Today had been one of the warmest days since they all arrived on the island back in June.
The sun was shinning high above them and the water had warmed up enough for Nicole and Terry to go swimming. Ana on the other hand was staying back on the beach...soaking in some rays and braiding her long blond hair.
Hunter was laid out on a blanket in the shade of a palm tree, only a few feet away. Ana was so thankful she had such a good baby. He never fussed and never misbehaved...in fact Ana was shocked that Hunter never kept her up more then an hour each night.
Her baby was now four months old, he was getting big fast and all ready she could see his fine golden hair starting to come in.
She loved him so much it hurt.
Today she leaded against the trunk of the palm tree and watched Hunter sleep. She couldn't think of anything better then this...
Well, maybe one thing...
Michael being alive and being able to see his son.
She sighed out loud and knew the date of his death would be coming up next month, it still struck her funny knowing that it would be a year since this whole thing started, a year since she came to Crossroads mall and met him, a year since they made love, a year since he died...
She still couldn't believe that Michael would never see their baby.
What would have happened if they just stayed in the mall, and never tried to leave?
Run out of food, Andy would have died, Kenneth would become more distant, everyone would get on each other's nerves, someone might do something stupid and get someone hurt, the power would go out and everyone would slowly die.
But Ana's mind went towards the other path.
Their food would have lasted long enough, and then after that find some way to get more. They would have been able to all be together and always feel safe, Ana would have given birth and her and Michael would be able to raise their children there, Monica would stand up to Steve and kick him in the balls...and most of all they would all be alive and together.
She smiled and wished that could have been true.
Just then she heard soft footsteps and she saw Nicole and Terry walking over, still soaked from the water.
Ana smiled as the two flopped down on the beach towels they laid out and tried to catch their breath.
Nicole yanked on a small cover up and pulled hair dripping hair away from her neck.
"How was it?"
"Cold..."
Ana laughed "Told you it still wasn't warm enough."
Nicole giggled and grabbed her bottle of water and took a huge gulp. Terry on the other hand was looking over at Hunter and smiling.
Ana knew Terry was still taken back by what a miracle Hunter was.
He was there when Hunter was born and for the past four months watched him slowly grow.
Just then Hunter had started to mumble and wake up a little. Terry right away picked him up under his shoulder and laid back as he bounced Hunter back and forth on his stomach.
Hunter woke up right away and started to giggle and wave his chubby arms back and forth. Ana and Nicole laughed and watched him.
"He's getting big..." Nicole said as she watched him.
"Yeah I know, pretty depressing huh?"
Nicole laughed and brushed some of her hair out of her eyes.
"I can't wait to have one..."
"What's stopping you?"
Nicole smiled and rolled her eyes.
"Oh just someone acts to much of a child themeless."
Both looked at Terry and started to laugh.
"Well, when it happens, it happens."
Nicole smiled and kept watching Terry bounce Hunter up and down.
"It still amazes me..."
"What?"
"Hunter..." She pointed
"Yeah I know."
"You know, this is going to sound funny..."
Ana looked at her.
"What?"
"Remember back on the dock that day..."
Of course she knew...
"Yeah."
"Michael was handing Terry a boat line, he was telling you that everything was going to be okay...and I got this funny feeling like he wasn't really leaving us...not all of him at least."
Ana smiled a little and rubbed her arm.
"Yeah I know the feeling..."
Just then Kenneth walked over with a sack full of fish over one shoulder.
"Come on guys, lets get the fire pit ready."
Terry jumped up with Hunter in his arms and asked Ana if he could take him back to the resort.
Ana said sure and picked up the towels with Nicole.
They all started walking down the soft beach when Nicole suddenly turned towards her and asked...
"Is it wrong not to miss someone as much as you did before?"
"What do you mean?"
This was hard for her to say.
"Well, like my family, I still miss them and all, but it seems like I'm not thinking of them as much as I did before."
Ana thought for a minute and then smiled.
"I think they would have wanted you to move on."
Nicole gave a weak smile and kept walking. Ana smiled and watched the tide wash back and forth on the dark sand which was crunching between her toes.
She wished it was as easy for her...but the truth was she would never get over Michael...not as long as she was still alive.