Author's Note: Thank you so much again for all the feedback, I really appreciate it! I keep writing for you all of course! 3

Chapter 4

Claire woke up the next morning with a renewed feeling of something she hadn't felt in a long time. Desire, need…love. She hadn't thought about a man in what seemed like a century. The only man that had occupied her thoughts for hours on end was her little man, Kaleb. She had given up hope on finding anyone else that might fill lonely nights with something more. It wasn't just her giving up on it either, she hadn't needed it. She hadn't wanted it. Until now.

Ever since last night when they shared that kiss, Claire had wondered why it had taken them both so long to admit to these feelings. As she turned to look at Charlie still asleep near the crib though, she realized why. Everyone had hinted at it at least once to her, everyone thought she and Charlie had something more than friendship. Her eyes traveled across Charlie's face and she sighed inwardly.

She slowly pushed herself up from the hard cave floor and peeked in at Kaleb. He was still asleep, looking like an angel. Her eyes scanned across the cave to look for Boone, but she didn't see him anywhere. She did see Shannon, his step sister. Meekly, Claire chewed on her lip and wondered what Shannon thought of her. She knew Boone was close with her and Claire figured if Shannon hated her, all hopes were dashed.

Charlie stirred next to her and she looked down at him as his eyes sleepily broke open. He smiled at her and then stretched his limbs, sitting up to join her. "Morning."

"Morning." She replied with a bit of a forced grin.

"Sleep well?"

Claire nodded and then tilted her head to the side, staring at him. He started to laugh softly and playfully put his thumb to her chin. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing…I just. Well something happened last night."

"Oh?" Charlie asked, looking in at Kaleb.

"Yeah…with Boone."

Charlie turned back to look at her and shot her a glance of confusion. "Boone? What are you doing talking with him?"

"It's not just talking. He…well what's wrong with him?" She suddenly questioned his stare of disapproval boring into her.

"He's arrogant, Claire. Not to mention broody and he's obsessed with his sister. Not very good company for someone like you."

"And what is the proper company for someone like me?" She demanded.

"Someone who knows how to treat you well." He informed her and then reached in to pick up Kaleb.

If he wasn't so good with her son, she would have loathed him at that moment. Instead, she got up from the ground and brushed her legs off. "I'm going to go for a walk, all right? Watch Kaleb?"

Charlie nodded, as if he hadn't said anything offensive whatsoever. Claire sighed inwardly again and headed out of the caves. So that's what he thought of Boone, her best friend here on the island thought Boone was arrogant and not worth her time. Charlie's opinion occupied her thoughts as she walked, until she came upon the man himself. He was propped up against the tree where she had left him the evening before and suddenly Claire's worries didn't bother her so much. At least for the moment.

She crawled down to sit next to him and kicked a little sand at his feet; he slowly shifted then finally opened up his eyes to meet with hers. His right hand shot up to rub at the tired orbs, but a grin flitted across his features all the same. "Good morning."

"Morning…you fell asleep out here, didn't even try to go back, yeah?" She smiled and pushed some hair out of her eyes.

Boone shook his head. "No, the sound of the ocean was too soothing, it only added to the moment. I couldn't let it go for some reason."

"Now that wasn't a broody answer at all." Claire said with a beam.

"What? A broody answer?" He looked over at her, confused.

Claire shook her head. "It's nothing…just something Charlie said."

"Charlie thinks I'm broody?"

"And arrogant. But I don't think that, I was trying to tell him about last night, but then he came up with that awful assumption."

Boone nodded and looked down at her feet in the sand as she wiggled her toes through the course grains that shimmered in the sunlight.

"I used to be those things. Honestly."

Claire stopped wiggling her toes around then gently reached out to caress the side of his face. "We've all changed since we've been on this island. It doesn't matter what we used to be before."

Boone closed his eyes at the tender touch. It put him in a sort of dream-like state, but he still couldn't completely disregard what Charlie said about him. "Claire, I know you and Charlie are close, but…he doesn't affect everything you decide, right?" He sounded like a little boy afraid of losing his favorite person in the world. Pathetic, he knew that, but it was how he was feeling.

"Charlie may be my best friend on this island…but he doesn't determine the path my heart chooses."

Boone smiled a bit and then heard Locke calling out for him in the distance. He scratched the back of his neck and kissed Claire's cheek before getting up and starting to head in that direction. Before he was too far though, he turned back to face her with a grin.

"You know that place between sleep and awake? The place where you still remember dreaming? That's where I'll always love you. That's where I'll be waiting." He recited with perfect tone and sincerity, causing Claire to beam at him.

"Peter Pan, right?"

"Close. Tinkerbell. It reminds me of you. Since I caught you when you were passed out, between sleep and awake. That's when it happened…See you Claire." With that he smirked and was jogging off to meet up with Locke. Claire couldn't help but picture him as the boy who never wanted to grow up himself as he ran off into the distance.

She didn't have time to reflect on it much though, Shannon came sauntering over and plopped down right next to her without so much as a word. "Hi Shannon." Claire greeted her softly.

Shannon looked over at her with a mixture of confusion and warning. "What are you doing with Boone?"

Claire blinked, shocked by the sudden accusation. "Nothing…he's just, well we're getting close."

"Careful there. He's been known to use other women before. You know…" Shannon warned.

Claire's face fell a little bit. "Oh ,yeah. Well it's nothing serious. You don't need to worry." But a hole was forming in her chest as she spoke, and she knew she was lying to herself and Shannon.

"Good, I just thought I should warn you, I mean I don't want you to get hurt or anything." Shannon responded coolly.

Claire nodded and then excused herself slowly, getting up to head back to her baby. Why would Shannon say something like that? Had she been spying on them? Maybe she really did just want to help her out, she did know he own brother after all. Claire stared at the sand as she ventured on. Shannon sat and watched as the other girl left with a hint of a smile on her face.