Lostlorenzo: Great review! I know that's a phrase most don't here often, but it was a really awesome review. It made giggle. Exspeicaly the part about them throwing Kate into the hatch. As for Kate and Charlie on the show, I've been reading a few spoilers, and lets just say I have a feeling their going to be hooking up soon. Though, its possible I'm just being hopeful. As for that little question at the end of the chapter, I had another person ask the same, and I had to go back and re-read that whole seen to remember what my train of thought was at that point. I'm going on vacation soon so I've been writing ahead so I don't keep you kids waiting. But the problem is, I have no idea why I ended the sceen like that. Something may have gotten cut off, or I forgot to finish it. Either way, I doubt it was anything extremely important, but if I do remember I will be sure to let you know.

Ponyboysgirl: Hey, thanks for the review. As for your question, I had to go back and read that section, because I've been wrighting a few chapters ahead an some times I forget what was going on. To be completely honest, I have no idea. I think something may have gotten cut off, and I hadn't realized it. But what ever it is, it must not have been to important or else I'd remember. So sorry for the confusion, and if I remember what was going on with that sceen I'll be sure to let you know.

Fate: The Next Life

The House, one week later:

"Morning guys" Claire greeted sleepily as she wondered into the living rom, dressed in nothing but a T shirt, her long blond hair toppling over her shoulders in a mess of slept-on curls.

"Morning" Shannon, Kate, Michelle and Sun all replied in an eerie, Stretford Wives kind of way. Claire stopped in her tracks, eyeing each one strangely. "Why are you all so happy?" Claire questioned curiously, not stepping into their little circle until she knew the answer. The other girls eyes all went to Shannon.

"Me and Sayid are trying to get pregnet" She explained, excitedly. "Well, good luck for you but I don't think Sayid's going to have much of it" Jack teased from the kitchen. "Oh, you know what I mean" Shannon scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, Jack. This is a women world. Get the fuck out" Kate added playfully, taking a sip of her soda. "Fine. I'll go in the kitchen with the other none-women" Jack sighed, and headed back through the door way.

"Could you get me some chips while your in there?" Kate called after him playfully, leaning over the couch. "Yeah, and some ice cream?" Michelle added. "And peanut butter!" Claire added excitedly. The girls all turned to her. "What? I'm hungry" She explained innocently. "Your not pregnet are you?" Michelle questioned, raising an eye brow.

"Not that I know of" Claire replied, in confusion. "Well then you don't get food" Michelle confirmed, sinking back into her seat. "Its my house!" Claire protested, playfully. "So?" Kate chimed in. "Good one" Michelle grinned, giving her a high five across the table. Claire frowned. "I hate pregnet woman" She grumbled, bitterly.

"Hey!" Both Kate, Michelle and Shannon all whined defensively, then the two shoot a look at Shannon. "Well, I will be soon...hopefully" Shannon replied, innocently. "I'm sure you will, after all I did it. Can't be that hard" Kate assured sweetly. "Yeah, and if not you can always use Claire" Michelle added, teasingly. "Excuse me?" Claire questioned, as if offended.

"What? You're the most fertile person in the room!" Michelle explained in her defense. "Well, Claire. If you are going to birth my child make sure it's a girl" Shannon insisted. "How am I suppose to do that? What, you people think I have some kind of magic vagina!" Claire questioned sarcastically.

"I think so" Charlie answered, popping in at just the right moment. "Shut up, Liam" Michelle scolded, before all eyes fell on her. "Oh, sorry. Habit" She shrugged innocently before casually reaching for her glass. "So, what's this about your vagina?" Charlie questioned, turning to Claire.

"They're trying to get me pregnet! Again" Claire explained dramatically. "Isn't that my job?" Charlie questioned in reply. "We're just saying that if Shannon doesn't get pregnet soon, Claire could be a surrogate" Sun explained, makeing light of the situation. "Why Claire?" Charlie questioned curiously.

"Because she's always pregnant" the four girls replied in unison, then all looked up in surprise. "Alright, you people have to stop doing that. Your freaking me out" Claire explained, finally sitting down on the couch. "So wait, why are worried about Shannon getting pregnet. I mean, that won't be for a long , long time, right?" Charlie questioned, as if afraid. "Right?"

"Well actually.." Shannon began, playfully. "Oh god, no." Charlie sighed, in fear. "Yep. Theres going to be a spawn of Shannon" Kate confirmed. "Were doomed" Charlie pouted, jokenly. "You'll live" Shannon assured, skeptically. "Obviously someone doesn't know that when a person is doomed, they don't normally live to see another day" Liam explained, walking up beside his brother.

"Shut up, Liam" The whole band of girls uttered at the same time, once again. "Oh god, I'm one of them" Claire gasped, sarcastically. "Come on, you ready?" Liam questioned, turning to Charlie. "Yep. Lets go" Charlie replied, grabbing his coat. "By luv" He added, giving Claire a quick kiss. "Bye sweety" she reapplied, kissing him a second time. Charlie grinned and headed for the door.

"Bye luv" Liam tried to copy his little brother, leaning over the couch my Michelle. "Have fun" Michelle replied, makeing no attempt to even glance at him. "Thanks" Liam muttered sarcastically, before fallowing Charlie out the door. For a while it was quite.

"Oh" Kate exclaimed, breaking the silence. "He kicked" She explained, holding her stomach in embarrassment. "He?" Claire questioned, curiously. "Yep. Had a Sonogram last week. It's a boy" Kate explained, sounding not to thrilled. "I'm sure Jacks very happy" Shannon explained, playfully.

"Yep. Means I have to deal with the great decision" Kate sighed, with a roll of her eyes. "What question?" Shannon asked, curiously. "To be or not to be circumcised" Kate explained, sarcastically. "Oh, wow. I never thought about that..." Shannon gasped. "I know. I don't know what to do. And Jack's no help. I asked him and all he said was 'I don't care'. Stupid men" Kate grumbled bitterly.

"I say leave it like it is" Michelle chimed in. "Why's that?" Kate questioned curiously. "Cause it improves sexual stimulation" She explained casualty. "What?"the other for questioned in shock. "What? It dose! My husbands British, I would know!" Michelle exclaimed defensively.

"So what? The English don't...you know" Shannon questioned, turning to Claire. "I don't know!" Claire explained, innocently. "Well, is Charlie...you know?" Kate questioned curiously. Claire shrugged, a sign stating that she would not be answering questions of that nature. "Dammit Claire, your useless" Kate muttered, bitterly.

"Sorry" Claire smiled innocently. "Well, was Ben circumcised?" Shannon questioned curiously. Claire just looked at her with a raised eye brow. "Oh right. born on the island..." Shannon reminded herself, hiding her embarrassment. "Well, I guess I have a while to think about it. Maybe I'll just flip a coin" Kate shrugged, sinking back into her chair.

"witch side would be heads?" Shannon questioned curiously. The five broke out into laughter.

Later that day:

The girls had left, all but Shannon, and Kate of course, who sat in one of the living room couch with little Geni on her lap. "Hello sweetie. Aw, your such a pretty girl" she mused, in an obnoxious baby voice. "Kate, please." Claire rolled her eyes, bouncing Gabby on her hip. "What? I can't talk to my niece?" Kate questioned defensively.

"Of course you can talk to her. Just not like she's inferior" Claire explained, sarcastically. "What? She's a baby!" Kate exclaimed. "No, she's an intelligent young women who should be treated like one" Claire corrected, plopping down on the couch. "Right, Gabby?" The little girl giggled in response. "See?"

"Your insane" Kate shook her head. "Well, when that little guy pops out you can talk to him however you want" Claire replied, playfully. Kate rolled her eyes and re-situated the child on her lap. Ben sat on the armrest beside her, his head resting on her stomach as if it were a pillow. His head popped up suddenly. "Aunt Kate, your bellies moving" he announced, looking at her stomach as if it were some kind of alien.

"Aw. He must know were talking about him" Kate explained, with a smile. She lifted Geni's tinny hand and layied it on her stomach. "Feel that Gabby? That's a baby. Can you say baby?" Shannon cooed , using the baby voice once again. Claire rolled her eyes. "Can you?" Ben questioned, sarchasticly. Looking at her with a raised eye brow.

Shannon turned to him in surprise. Claire let out a snicker, but tried to hide it as well as Kate. "I just did" Shannon replied in a childish manner. "Whatever" Ben sighed, rolling his eyes before slipping out of the chair. Kate watched him as he wondered off into the kitchen. Claire finally let out the laughter she'd been holding in.

"That kids becoming quite the little smart ass" Kate noted, bitterly. "I wonder where he gets that from" Shannon added, sacracsticly. "Or maybe he knows how aggravating it is when people talk down to you" Claire suggested. "Oh shut up, hippy" Shannon scoffed, rolling her eyes. Claire simply smiled. At that moment the door bell rang. Claire got up, Gabby in her arms, and went to answer it.

A look of surprise crossed her face as she opened the door to see a face she hadn't seen in a very long time. "Ms. Littleton?" The man before her sighed happily, as if he were relieved. Claire was too surprised to speak. She would have greeted him back, but didn't even know what to call him.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I heard your plane returned some while ago. I felt I needed to check and make sure everything had turned out well" the psychic explained, nervously. "Yes, of course. Please, come in" Claire offered, finally finding the words to speak. The man nodded, appreciatively, and walked inside.

"Kate, Shannon, this is..?" She began to introduce, shutting the door behind him. "Niles. Niles Freedman" he explained, understandingly. "Right.." Claire smiled, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Um. Can I get you anything?" She offered, setting Gabby down on Shannon's lap before heading towards the kitchen. "Coffee, water, anything?"

"Coffee would be fine" he explained, and fallowed her into the kitchen. "Who the hell is that?" Shannon questioned in a loud whisper, leaning over towards Kate. "I have no idea" Kate replied, casually.

"Hello" Ben greeted friendly, looking up at the stranger who entered their kitchen. "Hello Ben" He replied, taking a seat at the table across from him. Claire looked up, about to ask how he knew her sons name, then caught herself. "Here you go" she explained awkwardly, setting the mug down before him. "Thank you" he replied before taking a sip.

"Ben, sweetie. Why don't you go in the living room with Shannon and Kate?" Claire suggested. "But, mom-" Ben began in protest. "Please?" Claire begged, sympotheticly. "Fine. Geese. I'm surrounded by woman" Ben muttered as he marched back into the living room. Claire couldn't help but smile.

"You'll have to excuse my son, his been around his father a little to much" Claire explained, trying to hide her amusement. "His father?" Niles questioned, looking up in confusion. "Oh, um. Not..not Thomas. Charlie, my husband." Claire explained, uncomfortably. "I see. When did you get married?" Niles questioned curiously. "About a year ago" Claire answered simply.

"While you were still on the island?" he questioned in confusion. "Um, yes, actually." Claire nodded, slightly embarrassed. "I see. So the plan worked then?" He questioned casually, taking a sip of his coffee. Claire looked up, curiously. "I'm sure by now you've figured out that there was no one in L.A. trying to adopt your baby" He explained.

"Oh, that! Yes, I realized that" Claire explained, feeling a bit foolish for not getting to sooner. "I thought that much." he nodded, with a smile. Claire smiled back, awkwardly. "Your feeling a bit uncomfortable, aren't you?" he questioned, as if he didn't already know the answer.

"How could you tell?" Claire asked, sarchasticly. "I'm psychic" the man replied, jokenly. "I suppose your wondering why I'm really here?" He questioned, curiously. Claire nodded in reply. "Well, a few nights ago, I saw something, a premonition, if you will. It was about you" he began to explained. Claire's eyes darted up, questioningly. He took a sip of his coffee before continuing.

"Now, this isn't uncommon. Occasionally, after doing a reading, exspeicaly one as effective as yours, I'll pick up little bits and pieces of a persons life. Normally its something very small, and completely insignificant. Just a little flash. But this was different" he explained in a casually unsettling way. "What did you see?" Claire questioned, cautiously, not sure if she wanted to know.

The man took another sip of his coffee. "Do you really want to know?" he questioned, as if he had just read her thoughts. Claire wondered if he actually had, of if it was just a coincidence. She looked down at her lap, trying to find the answer as if it were written across the front of her jeans.

"Maybe you should talk it over with your friends, or your husband when ever he gets home" Niles suggested, sliding out of his chairs. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea" Claire nodded in agreement, standing as well. "Well. It was nice seeing you again" he explained, appreciatively. "You too" she assured, farcing a smile. He nodded, and headed out the door.

"What was all that about?" Shannon questioned, as soon as he was gone. "Nothing" Claire sighed, heading back into the kitchen. "Bull shit" Shannon scoffed, hoping out of her chair. Both her and Kate fallowed her into the kitchen. "Claire, who was that guy?" Kate questioned sympotheticly as Claire sunk down into one of the chairs.

"Hes a psychic" Claire explained, laying her head in her hands. "A psychic?" Shannon questioned skeptically. "Yes. He's the one who told be to get on the plain" Claire answered. "Some advice" Shannon scoffed sarchasticly, taking a seat down beside her. "Are you kidding? He told me to get on the plain on purpose. He knew it was going to crash" Claire explained defensively.

"Why would he want you to get on a plain that was going to crash?" Kate asked, in confusion. "I...I don't know. He said If I didn't raise Ben, something really bad would happen" Claire replied. "Well, why is he here now? I mean, every thing turned out great, right?" Shannon questioned. "Yes. But he said he saw something about me a few days ago.." Claire explained with a sigh.

"Saw what?" both girls questioned at the same time. "Man. We do need to stop doing that" Shannon added, casually. "I don't know. I don't even think I want to know" Claire explained, laying her head down on the table. "Good. You don't need some lunatic predicating your future all the time. What ever happens, happens." Shannon stated casualty. "She's right, Claire" Kate agreed, gently rubbing Claire's back.

"Yeah, your probably right" Claire agreed, lifting her head up once again. "Of course I am. I'm always right" Shannon assured, playfully. "Yeah. Right..." Kate scoffed sarchasticly. "Shut up" Shannon replied defensively, giving her a nudge in the arm. "Um, excuse me?" Kate looked up as if offended. Shannon grinned triumphantly. Kate gave her a nudge back, witch was just strong enough to cause Shannon to lose her balance and fall right off the table.

Claire and Kate couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Ow!" Shannon exclaimed from the floor where she had landed. "Dammit Kate." she groaned, pulling herself back up. "Sorry" Kate replied, sacracsticly, before bursting into laughter once again.

"There you are" Liam grinned, sliding into a chair across from his brother. "Dose this mean I'm it? Because I'm not exactly in the mood for tag" Charlie replied sarchasticly. "No. I've just been wondering where you were. Why is it that your sitting over here by yourself anyways?" Liam questioned playfully.

"Head ach" Charlie answered simply, closing his eyes. "Head ach, huh? Drink might fix that up" Liam suggested, giving a nod towards the bar. "No thanks. The last thing Claire needs is me coming home drunk" Charlie replied, skeptically. "From one drink? Come on, man. Your English, start acting like it!" Liam insisted, teasingly. "That's quite alright. Besides, someone needs to drive you idiots home" Charlie reminded. "Fine, don't drink. But atleast come back stage" Liam suggested, persistently. Charlie sighed, and pulled out of his chair. "I'm getting to old for this" he scoffed, fallowing Liam back stage.

"No your not. Cause if your getting to old for this then I'm screwed" Liam insisted, jokenly. "Theres the little bastard! Where'd you find him?" Tommy questioned from one of the couches back stage, a half empty bear in hand. "Blending in with the crowd" Liam explained, taking a seat across from him.

"Oh, what a surprise" Tommy scoffed sarchasticly, rolling his eyes. "Well, its better to sit by myself then to sit around here and listen to you all" Charlie replied, teasingly. "Fair enough." Tommy shrugged, causally. "Well your hear now. Sit down, have a drink"

"No thanks" Charlie repeated himself once again. "And why not?" Tommy questioned, skeptically. "He dosent want to upset the misses" Liam answered for him. "Oh. I see" Tommy muttered sarcastically, makeing the universal hand gesture for whipped. The boys all shared a laugh.

"Alright, so I'm whipped. Very funny. So Tommy how's your wife?" Charlie questioned sacracsticly. "Oh wait, that's right. You don't have one" He corrected himself, grinning triumphantly. "Smart ass.." Tommy mumbled, bitterly, taking another sip of his drink.

"Well. I suppose its better to be a smart ass then a dumb ass" Charlie shrugged, jokenly. "Very funny" Tommy scoffed sacracsticly. "He gets it from me" Liam grinned, proudly, patting his brothers shoulder. "Yeah. I guess the sarcastic little bastard gean really runs In your family" Tommy muttered, jokenly.

"So, where'd Dave run off too?" Charlie questioned curiously, noticering he was not around. "I believe he ran off with Lil for a quickie in the bath room" Tommy explained, shamelessly, trying to get the last drop out of his bottle. "For Christ sakes, man. Just get a new one" Liam insisted, taking the empty bottle out of his hand and replacing it with a full one.

"Waist not, want not" Tommy slurred, twisting the cap of his new bottle. "Oh, maybe that's why no one seems to want you. Your wasted" Charlie suggested, teasingly. "Kindly go to hell" Tommy replied, flipping him off as he took a heavy gulp from his bottle.

The House:

"Your still here?" Charlie questioned, raising an eye brow at Shannon as she sat on the living room floor. "Well, its nice to see you too" She replied sarchasticly. "Hey, you two. Play nice" Claire scolded in a motherly fashion, giving Charlie a kiss on the cheek. Geni, who sat in the crook of her mothers arm giggled loudly, reaching both arms out in her dads direction.

Charlie picked her up out of her mothers arms and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Did you boys have fun?" Kate questioned curiously, lifting her head up form the pillow on the couch. "I suppose" Charlie shrugged, casually, heading over to his chair. "You look tired" Shannon noted, casually. "Thanks" Charlie replied sarchasticly, fakeing a smile. Claire sat on the arm rest beside him, placing a kiss on top of his head.

Charlie laid his head back, leaning up to kiss her on the lips. "Ok, you two. Bed rooms upstairs" Shannon reminded, rudely interrupting. "Yeah. And your apartment is some where past the front door." Charlie replied, smartly. "Fine. I can tell when I'm not wanted" Shannon groaned, pushing herself off the floor. "Finally.." Charlie scoffed, sacracsticly.

"Come on, Claire. Lets get these girls to bed" Kate suggested, picking Gabby up from her place on the floor where she'd been sitting with Shannon. "Good idea. Charlie, you got Ben?" Claire questioned, hoping off the chairs. "yep. Come on peanut, lets go" Charlie assured, lifting Ben up into his arms.

Shannon headed out the front door, and the other two girls went into the nursery. Charlie carried Ben up the stairs to his room and tucked him in. "Hey dad?" Ben questioned, as Charlie knelt down beside him. "Yeah?" Charlie answered, curiously. "Next time you play, can I come with you?" Ben questioned, hopefully.

Charlie smiled. "Now why would you want to do that?" he questioned playfully. "Because, Aunt Shannon and Kate are weird..." Ben explained casualty. "Your telling me" Charlie couldn't help but laugh.

"But trust me. If you think their weird, you defonetly don't want to be around Liam and Tommy after they've had a few" Charlie explained, brushing Bens hair out of his face. "A few what?" Ben questioned, curiously. "Um...never mind" Charlie answered, catching himself. "Just got to sleep, ok?"

"Ok" Ben replied in the form of a yawn, resting his head agenst the pillow. "Good night" Charlie smiled, laying a kiss on his forehead before heading back down the hall. Meanwhile, Kate and Claire laid the girls down into their cribs.

"Man. I hope my little one can pass out as easily as yours can" Kate noted, looking down at her stomach with a smile. "Well, don't wish to hard. Their a very rare bread" Claire reminded, jokenly. From down stairs they could hear the front door open as Jack came home.

"Well, I'm gonna head down stairs" Kate explained, casually. "Of course" Claire smiled suggestively. Kate rolled her eyes as she headed out the door. The two said their good nights and head in opposite directions down the hall. When Claire entered the bedroom, Charlie was already asleep.

Poor guy must be exhausted, she thought as she slid under the covers beside him. She laid her head back agenst the pillow and closed her eyes, trying to force herself out of thought. But no matter how hard she tried, she could not get this morning out of her head, and she couldn't help but think the worst.

After all, if it were good news, why would he come to warn her? The dread of something terrible happening kept her up most of the night. Tossing and turning as Charlie slept soundly beside her. It was as if they'd switched places. But this wasn't insomnia. It was fear.

She drifted off to sleep in the early hours of the morning, after the sun had already began to rise. She woke around after noon to find the bed empty beside her. no surprise there. Charlie was not a late sleeper, actually, Charlie was not much of a sleeper at all. Perhaps they'd switched back some time during the night.

Claire wondered into the living room where Charlie and the kids were all wide awake. "Its about time" he groaned playfully, holding sweet little Gabby in his arms. She was to adorable, even if she was crying up something terrible.

"You've been up with the girls all morning? Why didn't you wake me up?" She questioned as she sat down beside him, though she was pretty relieved that he hadn't. "If the sound of a screaming child didn't get you up how would I?" He teased, a playfully grin across his face. "Besides, I got Ben to help me"

Claire shrugged in a fair enough sort of way and lifted the little girl out of his arms. Her daughters cries quickly fadded at the arms of her mother. "Oh, of course she stops crying for you!" Charlie exclaimed sarcastically, acting as if he were jealous. Claire smiled, proud of there motherly powers.

"Don't take it personally. I think she's just hungry" Claire explained sympathetically. "Oh, well...that's all you" Charlie mumbled sarchasticly. "Come on Ben, why don't we head into the kitchen and give your mum some, uh...privacy" Charlie suggested, Picking Geni up as he climbed to his feet.

Ben jumped at the very thought of food and ran into the kitchen. "Your impossible" Claire noted, shaking her head. "Am I?" Charlie questioned in response, acting as if he had no clue what she were talking about. "All this time and you still have a thing about breast feeding" She concluded.

"I do not!" Charlie defended, lieing through his teeth. "Oh yeah? Then why aren't you looking at me?" She questioned, skeptically. "...no reason" Charlie replied innocently, scathing the back of his head and still avoiding eye contact. Claire couldn't help but smile.

"Its ok, Charlie. I understand. Besides, I'm done" She assured, sweetly. "Well...that was fast" he exclaimed, as if that were something to be amazed by. "Yes, shes real talented. Help me up" Claire instead, holding out her free hand while cradling Gabby in her other arm. Charlie used his free hand to pull her off the ground.

When Claire was on her feet, the two's faces were less than inches away. Slowly, Charlie began to tilt his head, leaning down to kiss her when-

"Daaaad! What's taking you so long!" Ben exclaimed from the kitchen. Well, there goes the moment. Both parents smiled, and headed into the kitchen.

That night:

Claire's eyes flew open as she woke up that night. Her hair in a mess from tossing about, her entire body in a cold sweet, heart racing, breathless, the full nine yards. The terrible thoughts that had kept her awake last night now resurrected in her dreams. Sat up in a panic, trying hard to regulate her breathing, and was slightly alarmed when she noticed the bed was empty beside her.

She reached over to the night stand and turned on the light before sliding out of bed and walking down the hall. The lights were flickering again. As she walked, slowly, as if she were still in her dream, the bath room door flew open. Claire jumped, and nearly lost her balance.

"Oh, Claire. Sorry!" Kate apologized, feeling bad for startling her. "No, its ok." Claire assured, catching her breath once again. "Hey, have you seen Charlie?" Claire suddenly remembered that he hadn't been home from work when she went to sleep.

"No, he hasn't come home yet" Kate explained. "Oh...what time is it?" Claire asked, a look of concern crossing her face. "Its only twelve...I'm sure the guys just talked him into having a few drinks or something" Kate suggested, trying to reassure her.

"Yeah, probably" Claire replied, although she wasn't convinced. But she faked a smile, to show she was ok, and Kate bought it. "Well, I'm gonna go to bed" She explained, in relief. "Good night" Claire replied, before heading down stairs. She sat in the living room in utter silence, eyeing the clock every few seconds, watching the hours slowly creep by.

She was begging to panic. No matter what, Charlie was never home late, and if he were, he would have tried to call. She was begging to panic. Don't worry, everything fine, she tried to tell herself, trying to stay calm.

She looked around the room for something to take her mind off of it and spotted dina sitting infront of the door. She was stareing at it, as Claire had been when ever she wasn't checking the clock. Waiting for it to open. For everything to be ok.

Charlie, where are you?