Lireal Goldenhand: Glad you liked it. Never experienced the magic of birth myself, but from what I was told, it hurts. So I went with what I know. I'm glad you liked it though. Hugs back!
LostLorenzo: Man, last nights episode was soooo good! Charlie is adorable, and I too, loved the hat. Sorry about the last chapter having so many errors in the spelling department, but I've got a nice new Bata, so that should work out well. I was trying to decide who the father of Kate's baby should be when I wrote this chapter, and I decided to go with your suggestions and make it Sawyers, because like you said, it would add drama.
PS: Six weeks! What the crap!
Ponnyboysgirl11: Just got your review in time! Love to have new readers. Your review made me smile, and I will be glad to put in some extra Charlie and Claire action just for you! Looking forward to hearing from you some more.
FATE: The Next Life
Back to Living
A Week Later:
"Hey Jack" Kate questioned as she leaned over the counter. "Yeah?" he replied, flashing her a smile as he shut the fridge. "I was thinking you and I should go out tonight" She suggested hopefully.
"Out? Like where?" He asked before taking a sip from the cup in his hand.
"I don't know. Maybe dinner at a nice restaurant?" she shrugged, a smile growing no her face. For a moment Jack acted as if he were considering, then smiled as well.
"What ever you want" he agreed, giving her a quick peck. "Thank you" she grinned back, and returned the favor, witch lasted much longer then the first. "Ahem" Charlie cleared is thought loudly as he entered the room. The two broke away, and Kate couldn't help but giggle.
"Oh, please. Will you two get a room" Charlie muttered as he wondered past Jack to the fridge. "Aw, someone's grumpy" Kate teased in a sarcastic baby-talk kind of voice. The only reply she received was a middle finger in her direction.
"Oh...someone's really grumpy" Jack continued to tease as he put his arm around Kate. Charlie ignored the comment, slammed the fridge shut and wondered out of the room without a word. Jack and Kate exchanged a confused glance.
"It was just a joke!" Kate called after him. "Is he still acting weird?" Claire questioned as she entered the kitchen. "Yeah, what's wrong with him?" Kate questioned bluntly.
"Oh, he's gotten himself all worked up about bills. Says he needs to get a job" Claire explained simply as she slumped down into one of the chairs at the table. "Aw...poor guy" Kate sighed, sitting down beside her.
"Yeah...but I guess we can't live for free forever, right?" Claire noted, giving a week smile. Kate didn't respond, but patted her back sympathetically. then and idea came to her.
'Hey, you know me and Jack are going out tonight. Maybe we could drop the kids off at Locke's and you could, I don't know, cheer him up?" Kate suggested, giving a hinting smile. Claire rolled her eyes. "Is that all you think about?" She questioned sarchasticly.
Kate glanced over at Jack, and nodded. "Yeah, pretty much." Claire shook her head in wonder. "Well, sorry to bust your bubble, but sex doesn't fix everything" she added skeptically. "Don't be so sure" Kate warned, before cracking a smile.
Claire considered this for a moment. "Hm...maybe your right" She shrugged in agreement.
few minuets later:
"Hey Charlie?" Claire questioned from the door way. He was in the bed room, pulling the T-shirt over his head as she spoke. This didn't accuse to her until she was half way through her sentence, and she cut off instantly. After all the time they've been together, after all the times she's seen him shirtless, or better, he was still amazing.
"Huh?" he glanced up, hair in a mess. A smile grew across her face. God bless Kate and her dirty mind, Claire thought as she walked into the room, sliding the door shut behind her. "Jack and Kate are going out to dinner. They're gonna drop Ben and the girls off with Locke" she explained as she leaned back agenst the door.
"Why?" He questioned in confusion, clearly not catching the suggestive tone in her voice. "So we could be alone" she answered simply, trying hard not to laugh as she walked over to him. It still didn't hit him. She placed her hands on the sides of his face and pulled him closer to her, pressing her lips agenst his.
Finally it accrued to him. He grinned agenst her lips, pressing his forehead agenst hers as he pulled his arms around her.
"Might I inquire to the occasion?" he questioned, playfully. "Well, you've been a little stressed about this whole money thing, and with the girls you haven't gotten much sleep. So I though you just needed to...relax" She explained, pulling her arms around his neck.
"Aw, how considerate" he teased, playfully. "It was Kate's idea" she admitted with a grin. "Hey, guys. Were getting ready to go" Kate explained, peeking in from the door way. "Thanks Kate" Charlie grinned childishly.
"Your welcome, you kids have fun" Kate replied with a laugh. "Oh...we will" Charlie assured, giving Claire another kiss.
later that night:
Charlie laid his head back agenst the pillow, his hair in little sweety strands that stuck to his forehead and the back of his neck. He was breathing heavy, chest rising and falling with the throb of his heart beat. The sheets and blankets stuck to him as well. He could feel Claire's fingers run through his stringy hair as she snaked and arm around his shoulder.
"I love you" he grinned, his voice low and husky. Eyes remained close. Claire didn't respond, put placed a kiss on his cheek. He felt the mattress shift slightly as she sat up, the sheets clutched to her chest as she glanced over at the clock.
"Oh my god...its almost eleven o'clock at night, Charlie" She noted in shock, stareing at the clock to make sure it was right. "What?" he questioned in confusion, sitting up to look for himself. She wasn't lieing. They numbers 10:57 p.m. flashed in big, bright red lines before his eyes.
"Wow...that's like..." he began, lifting his hand to try and count. "That's eight hours" he confirmed in astonishment after taking a moment to do the math. Claire rolled her eyes, wrapping her hand around his.
"Man...I'm good" he grinned conceitedly, and plopped back onto the pillows. Claire couldn't help but laugh. "Well, why you sit here and gloat, I'll be in the shower" She explained, giving him a kiss on the forehead before sliding out of the bed. "Have fun?" He grinned, putting his hands behind his head.
Claire shook her head as she pulled on his shirt and made her way down the hall. The wood floor was cold agenst her bare feet as she walked quickly down the hall. She was pretty sure Jack and Kate were still out, but she wasn't taking any chances of getting cough by one of the two in nothing but a flimsily t-shirt.
She scurried into the bath room and pulled the door shut behind her. It took a while before she noticed the steam on the mirror. The heat must have made its way down the hall, she noted, trying not to laugh. Charlie's gonna love this.
"Charlie!" She called, opening the door once again. She caught him just as he wondered down the steps. Apparently he didn't hear her. She shrugged, and decided it could wait. She pulled the door shut once again and turned on the shower before slipping of the shirt and tossing it onto the floor.
She stepped into the shower, pulling the curtain shut behind her. She let the steamy water beat down on her shoulders. She had not been inside for more then two minutes when a strange feeling came over her. The room seemed to get cooler, despite the steam that filled the room. She looked around, and pulled the curtain open just to check. The bathroom was empty, as expected. Though, the feeling of being watched remained.
She decided to cut the shower short, and climbed turned the water off. She warped the towel around her before stepping out of the tub and held it tightly around her as she opened the door. The hall was now cool, even a little colder than usual.
"Charlie?" She called down the steps, feeling a little paranoid. "Yeah?" he called in reply. To her dismay, his voice didn't come from down stairs, but from the bedroom door way where he stood with a blanket wrapped around his waist.
"When did you come back upstairs?" She questioned in confusion, assuming she would have heard him moving down the halls. "I've been up here" he explained, eyeing her strangely. "I though I saw you going downstairs when I got in the shower" she explained.
"I was up here" he assured with a shrug. Claire continued to look confused for a moment, then decided to let it go. "Why don't you come to bed?" he suggested, assuming it was simply lack of sleep. "Good idea" She agreed, allowing him to take her hand and pull her into the door way.
Later that night:
It was almost three in the morning when Claire heard someone moving around downstairs. She'd been awake for a while it seemed, but was to lazy to look at the clock. Charlie lay in bed beside her, naked and out like a light. She didn't feel like sitting up alone, so she climbed out of bed, pulled on some cloths and wondered downstairs.
She found Jack on the couch in sweat pants and a T-shirt, eyes glued to the T.V. screen. "He Jack" She greeted tiredly, sinking down into the chair. He looked a little startled to see her at first, but then smiled.
"Hey Claire, what are you doing up?" He questioned curiously. "Can't sleep" She shrugged simply. "Me neither" he explained. For a moment it was silent. "Is Claire asleep already?" She questioned curiously, hopping to strike up a conversation.
"Yeah, she has been for a little while" He explained. "But...you guys just got home?" She noted, a look of confusion crossing her face once again. "No, we've been home for about an hour" he explained.
"Oh...I just heard the door open...that's why I came down" She explained in bewilderment. For a moment Jack looked surprised. "You heard it too?" he questioned, curiously. "Yeah..." she replied, looking at him strangely.
"I heard the door open not to long ago. I told Kate and she said she didn't here anything. So I came down to check for myself." he explained, a serious look on his face.
"It was closed, of course, but I still couldn't go back to sleep" he finished simply. This didn't aid to Claire's worry. "Your probably just tired" She suggested, not knowing rather she was trying to convince him or herself.
"Yeah...but you heard it to" he noted, eyeing her strangely. Claire shrugged, and tried to smile. This wasn't something she wanted to discuss. Jack must of since this, because he stood up.
"It was probably just something banging around outside. It was windy when me and Kate were out" he assured, fakeing a smile as well. "Yep..." Claire nodded, "that's probably it."
Next morning:
"Morning luv" Charlie greet, wrapping his arms around Claire's waist as she stood at the counter, makeing breakfast. "Morning" she replied, blushing slightly as he buried his face into her neck. Jack tried to ignore the too as he stared down at his plate. Claire sensed his discomfort, and gave Charlie a little nudge. He got the message, and slipped a piece of bacon off her blate before going to sit down.
"Morning Jack" he greeted the man across the table with a mouthful of bacon. "Good morning" Jack replied, not able to keep himself from smiling. "Did you guy's have fun last night?" Charlie questioned curiously.
"Yeah, did you?" Jack replied suggestively. "Oh? Claire didn't tell you?" Charlie began, turning to flash a smile in her direction. Claire rolled her eyes. "I broke my own record. Eight hours" Charlie bragged with pride as he leaned back in his chair.
"Eight hours?" Jack questioned in disbelief. "Yep." Charlie grinned, putting his hands behind his head. Claire continued to shake her head, cheeks turning bright red. "Isn't that right luv?" Charlie questioned, turning to her.
"Your impossible" she noted, turning to head for the seat beside him. "You love it" he insisted, pulling her to his side by the elastic of her pajama pants. "Alright, I'm out of here" Jack announced, pushing out of his Chair.
"Later" Charlie called after him before pulling Claire onto his lap.
upstairs:
Kate had just gotten out of the shower. She was dressed in a tank top and a rolled up pair of Jack's boxers as she blow dried her hair. A little radio witch they was on a shelf by the sink was blaring The Vines to its full extent. Kate was bobbing her head to the music, not paying attention to her surroundings.
Suddenly, the blow dryer turned off. Kate looked down to see it had been un plugged. The door beside her witch was closed before, was now cracked enough for someone to slide their hand in and unplug it. Kate poked her head out, but the hall was empty.
"Jack?" She called, just incase. "Yeah?" He questioned, turning to her from the far end of the hall. Kate rolled her eyes in annoyance. "What?" he questioned, innocent and confused. "You unplugged the blow dryer" she explained in aggravation.
He looked at her as if he didn't know what he was talking about. "I didn't touch it" he assured, putting up his hands as if surrendering. "Jack..." Kate glared at him skeptically. "I didn't!" he insisted.
"What ever" Kate rolled her eye and slipped back into the bathroom. Jack stared at the door in confusion long after it had been closed. He heard the blow dryer roar as she started it up again, just to turn off moments later. "Jack!" Kate exclaimed in annoyance from inside the door. Her sentence cut off and it was silent for a moment, then the door pushed open.
"Told you it wasn't me" Jack confirmed. Kate's eyes were wide as she stared down at the dryer in her hand, witch was still ploughed in, but not running. On top of that, it was still in the on position.
she looked up at Jack, confused and a little scared. At that moment, the lights above them started to flicker. They bounced on and off for a few seconds, and then went back to normal. "Hm...maybe we just had a power surge" She suggested with a shrug, eye's stareing up at the ceiling light.
"Apparently" Jack agreed, eyes in the same direction. "Hey, you guys!" Kate called as she ran down the stares, much faster than usual. Both Charlie and Claire turned to look at them over the back of the couch.
"The lights were flickering upstairs" Jack explained casually. "Yeah, and it turned my hair dryer off...twice" Kate added, crossing her arms over her chest. Claire's expression changed slightly, the look of worrier returning.
"Great...our electricity on the bound, one more thing to add to our bills" Charlie mumbled bitterly. The front door swung open with ought warning, witch made Claire jump.
"Hey guys!" Shannon greeted from the door way, a bright smile on her face. "Hey Shan" Charlie reapplied, giving a little wave. "Look what I found outside my apartment" She continued, wondering in without and invite.
In her arms, she held a tiny grey and black kitten. "Aw!" Claire gasped, noticing the scraggly little creature first. "I know" Shannon pouted down as the kitten clung to her shirt, "poor thing was stuck in the alleviator".
Shannon took a seat on the couch beside Claire, who began petting the kitten as soon as she sat down. "Hes so cute" Claire continued, beaming down at the cat as its paw touched her palm. "I know...to bad I can't keep it" Shannon sighed.
"Why not?" Kate questioned curiously, leaning over the side of the couch. "Because, I live in a hotel until you kids get hitched, remember?" Shannon reminded accusingly. "Oh...right" Kate muttered, unfazed.
The kitten had made its way off Shannon lap, and was currently rubbing agenst Claire. "Aw...Charlie?" Claire turned to him with hopefully simile. "You want it?" he questioned, not able to help but smile when Claire bobbed her head excitedly. "Its fine with me" he shrugged.
"Thank you!" Claire squealed, giving him a hug as best she could before picking up the kitten and setting it on her lap. "Well, that settles it" Shannon shrugged, trying not to laugh as Claire continued to play with the kitty. "Aw, the kids are gonna be so excited" She exclaimed, glancing over at Charlie. "Yeah...speaking of the kids, when were we suppose to pick them up?" Charlie questioned, turning his attention to Jack and Kate.
"Um...around noon" Jack explained. "Well, I guess I better be going then" Charlie noted, pushing himself off the couch. "Have fun, luv" he kissed the top of Claire's head before pulling on his trusty hoodie.
"I'll come with" Jack suggested, grabbing his coat as well. "Later" Kate gave a little wave to him as he opened the door. He flashed her a smile before slipping out behind Charlie. She rested her head on her hands after he disappeared, elbow's resting on the back of the couch.
"So, what should we name it?" Shannon questioned, turning her attention back to the cat, witch was now climbing Claire's torso like a tree. "Um...I don't know..." Claire shrugged, keeping her eyes on the tiny, but sharp claws imbedded in her shirt.
"Where did you say you found him?" Kate questioned curiously. "The elevator. It had been stuck for like a week, and the poor thing was all curled up in the corner in a little ball. The lights were going crazily" Shannon explained casually.
"Just like the one's upstairs..." Kate noted plainly. "What happened to the lights upstairs?" Shannon asked, turning to her in confusion.
"Oh, it was the weirdest thing. I was blow drying my hair, and it stopped. I look down, and the things unplugged. The door was cracked just enough for someone to put they're hand in and unplug it. So of course, since Jack was right down the hall, I assumed it was him. But then, when I plugged it back in, it went off a couple seconds later, then the lights started flickering...it was weird" Kate explained casually, sliding onto the couch next to her.
"It sounds weird..." Shannon agreed. "Oh! And then last night, Jack said he heard the front door shut after we came upstairs...Charlie and Claire were both in there room" Kate added, finding the whole subject quite interesting.
"What was it?" Shannon questioned curiously. "I don't know, Jack didn't say anything" Kate explained with a shrug. Claire remained silent, and a little awkward as the two spoke.
"Claire, are you alright?" Kate questioned with concern, turning her attention to her. "Yeah, I'm fine" She assured quietly. "Wait...Jack said you came down stairs around the same time he did" Kate noted, slightly confused.
"Yeah..." Claire nodded, not fallowing. "Did you hear it too?" Shannon questioned, jumping in before Kate. Claire glanced away. "Yeah...I thought it was you guy's coming home" She explained, her eyes on the cat, coiled on her lap.
"So? What was it?" Shannon questioned with excitement. "I have no idea" Claire shrugged simply. "That's really creepy" Shannon noted.
"No kidding" Claire agreed simply.
"Hey, luv. Were home" Charlie called as he kicked the door shut behind him. Ben in one arm and a tiny Gabby in the other. Jack had fallowed him in, with Geni asleep on his shoulder. The living room was completely empty.
"Claire?" Charlie again, glancing up the stairs. Claire appeared at the top of the steps with a look of relief. Kate and Shannon were close behind. "Oh, Charlie. Thank god its just you" Claire gasped, holding onto the wall.
"Something wrong?" he questioned in concern, letting Ben down to the floor. "No, no. Not at all" she assured with a smile. "Good" he sighed in relief. "So, did Locke have fun with the girls?" She questioned as she made her way down the stairs.
"I think he boarded them to sleep. Literally" Charlie explained, glancing down at the baby, who was fast asleep on his shoulder. "I had fun" Ben announced, contridictingly. "Well that's good. You ready for a bath?" Claire questioned, meeting him at the bottom of the stairs.
"No" He replied simply. "Well to bad" she confirmed with a smile, lifting him off the floor. "Ok..." he sighed, over dramatically as she carried him back up stairs. "Have fun sweetie" Shannon grinned, giving a little finger-wave as she smiled at her over Clair's shoulder.
"God he's adorable" Shannon added, turning back to the guys after the two disappeared. her eyes caught sight of the baby, fast asleep and Charlie's arms and her features lit up. She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off.
"No, you can't hold her" Charlie answered before she could even ask. "Why?" She whined in protest. "Because, I don't want her to wake up" He explained simply. "Aww, please?" Shannon insisted with a pout and big pleading eyes.
"Ugh...fine" Charlie groaned, after rolling his eyes, and carefully passed the baby over to her. She settled into Shannon's arms with out a fuss, though she did shift slightly in her sleep.
"Aww" Shannon squeaked as she stared down at the baby. "Shh" Charlie remained, god forbid the baby wakes up. "What's the big deal, anyways?" Kate questioned skepticaly.
"Are you mad? Never wake a sleeping baby" Charlie informed sternly. "Ok" Kate replied, holding her hands up as if surrounding. "Infant-" Charlie began, holding up a finger as if the light bulb in his head and just went on. "We should take them upstairs and get them to bed.
He lifted Geni out of Jacks arms and fallowed Shannon up the stairs. "So, did you boys have a nice ride?" Kate questioned, crossing her arms over her stomach.
"I suppose. Of course, there was a toddler and to little babies who were ready to sleep, so there wasn't much fun to be had" Jack explained simply, pulling his arms around her waist. "How about you?"
"We had fun, I guess. We told Shannon about all the weird stuff that's going on" Kate replied, sliding her arms around his neck. "And the baby?" He continued. "He...she...the baby is good, as far as I can tell. I've got a check up with the doctor tomorrow" Kate explained.
"I still don't see why you need to see a doctor. I'm a doctor" Jack grumbled bitterly. "Oh come on. Don't you see my vagina enough?" Kate questioned teasingly.
Ben, who had appeared at the top of the stairs was stareing down at the two with a questioning look. Claire stood behind him with a similar expression, only a little worried as she watched his mouth open to ask the obvious question.
"Aunt Kate, what's a vagina?"
Kate looked away, embarrassed, then back up at Claire. Claire simply stared back at her, arms crossed over her chest and one eye brow raised. "Well?"
"Oh god..." Kate sighed miserably. Jack, couldn't help but laugh.
Next Afternoon: The doctor's
"So, how are we feeling Kate?" Dr. Heart (who is female) questioned. "Pretty good. I'm kind of hungry though" Kat shrugged, now quite used to the paper dress she was in as she sat on the table, swinging her legs back and forth.
"That's good" the doctor smiled, moving her hands across her stomach. "And you Claire?" She asked, turning her head to the corner of the room. "I'm great" Claire assured with a bright smile.
"That's cause you got laid last night..." Kate grumbled skeptically. Claire's jaw dropped, as if offend. "Actually, I didn't" She assured, a little embarrassed by the comment. "Aw..poor girl" Kate noted sarcastically.
"Man...was I that much of a bitch when I was Pregnet?" Claire questioned to no one imparticular. "No, you were just annoyingly giddy" Kate explained bitterly. Claire stuck her toung out in reply. Dr. Heart smiled at the two. "Oh, by the way, Kate. Your blood test results came back" she explained, as the thought just popped in her head.
"They did?" Kate questioned, glancing over are at Claire. "Mh, hm" the doctor nodded as she went to her desk in search of the paper. "What did they say?" Kate questioned nervously.
The doctor handed her the paper, witch she snatched quickly. Claire had made her way over, and now stood behind her, reading the paper over her shoulder. "Who the hell is that?" Claire blurted out, not recognizing the name.
"Oh god..." Kate gasped, eyes wide. "Its Sawyer"
