Author's Note: I'm really so flattered to see people actually liking my writing not to mention this ship. Thank you again for all the reviews!

Chapter 3

Boone lay on the hard cave floor, staring at a drip that he had tried to plug up several times now. He continuously put some new device he had come up with into that little leak, the sound of it kept him up at night. He would have loved to blame that little leak for his insomnia this evening, however, it would have been a lie if he had. No, it was her. It was that kiss. That simple little kiss. It hadn't been a heart stopping, passionate, world ending kiss...but it almost equaled that in his mind.

And now he was left with this...leak. People all around him were already asleep. Hours had passed since they all had laid to rest for the night. Even the good doctor Jack was asleep and Boone hardly ever saw him actually completely rested. He couldn't take this, all the soft breathing and snoring surrounding him as he lay there. Restless. Boone sat up and glanced around the caves, his eyes falling on the curtain he had built. She was behind that curtain.

It wouldn't be so bad to take a peek at her, would it? Just to see her resting peacefully. He liked to know she was safe and sound. He slowly crept over other scattered bodies to get to the curtain, gently pulling back the veil slowly. There was Kaleb, in his crib, sound asleep. Boone's eyes rested on him for a moment, how his tiny chest rose and fell with each breath he took. And Boone stayed right there for the longest time, just watching him. As if he stopped, Kaleb would stop being so...perfect.

A noise came from his left, where Claire slept and he glanced over to see Charlie there, not Claire. Quickly Boone started to look around the area, for her, but she was nowhere to be found. A heartbeat too quick. A heartbeat skipped. Was she all right? Where did she go? Did someone take her? He quickly left the pleasant scene of dreams and headed out of the caves, panic starting to set in ever so slightly.

The only noise coming from the beach was the sound of the waves lapping at the sand. Boone started to run down the shoreline, wondering if she had just gone to get water...or something. And then he saw her. Sitting underneath a tree, not ten yards away from him. And by the looks of things, she had spotted him now too. He started towards her, head hanging a bit as he finally made it and threw himself down at her side.

"You looked like you were looking for something...in a hurry." Claire spoke softly, her voice just drifting over the wind.

"I was..."

Claire stayed silent a moment, nothing being said for what seemed like an eternity before he spoke up and broke the blanket of silence around them.

"I was looking for you. I didn't see you in the caves...I got...worried."

Claire was quiet for a while, her eyes still looking out toward the water. Something in Boone feared the worst, did she think him some sort of creepy pervert now?

"Do you watch over me a lot?" She asked suddenly and he wasn't prepared for the question.

"I..."

"I know you were the one who rescued me a week ago. And stayed by my side..."

"Oh. Well. The thing about that is..."

"I'm glad it was you." She cut him off and he was placed in a state of shock.

What had she just said? She...was glad it was him? He could have slapped himself. He needed to focus, to be that cool and calculating guy that he used to be. He couldn't with her though, he just couldn't. She turned to face him and he just stared at her as the moonlight flooded over her features. She looked like she had a halo surrounding her. He knew he couldn't hold it back any further now, there was no stopping it.

Boone suddenly lunged forward and took her face in his hands, kissing her. And she didn't push him away. She was shocked, he could tell that. Her body had stiffened and he could feel her eyelashes blink against the lids of his closed eyes. But soon her eyes were closed too and her body relaxed. Her little nose rested against his as they each acted on the passion that they had been holding down for what felt like centuries. He deepened the kiss, his lips gently suckling at her top lip then her bottom. His right hand ventured back into her hair, getting lost in the soft strands. Before he knew it, his tongue was venturing out on it's own accord and exploring her mouth, tangling up with her own tongue.

Claire started to press herself against him, his body accepting her voluntarily, it had already been aching for her for so long. One of her hands snaked up to rest over his heart. And he swore his heart was beating so hard that it was trying to break through and get to her. Why wouldn't it want to be with it's rightful owner? Just as she was inching even closer during the passionate kiss, a voice could be heard off in the distance.

"Aww, freckles, com'on!" Sawyer's drawl broke the moment and Boone and Claire parted, both gasping for breath.

They didn't look off toward where Sawyer's voice was coming from just yet though. Both pairs of eyes were locked on each other until Kate's voice could be heard as well.

"Sawyer! I told you not steal anything anymore! I swear...no one is ever going to trust you."

Claire sniffed a small laugh and Boone smiled as he looked back at her.

"So like Sawyer to ruin a moment." Boone commented softly.

Claire nodded then chewed at her lower lip a moment. "I should be heading back anyway though...Kaleb."

Boone nodded and stood up, helping her up with him. She looked up at him from her 5'2 standing and placed her hand over his heart again and then let it slide away.

"Are you coming back to the caves?" She asked.

"I think I'll stay out here for a bit, actually. Will you be all right by yourself?"

She nodded. "Of course, Sawyer and Kate are up...Good night...Boone." She whispered his name as if he were her best kept secret.

"Good night, Claire." He replied and took her hand for a moment, bringing it to his lips before she started to walk off, their hands parting at the slowest rate possible. Soon she was just a small figure passing into the caves and Boone fell back into the sand, sitting in his spot from before.

She hadn't pushed him away. She had kissed him back. But what about Charlie? Did she love him? What about Shannon? Would she disapprove? Would Claire pretend this all never happened once the sun came up? No...he wouldn't let these worries bring him down right now. Not when the world seemed so right. Not when she had kissed him and meant it. Boone leaned back against the tree and watched the ocean until his eyes became weary and finally closed.