Lostlorenzo: Hey, thank you so much for the support on the whole spelling deal. Its been bothering me a bit more than usual, its good to know someone can enjoy a story for its plot and not get hung up on the spelling. Another thanks for the updates on Shannon and Boone's last names. I knew they were different, but I couldn't remember what his was. So thanks, they'll probably come in use somewhere down the line. Just so you know, the next story is all about Charlie and Claire. There is very little of the other characters involvement. I think in my next fic, as soon as I think of one, I might just make Kate die, just because she's so...bleh. Although, she's become very useful in this story...hmm. Well, I'm glad you liked the chapter, and the Liam. I thought he was pretty darn cool, even if he was a bit mean to our Charlie, who I agree with you 100 is adorable:D

Fate: The Next Life

Shannon's work, a month later:

"Morning Shan" Claire grinned as she entered Shannon's studio. Shannon stood at her camera, dressed in a blue halter top and black kaprees's, hair pulled back in a sloppy bun. "Hey, Claire. What brings you here?" Shannon questioned curiously as she watched Claire wonder about the room, taking a good look around.

"I had to go to the store to pick up a few things, thought I'd stop by and say hey. I brought coffee" Claire explained brightly, handing her one of the styrofoam Starbuck's coffee cups. She set her own cup and her two bags down a counter before hoping up on it herself.

"Yay, coffee!" Shannon grinned excitedly, taking a heavy sip from the cup. "Ow, hot..." She then added, cautiously. "Well, duh.." Claire rolled her eyes, teasingly, playing with the straw in her cup. Shannon made a mimicking face, setting the coffee down before heading back to her camera.

"So, what are you doing out shopping? With Jack and Kate off on they're little vacation shouldn't you be at home having a quickie right about now?" Shannon questioned, playfully. "I had one before I left" Claire replied shamelessly, before taking a sip of her coffee.

"Let me guess, you got hungry and he fell asleep?" Shannon questioned, teasingly. "Mh,hm" Claire nodded, blushing a little. "Well, my lunch break is in like ten minutes, you wanna go with me to that little place down the street and get something to eat?" Shannon offered, thoughtfully.

"I'd love too" Claire agreed sweetly. "Great" Shannon grinned, and turned off the camera. The two girls walked down the street to the corner where the little coffee house type restaurant sat.

"So, how's Sayid doing?" Claire questioned as the two walked down the side walk, arms linked together. "What? You mean sexually?" Shannon questioned, unsure on rather or not she since a suggestive tone. "No! I meant in general" Claire exclaimed innocently, acting as if Shannon and Kate and Charlie's perverted ways hadn't rubbed off on her.

"Well, he's doing good. Its nice the Boone has his new girlfriend, now. Gives us some more alone time" Shannon explained, winking suggestively, as if the implication wasn't enough. "Boone has a girl friend?" Claire questioned curiously, as they pushed through the door, completely ignoring Shannon's sexual comment. Perhaps after being around her, Kate and Charlie she'd grown immune to it.

Shannon went to reply, but stopped when she noticed an ironic sight sitting at a both across the room. Claire stared at her in confusion for a moment before fallowing her gaze to wear Boone, and a pretty, oddly familiar young women sat.

"Boone?" Shannon questioned, loud enough so he could hear across the room rather she meant to or not. Boone's head turned quickly, and a slight look of aggravation crossed his face when he noticed his sister in the door way.

"Shan, what are you doing here?" Boone questioned, in annoyance. "I'm hear on my lunch break!" She replied defensibly. "Oh, well...this is Fiona. Fiona, this is my sister, Shannon" Boone turned into a polite tone as he introduced the two.

"Nice to meet you" Fiona smiled sweetly. "You look really familiar..." Shannon noted in reply, throwing manners to the wind. "Fiona was one of the survivors from the other side of the island..." Boone explained cautiously, hoping Shannon would have enough since to avoid furthering the conversation.

"Oh! Now I recognize you! You were the girl that got really sick! What was wrong with you?" Shannon questioned bluntly. Apparently, in Shannon's case, since was to much to wish for. Fiona's eyes trailed off to the table. "The doctors don't really know what was makeing her sick" Boone explained, placing his hand over hers in a comforting manner.

"Oh, well that sucks" Shannon confirmed bluntly. "Yes, well...now that we have that settled would you mind leaving?" Boone questioned rudely, letting his aggravation get the best of him. "Fine.." Shannon sighed, rolling her eyes defensively before walking off to a booth across the room. Claire fallowed awkwardly.

"Sorry about that, my sisters a bitch" Boone explained softly once the two had left. Apparently it wasn't spoken softly enough, because seconds later he felt something hit his head. He looked down at the table where the crinkled paper wrapper from a plastic straw hand landed, then up at Shannon, who was looking away innocently, with the straw still in hand, then finally over at Fiona who was doing her best not to laugh but failing.

"I like her!" She exclaimed after a moment before bursting into full blown laughter. "Great, just what I need. A perfectly nice girl joining the dark side" As he made the comment, his eyes trailed across the room to where Shannon sat, giving and evil smile in his direction.

At the house, a few hours later:

"Charlie?" Claire called as she walked in the front door. The living room was empty, and clean, witch meant Ben was still asleep, along with the girls, and probably Charlie as well. Claire pulled off her jacket and headed up the stairs, where she heard water running in the bath room. A sly smile crept across her face before she slid the door open.

"I'm home" She announced, pulling the door shut behind her. "Jesus Christ!" Charlie exclaimed in reply, jumping as he realized he was not alone. "What is it with your blood line and walking in on people!" He added accusingly.

"What are you talking about?" She questioned through her laughter. "Well, about a half hour ago, after being attacked into awakeness by your god-forsaken cat, I was in the shower as I am now and our sun just decides to wonder on in and take a piss, without a word mind you, and then just get up and leave!" Charlie explained, frantically.

Claire put a hand to her mouth, erupting with giggles once again. "Well, I don't think its very funny! A man deserves privacy when he's taking a sower!" Charlie continued ranting, aimlessly. Claire's smile faded to more of a skeptic slant as she crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing him questionably.

"What?" Charlie questioned, giving her a similar, though slightly confused look. "What were you doing in the shower?" Claire questioned, raising a suggestive eye brow in his direction. "...what are you implying?" Charlie questioned in reply, a nervous, some what guileful look on his face that confirmed her suspicions.

"Ha, ha! I knew it!" She grinned, triumphantly, before laughing at the poor boy once again. "Hey! What a man dose in his shower is his own business!" Charlie repeated, defensibly, unable to think of a better argument. "What about what a man and a women do In the shower together?" Claire's voice questioned, after her laughter had been cut short.

Charlie took aback, blinking for a moment. Then slowly, curiously tilted his head to the side, as if he weren't quite sure rather or not he'd heard her right. Claire bit her lip, her cheeks growing a rosy-pink. Yep, I heard right, Charlie thought, a grin quickly spreading across his face.

Slowly, he reached his hand outside the inevitable wall of water that was beating down around him and gently took Claire's hand in his. A sweetly innocent smile came across her face as she moved forward, closing the space between them with a kiss.

Her arms slipped around his neck, running her fingers through his hair, witch was still dripping. His skin clung to her shirt as his arms snaked around her waist, hands slowly moving the fabric upward, before finly pulling the shirt off over her head.

"Are you coming in or what?" He questioned teasingly, noting the fact that she hand still not entered the shower. "Well I said, what a man and a women do in the shower, so apparently..." She reminded, playfully, running her fingers up and down his arm. "Leave me alone, the blood isn't exactly rushing to my head at the moment" Charlie muttered defensively. "well, actually..." he began to correct him self, tilting his head to the side once more.

"Shut up" Claire suggested playfully, before he could finish. She placed her hands behind his head and pulled him to her again, and kissed him once more.

Hotel:

Jack wondered out of the hotel bath room, a towel around his waist and steam rolling out from the door behind him like waves. He looked around, spotting the empty, unmade bed and the equally empty room around him. He searched the place by turning slowly until he spotted Kate through the sliding glass doors that lead to the balcony.

She stood with her back to him, leaning agenst the rail, looking out at the view before her. Her hair was pulled up in a sloppy bun, strands falling out on each side, wearing nothing but a light blue work shirt witch belonged to Jack and just barley came to the bottom of her behind, though the selves appeared much longer. A smile crossed his face as he admired her, pausing for a long moment before walking over to the door.

The gentle rolling sound of the door being opened startled Kate, and she turned quickly. "Just me" Jack assured, teasingly, grinning as he slid the door shut behind him. Kate rolled her eyes, hiding any sign of embarrassment.

"Did you have a nice shower?" She questioned, crossing her arms as she leaned back agenst the rail. "Yeah, that bath rooms huge! Big enough for two, in fact. You should have joined me" Jack noted, bitterly, remembering their early argument.

Well, not so much and argument really. It was more of Jack implying that him and Kate taint the hotel shower, just as they had with Charlie and Claire's, and her telling him no. The end. But alas, that was the way of married life, he supposed.

"Jack, I told you, what's the point of taking a shower is getting clean-" Kate began, skeptically. "Ok, well now I'm clean. So, lets get dirty" He grinned at his own corny little Joke, and so did she. How could she not?

"You've been hanging around Charlie to much" Kate noted, shaking her head. "No, no. If it were Charlie, the phrase would have been 'hop on the good foot and do the bad thing" Jack corrected, jokenly. "Good point" Kate laughed once again.

"So, what are you doing out here?" Jack questioned curiously, after a moment of silence. "Nothing really, just grabbing some fresh air. Checking out the view, looking through people's windows, you know-" Kate began, pulling herself up onto the rail in a sitting position as she spoke.

"Woo, Kate. What are you doing?" Jack questioned, interrupting her. A paranoid look on his face. "What?" She asked, in confusion, eyeing him strangely. "Get down from there" He insisted, firmly. "Why?" She questioned, lowering her eye brows. "Because, I have a thing about heights and your makeing me nervous" He explained, frantically. But Kate only giggled, mockingly.

"Please get down-" He repeated, now slightly aggravated. A playful grin crawled onto her face. "Kate-" he began, with a sigh, not in the mood for games. "Make me" She finished, interrupting. For a moment he was caught off guard, before the suggestion sunk in.

Slowly, he moved over to her, a grin across his face. Her wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his lips agenst hers, holding her tight both as a form of passion and keeping her from falling. Kate's arms went around his neck and her bare legs around his waist. After a moment, his hands slid up her thigh, lifting her off the rail completely. He pulled her down, and kissed her once more.

Shannon's place:

Sayid sat in the living room, a magazine across his lap. It had been a while since he'd read anything about the crash. The media was so frantic these days, their fifteen seconds of fame had lasted for only about a week before moving on to some trial or murder or what ever caught the public's interest.

The article he read now spoke mostly of the crash itself, why the plain went down, how they managed to get lost and why the island could not be picked up on any radar. Things of that matter. But a smile did cross his face when he read "many survivors were glad to me home, though some clearly weren't to glad to see our camera men as one of the young women even flipped them off".

At that moment, he heard the loud crash, fallowed by an combination of destructive noises before finally a thud when the whatever it was hit the floor. His head turned in the direction of the bathroom where Shannon had been, and wear the sound had come. Slowly, he shut his magazine and went to investigate.

"Shannon?" He questioned, standing with his ear to the door. When he heard no reply, he decided to open it. "Shan-?" he began to ask once again as he slipped it open before the image before him settled in. Shannon was standing on the top of the toilet, in heals no less, trying to keep her balanced as she looked out the window. The contents of the shelf in witch she had nocked over were scattered about the floor.

When she heard his voice she turned about quickly, losing her balance once more. Sayid rushed over quickly, catching her before she felt completely. He helped her regain her balance on the toilet once more. "Thanks" Shannon muttered sheepishly, blushing as she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"What on each are you doing?" He questioned, looking up at her in confusion. Hands still aimlessly holding the side of her legs as a form of balance. "Looking out the window" Shannon explained simply, carefully hopping down. "I can see that" Sayid replied skeptically, not quite satisfied with her response.

"Well, look for yourself" She suggested, gesturing towards the window. Sayid stared at her for a moment, uncertainly, then glanced over at the toilet. "Well, go on!" She insisted, repeating the gesture once again. Sayid sighed, and carefully stepped up onto the lid.

He peered out the tiny square window, searching for anything interesting enough for Shannon to look at. Finally, he noticed the flirting pair on the balcony of a hotel across the street. "So you were spying on a couple" Sayid confirmed, still not getting it.

"No, look closer" Shannon insisted. Sayid rolled his eyes, and looked out again. Squinting this time, in an attempt to get a better look. Shannon watched as his eyes slowly widened in surprise as the little light bulb in his head went on.

"That's Jack and Kate" He corrected, smiling in amusement. "Uh,hu" Shannon nodded, hand on her hip. "Well, it looks like their taking full advantage of their vacation" He noted, jokenly. "Why, what are they doing?" Shannon questioned curiously, quickly pulling herself up beside him. He pulled his arm around her so she didn't fall, and allowed her to look out.

"Are they going inside?" She questioned, turning to him as if she didn't look for her self. "I believe so" Sayid confirmed, plainly. "Damn. Their like rabbits" Shannon noted, sarcastically.

"I'm sorry?" Sayid questioned, eyeing her straggly. "Well, they were just doing it like a half hour ago!" Shannon exclaimed, defensively. "And you know this how?" Sayid asked, curiously. "I could see them through the window..." Shannon replied innocently.

"How long have you been watching them!" Sayid interrupted, stareing at her in disbelief. He had took it on his own to step down from the toilet, feeling a bit to foolish at the childish action. "Well, I'm board! Can you think of any thing better to do!" Shannon questioned, defensively. Sayid smiled slowly. "I can think of a few things..."

With that, Shannon grinned, and hoped into his arms, tilting her head to kiss him.

The house, a few hours later:

Charlie staggered down the stairs, hair still in a mess, shirt not quite, well...on. Flinching at the sound of pounding agenst the front door. "HOLD ON, DAMMIT!" He exclaimed, as he made his way to the door, taking his sweet time. He fumbled with the locks for a good while before finally getting the door open. Hurly stood before him on the other side of the screen.

"Bout time, dude" He noted, plainly. "Yeah. There's a door bell, you know" Charlie replied bitterly. "Oh...there is?" Hurly questioned, looking around the frame of the door. "Oh!" he spotted the button to the doorbell and pressed it. He waited for a moment, listing as the music of "somewhere over the rainbow" Came into play.

"Pretty" he confirmed simply. "Yeah. Lot better than, oh, I don't know, irrational banging!" Charlie exclaimed, accusingly. "Calm down dude, geese. Atleast open the door" Hurly suggested, in a mellow tone. Charlie sighed and pulled the screen door open for him. "You know, when normal people open the door, they have shirts" Hurly noted, once he'd wondered in.

"Well, I'm not exactly normal now am I?" Charlie questioned, sarcastically. "No...guess not" Hurly replied, awkwardly. "But, uh...would you mind putting one on. Your kinda, makeing me uncomfortable..."

"Oh, sure! No problem" Charlie assured, disappearing into another room for a moment. "Thanks dude" Hurly replied, before taking a seat on the couch. "So, what brings you hear?" Charlie questioned from the other room. "Uh, right. I kind of have a favor I need to ask you" Hurly began, uncomfortably.

"Yeah? What's that?" Charlie asked, curiously, walking back into the room, this time, with a shirt on. "Well, I meet this girl-" Hurly continued, a bit nervously. "Really?" Charlie interrupted, crossing his legs (guy style) as he sat on the couch. "Yeah. Uh, her names Megan and-"Hurly tried to continue but was interrupted once again.

"Megan? Megan who?" Charlie demanded curiously. "Uh, I don't know-" Hurly answered, uncertainty. "She's got dark hair, tan, about this high?" Charlie questioned, holding his hand at a point above the floor at about 5'3. "Yeah, that sounds about right..." Hurly answered cautiously, a little confused. "Yeah. She's one of Claire's best friends" Charlie confirmed, simply.

"Oh..." Hurly nodded, not sure how to take it. "So, you like her then?" Charlie questioned, hoping back on subject. "Well...yeah" Hurly replied, after a moment. "Well then, how may I help you?" Charlie questioned, intrigued.

"I don't know dude. Just, I need a few pointers I guess...don't really know why I'm asking you-" Hurly explained casually. "Excuse me?" Charlie questioned, defensively, raising an eye brow. "Well I mean, your like, a family guy now. You haven't really dated in what...a year atleast" Hurly tried to mind. It wasn't really working.

"Yeah? But are you forgetting who your talking to? Bloody freaking rock god, remember! I may be settled down now but I was a whore back in my day-" Charlie began ranting aimlessly. "Woo, dude! Didn't need to know that" Hurly warned, freely cutting him off. "Sorry, I'm just saying..." Charlie replied, apologetically.

"Its ok dude. That's kinda why I came to you though. I mean, you got Claire, and she's a pretty girl. A little out of your league, even. No offence" Hurly added quickly, trying not to ramble. "None taken" Charlie assured, indicating for him to go on. "Well, if you can get a girl like her when your at such a low point in your life, you must be doing something right" Hurly shrugged, not knowing any other way to put it.

To his surprise, Charlie seemed to understand. "Well, I'd be glad to help you out" Charlie offered, after considering the various explanations Hurly had given. "Oh awesome! Thanks dude" Hurly replied appreciatively, a grin crossing his face. "No problem" Charlie assured, smiling as well.

"So, what I'm thinking is-" Charlie began to speak, but noticed Hurly, eyeing him strangely. "Dude, are you wearing pink?" Hurly questioned, raising an eye brow. Charlie looked confused for a moment, then glanced down at himself. "Oh, yeah. Its Claire's...anyways-"

"Your wearing your wife's cloths?" Hurly questioned in disbelief, makeing sure he'd heard right. "Yeah. Is there a problem with that?" Charlie asked in reply, as if it were perfectly normal. "Dude, your so weird..." Hurly confirmed, shaking his head with wonder. "Eh, I try" Charlie shrugged, then went to continue with his idea yet another time, but was interrupted once again when the phone rang.

He rolled his eyes, deciding to ignore it. "As I was saying-" He began, just before a third ring. "Dude, your phones ringing" Hurly noted, thinking he possibly hadn't heard it. "I notice" Charlie confirmed, growing slightly agrivateed. "The machine will pick it up. Any ways, I was thinking-" As he started up again, the machine in fact did pick up, and his head turned in the direction of the phone as the person speaking was standing right before him.

"Um, this is Thomas. I'm in town for the week and I wanted to talk to you about the adoption papers. Please give me a call. My number is 302-3453-2079. Thank you" and then hung up. Charlie's eyes wonder to the coffee table before him, not knowing what to say. "So that's Ben's dad..." Hurly noted, feeling obligated to break the silence.

"I'm Ben's dad" Charlie corrected, bitterly. "Oh, I know. That's not what I meant. I mean...I'll stop talking" Hurly decided, after rambling for a moment. He didn't want to make the situation any more awkward. "No, its ok I know what you meant." Charlie assured, in an almost apologetic fashion.

"Its just, every time I hear his voice..." He continued, shiver at the simple thought of Thomas speaking. "I understand, dude. I don't blame you for hating him" Hurly explained, reassuringly. "I don't really hate him. I just, I don't understand how he, how any one could do what he did to Claire" Charlie noted, talking more to himself then the man before him.

"I'm sorry, I'm rambling..." Charlie looked up, apologetically, once again. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "No, man. Its ok" Hurly assured, pushing himself out of his seat. "I think you should probably talk to Claire about this" He added, grabbing his coat of the couch beside him. "Are you sure? I mean, what about the whole deal with Megan?" Charlie questioned, looking up at him.

"We can talk about Megan later, dude. This is more important" Hurly explained, pulling his coat on. "Alright, then. Thanks" Charlie shrugged, appreciatively. "No problem. Later dude" Hurly flashed him a weak smile before heading out the door. Charlie sat in silence for a moment, letting his mind wonder. It was a long time before Claire walk up, and tiredly staggered downstairs, where she found him sitting on the couch, stareing at the space infront of him.

She hadn't seen him with that kind of look since they were on the island, and knew something must be wrong. "Charlie?" She questioned softly, watching him jump as she spoke. "Are you alright?" She added, in concern after he didn't respond.

He pressed his lips together, considering things for a moment more. Claire had sat down beside him, and was now patiently waiting for him to respond. "Thomas called" he answered finally, eyes lowered to the floor. "Oh..." Claire nodded, not knowing what else to say. "He wants to talk about the adoption papers. Said you should call him" Charlie added, unenthused, eyes glued to the floor. His voice had a bitter edge to it she'd never really heard before.

"I see..." was all she could think to say. The fact that Thomas had called didn't matter. Charlie wasn't the jealous type. They'd lived on the island, surrounded by attractive men and never once had he gotten into a fight over her. Well, except for that time with Sowyer, but he deserved it. Still, for him to get worked up over something so simple was a bit strange.

"Charlie? Do you want me to call him?" Claire questioned, trying to figure out where he stood in the matter. "Of course I want you to call him! I want Ben to be my son, officially" Charlie exclaimed, looking up quicky. He noticed the look of surprise on Claire's face, and how she'd jumped when he'd spoken. "Claire, I'm just...I'm not really comfortable with him. But I can deal with it for you and Ben" Charlie explained in a much softer tone.

A smile slowly crossed Claire's face, and she leaned over to kiss him. "I love you" She said softly, snuggling up beside him. "I love you" he replied, pulling his arms around her. For a moment, they sat silently.

"Hurly meet a girl" Charlie explained, out of no wear. Claire looked up at him, surprised. "He did?" She questioned, happily. "Yep. Name's Megan" Charlie added, conspicuously. "Oh...wait, not my Megan?" Claire questioned, suddenly putting two and two together. "Fraid so" Charlie confirmed simply.

"Are you serious?" Claire gasped, before busting into laughter. "It's a small little world" Charlie mused, shaking his head in wonder. "No kidding" Claire nodded in agreement. "So, do you think it'll work?" He questioned curiously, putting his arm around her. "Why not? Seems like every one else is getting together today" Claire noted, casually.

"Is that a hint?" Charlie questioned, raising a suggestive eye brow. "Charlie, we've 'gotten together' atleast five times today!" Claire exclaimed, playfully. "Well...I don't like odd numbers, so lets make it six and call it a night" Charlie suggested, not taking no for an answer.

Claire considered this for a moment. "Please?" Charlie pouted childishly. "How could I say no?" Claire replied with a sigh before leaning down to kiss him. Charlie grinned before kissing her a second time, and a third, and a forth, slowly moving down to her neck.

"Charlie?" Claire questioned, catching his attention. "Hmm?" he replied, continuing to kiss her collar bone.

Shannon's house:

"Looks like Jack and Kate are going home" Shannon noted, once again looking out the window. "Are you spying again?" Sayid questioned, as if he didn't already know the answer. "Oh please. Its only spying if you know them" Shannon scoffed in her defense. "Right. Then its called ease dropping" Sayid corrected, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

"Well, look at them! They look so cute!" Shannon exclaimed. "Look he's opening the door for her and helping her into the car. Aw, and the baby kicked!" She continued giddily. "How can you tell?" He questioned, eyeing her skeptically. "I've been surrounded by pregnet woman for the past year. I think I know when their being kicked form the inside" Shannon explained defensively.

"I see" Sayid replied, laying his head on her shoulder. For a moment the two were silent, her watching the window, him watching her. "Their baby is going to be so cute. So will Micelles. Just like Claire's all are..." Shannon mused, her voice Loseing that peppy tone it had just a moment ago.

"Are you giving me a hint?" Sayid questioned, curiously. "What do you mean?" She questioned, turning to face him. "Well, seems to me like every one's having kids. Aren't we a little behind?" he questioned, holding her around the waist. "Are you saying you want to have kids?" Shannon questioned, trying to hide the excitement on her face.

"Perhaps" Sayid replied, a grin slowly growing on his face. Shannon didn't say anything, but gave an excited squill before wrapping her arms around him. He hugged her back, unable to keep from laughing. "I love you so much" Shannon explained, cupping his face in her hands. "And I love you" he replied, giving her a quick peck.

"Were going to be parents" Shannon sighed happily before kissing him back. "Yes. A beautiful little boy" Sayid grinned, going into kiss her a third time. "Boy?" Shannon questioned, pulling away before his lips could reach hers. "Excuse me, Mr. We are having a girl" She corrected sternly.

"We'll see" He grinned, playfully. "Yeah. We'll see a girl" Shannon confirmed. "Fine. We can have a girl" Sayid sighed sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Damn straight" Shannon grinned, leaning in to kiss him again, pulling her arms around his neck. "Well, what are we waiting for?" He questioned playfully before sweeping her off her feet, picking her up into his arms and carrying her back to the bed room.