Chapter 8- Problem Solving

Sorry it took so long to update. I've been swamped with homework and soccer and spy ware. Plus, I've been making wallpapers like crazy. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

"Believe what?" Charlie asked, standing at Jack's side. A smile spread across Hurley's face.

"Ships." Hurley said simply.

"What?" Jack asked not quite following.

"We saw ships… on the beach. They saw us, Jack; we are getting off this island."

"Are you sure?" Charlie asked butting in the conversation.

"Yes, go check it out." He said putting up his hand to point in the direction of the beach.

"Come on, Jack." Charlie said running to the beach. Jack followed.

When they got to the beach, they saw people staring out at the ocean.

"Oh bloody hell." Charlie said as he looked out at the ocean. "Hurley was right." Jack followed his gaze to see a huge ship out in the ocean and ten smaller ships making their way to the island shore. "I need to go get Claire and Adam." Charlie said running to the caves. Jack stood there for a moment and then went to gather up people and their things.

"Claire!" Charlie yelled running up to her.

"What… what's wrong?" She asked quickly holding Adam close to her chest.

"They're here Claire… they're here." He said bringing her into a hug and kissing her cheek.

"Who's here?"

"Ships luv… they've finally come."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Jack and I went and checked it out for ourselves."

"Then we need to get our stuff." She said looking around.

"I'll get it. You take Adam and go to the beach."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes luv, go."

"I love you." She said giving him a quick kiss.

"I love you too."

Claire was at the beach with Adam in her arms, when Charlie met her carrying one bag and having another slung around his shoulder. He walked up next to her and set both bags on the ground. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her cheek.

"I can't believe we are finally getting rescued." She said turning to look at him with a smile spread across her face. He smiled back at her and pulled her closer to himself.

When the ten small row boats got to the beach, one large man made his way over to the group, but stopped a few feet short. Jack, Kate, and Sayid walked up to him.

"Flight 815" The man asked looking at Jack.

"Yes." Jack said nodding his head with excitement.

"How did you find us?" Kate asked with a small laugh.

"A psychic told us that you were stranded. We almost didn't believe him, but he seemed convinced." The man pulled out a tiny white slip of paper. "He said he sent a blond pregnant girl onto the plane… and that she was still alive and so was her baby. Um… a Claire Littleton."

"Claire." Jack said waving her over. Claire walked over to them, with Charlie right behind her.

"Claire Littleton?" The man asked.

"Yes." She said smiling.

"And this is your son?"

"Yes." She said nodding her head.

"And you?" The man asked looking at Charlie.

"Charlie Pace." He said shaking the man's hand.

"Of Driveshaft… we heard about you."

"Good things I hope."

"Yes, of course." The man said laughing. "How many survivors?"

"Forty six." Sayid said with much confidence.

"Alright… we have one main ship and ten smaller row boats to transport you to it. We need to find an order to go by." The man said to the nine men from the other row boats.

"We have the manifest." Hurley said, overhearing their talking. "The names of the dead are crossed out." He added, handing the man the manifest.

"Thank you sir." He said taking it. He looked it over and looked at Jack. "You seem to be in charge." He said smiling.

"No, I'm just the doctor." Jack said with a laugh.

"Name?"

"Jack Shepard." The man looked down the manifest until he found Jack's name.

"Okay, let's put you on row boat number one." The man said with a smile. He looked down the list and four other names. "Shannon Rutherford, John Locke, Hugo Reyes, and Charlie Pace… join Mr. Shepard on row boat one." Charlie looked over at Claire.

"Just go, and I'll meet you on the ship." She said with a smile.

"I don't want to leave you."

"Charlie, just go." She said laughing.

"Alright, I love you." He said kissing her lips softly. "And I love you." He said kissing Adam's almost bald head.

"See you on the ship." She said smiling.

"Bye luv." He said slinging a bag over his shoulder and picking up the other.

"Row boat two will have you five." The man said to Claire, Kate, Michael, Walt, and Sayid.

Charlie was on the ship waiting for Claire, when she came up beside him and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Miss me?" She asked smiling.

"Every second we're apart." He said taking Adam from her.

"Aww… you're so sweet." She teased flashing him a smile.

"I know." He said kissing Adam's tiny hand.

"When do you think we will get to Sydney?" She asked laying her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Jack said it would take about a day or so."

"I can't wait to finally bathe."

"Yeah, you need it." He said teasing her.

"Shut up!" She said laughing as she playfully hit his arm.

"Ow… note to self… never tell Claire she stinks." He said smirking.

"Did you find our room?"

"Yeah, we have to share with Jack and Locke."

"Why do you sound so disappointed?"

"Because Jack will probably invite Kate in and Boone never leaves Locke's side."

"Yeah… it will be pretty crowded."

"Just a little." He said sarcastically.

"Do you think our family knows we're alive yet?"

"I hope so… I want Liam to know how sorry I am. He tried to help me kick the drugs, but I pushed him away."

"When he sees you, I'm sure he'll be really proud." Claire said laying a hand on his back and giving him a reassuring smile.

"Claire…"

"Yeah?"

"Where do you plan on staying?"

"Oh, um… I don't know."

"I want you and Adam to stay with me." He said smiling at Adam in his arms. "I mean, I don't have a place in Sydney… but I'm sure Liam wouldn't mind us staying with him until I find a place."

"Charlie, we're not…"

"Married… I've been thinking about that." He turned to look at her. "I've been thinking about that a lot actually. Claire, will you marry me?"

Kind of cheesy… but that's how the cookie crumbles. LOL! Hope you enjoyed and of course I want you to review this lovely little fanfic of mine… hehehe.

Special thanks to these people for reviewing chapter 7:

CharlieandClaire- Yes, I did leave it there! And now you have another cliffy! I'm so evil… Oh well. Hope it was worth the long wait.

LunaAqua- I'm glad you like both my stories. It warms my heart. Now you have a cliffy to live through… just assure me that you will live through it.

MusicMonkey88- Glad you liked it and thanks a bunch for reviewing.

CharlieClaireforlife- You guessed right! You're prize is another cliffy! CONGRATS!

Esmarelda Gamgee- I know I am mean… so to prove it… here's another cliffy!

Lara Chubb of Deephollow- Come out of the corner and don't cry. Live through this cliffy and um… I don't know… JUST LIVE and don't cry…