Chapter 4- By Your Side

Hey guys… I'm back! This chapter took awhile due to my procrastination. I couldn't convince myself to write this chapter… but I finally did. And I think you will enjoy it.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Claire was sitting on the beach with her hat on. She was reading through her diary again. She would skip past the part about Thomas and the psychic. Really, the only part she read about was her life on the island. Every time she reached the page about Charlie, she smiled. He had been so good to her since she had come back. She remembered what he had told her just the night before. She smiled as the words and the sound of his voice played in her head. "And you make me feel alive." He had told her. She thought to herself about how she could forget someone as great as him. The man who stayed up with her, helped her remember, and shot Ethan.

"Claire." Charlie said walking up to her and sitting down.

"Hi Charlie."

"Hi… how are you doing?"

"Fine." She said smiling and rolling her eyes.

"And the little one?"

"He's good."

"Good." He looked out at the ocean and then back at Claire. "What have you been up to?"

"Just trying to remember."

"Oh… have you?"

"No."

"Well, don't worry luv. It will come back."

"You keep telling me that, Charlie. It hasn't come back yet."

"Give it time luv… after all, it's only been three days."

"I know."

"Would you like to come back to the caves with me?" Charlie asked turning to look at her.

"Yeah." She said nodding her head. Charlie put his arm around her back and helped her up.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

When they got back to the caves, Charlie had helped Claire sit down. He went and got some water and offered her a bottle.

"Thanks." She said taking it.

"You're quite welcome." He said sitting next to her. She took a sip of the water. "Claire…"

"Yes?"

"Did you mean what you said? You know… that I make you feel safe."

"Yeah." She said smiling at him.

"Good, because I meant what I said too." Claire smiled.

"Thanks Charlie."

"I promise I will keep you safe luv."

"I believe you."

"Good."

"I'm going to get some rest." Claire said as Charlie helped her stand up.

"Alright… sleep well luv."

"Well it's actually more of a nap, since it is still sunny." Claire said giggling.

"Alright… nap well luv." Charlie said smiling.

"I will." She began to walk to her sleeping place in the cave, but stopped. She looked back at Charlie. "Would you mind staying with me? I go to sleep faster, knowing you're there."

"I would love to." He said standing up. They walked over to where Claire slept and Charlie helped Claire sit down. She laid down on her back and Charlie sat with his back against the wall of the cave.

"I think I might take a nap myself." Charlie joked. Claire smiled and drifted off to sleep. Charlie looked at her and smiled. "Claire?" He said to see if she was awake. Claire didn't respond. "Sweet dreams luv." He said kissing her forehead. Then he leaned back against the cave wall again and watched her sleep.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

About two and a half hours passed when Claire woke up. Her eye lids fluttered open to see the sun was going down. She looked over at Charlie, who had his eyes closed. She smiled at him and sat up.

"Charlie" She said touching his hand. He smiled and opened his eyes.

"Hey." He said smiling.

"Hey… did I wake you?"

"No. I was just resting my eyes."

"Oh."

"You hungry?"

"Yeah…" She said nodding her head.

"Well, me too. Let's go find something to eat." He said standing up. He took her hand and put his other hand on her back.

"Thanks." She said standing up.

"So what do you want to eat? And don't say peanut butter, I think we ran out." Claire laughed. "Really luv… do you want fish, boar, fruit…"

"Fruit is always a smart choice… I need to eat healthy for the baby."

"Of course… Fruit it is." Charlie said as they began to walk. Claire stopped walking and Charlie stopped with her.

"Are you alright?"

"He's kicking." Claire said taking Charlie's hand and laying it on her pregnant belly. Charlie grinned.

"It's amazing." He said, feeling the kicking. He looked up at her. "Claire… I… I care about you a lot."

"I care about you a lot too Charlie." She said laying her hand on top of his, which was still on her stomach. Charlie looked down at their hands.

"Claire, I love…"

"Oh." Claire said clenching her stomach with both hands.

"Are you okay?" Charlie asked, moving his hand that laid on her stomach, on to her back.

"It hurts."

"Alright. I am going to go get Jack." Charlie looked around. "The caves are close by. I will be back in a minute. Okay?"

"Okay." She said nodding her head. Charlie ran to the caves.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Jack!" He called out as he entered the caves. Jack ran up to him.

"What's wrong?"

"Claire, she's in pain. She might be having the baby."

"Okay, where is she?"

"Follow me." Charlie said looking at him.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Claire." Jack said kneeling down beside her.

"Am I having the baby?" She asked.

"Yeah… we need to get you back to the caves."

"I'll take her." Charlie said quickly.

"Alright… I'll me you there."

"Okay." Charlie said scooping up Claire in his arms. "Don't worry luv. You and the baby are going to be fine."

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

When Charlie got to the caves, Jack had everything set up.

"Set her down on the blanket." Jack said cleaning his hands off with alcohol. Charlie put her down and took her hand.

"How are you doing?"

"Okay." She said as another contraction came on.

"Just think, you will be holding him in your arms once this is all over." Charlie said, smoothing back her hair.

"Sorry to break up the moment, but Claire… I need you to push… the baby is coming now."

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Haha! I left you hanging! YAY me! LOL… sorry… Hope you decide to check out Hearts Grow Fonder if you haven't already. AND I have a special thanks for these people for reviewing Chapter 3:

Esmarelda Gamgee- You gotta love exclamation points! LOL! Thanks for reviewing!

MusicMonkey88- Thanks, glad you liked it.

CharlieClaireforlife- Glad you liked it. I hope they kiss on the show too! And I am promising a kiss somewhere in this story, but when… I'll never tell until I post the chapter!

Ponyboysgirl1- Peanut Butter Shippers rock! And there is no need to beg. I try to update as soon as possible. I promise I will post another chapter this week end! I promise!

Lara Chubb of Deephollow- Glad I made you scream! LOL! Thanks for reviewing!