him completely off

guard.

"Thank you, dude," he said, "on behalf of everyone."

"Yeah, yeah," said Sawyer, pushing him away. "Just save some of the tequila for me."

Hurley beamed and walked back to the party to check on the food.


"Food's ready!" Locke called. The hungry survivors rose and stampeded toward him. "Whoa!" he laughed, "One at a

time!" Everyone lined up and got their share of boar, fish, fruit, water, and a small seashell full of margarita (one without tequila

for Walt, of course), and seated themselves back at the table. When Locke, Jin, and Hurley had gotten their food, Hurley

stood at the front of the table and said "I'd like to make a toast." All eyes turned to him. "We've been stuck on this big,

creepy, hunk of sand for a month now. It hasn't always been easy or fun, and some of us haven't always gotten along great-"

Jack and Sawyer looked at each other "-but as long as we're here which, not to sound pessimistic but, could be a long time,

we're going to have to work together. Some people here lost family members in the crash, others are fortunate enough to still

have them." Shannon and Boone smiled. He continued, "Regardless of race, religion, language, past, whatever – as long as

we're all living on this island, whether we like it or not we're each other's family now. So," he raised his glass (erm, shell) and

the survivors raised theirs, "here's to friends, family, love, and the island, which may have been a blessing in disguise."

Everyone toasted and drank, then started to eat, each person looking at the island and the people around them in a different

light.


That's probably my favorite chapter. Hope you guys liked it too. :-)

The next one will unfortunately be the last, but trust me, it will be good.