Chapter 2 –Charlie

A/N Hola! What a lovely episode it was last night! Every time I was about to cry, something funny happened, like Hurley singing "I feel good" to the poor baby. Haha! Anyway, I just wanted to share with you that one thing that bugged me last episode is that Claire didn't think of a name for the baby. So, to avoid calling who is now a toddler in my fic "the baby", I'm going with Willie, since that was the baby's name in my other fic, Espoir.

Thanks to MrsTater and suspencer for reviewing, i really appreciate it!

It was a beautifully warm day in Inglewood, and Claire suggested they take a walk to the little park a few blocks from their apartment.

Strolling down the sidewalk, Claire pushing the stroller with a cheerful and excited Willie inside, Charlie for the millionth time reminded himself how lucky he was. He turned, smiling at his fiancée with complete happiness. Imagine, a little more than a year ago, he was clinging to the chance of restoring DriveShaft, and clinging to his heroin even more. He thought of that period in his life shamefully, and sometimes he wondered how Claire trusted him so easily. He knew that he wasn't tempted any more by drugs, but how could she be so sure? He guessed that's just what love does to a person.

"Mommy!" Willie shrieked, the playground coming to view. He bounced up and down in the stroller, pulling impatiently at the seat belt. "Slide! Slide!"

Both Charlie and Claire laughed at their adventurous little boy. And yes, he did think of Willie as theirs. Charlie often forgot that Willie wasn't technically his son. But truly, he didn't mind. He had always loved the little kid, and felt like he was partly his responsibility with Claire being single after all, and no family to help her out. Not that Charlie had ever felt tied down or obligated. No, he'd asked Claire to marry him simply because she had become his love and his life.

He watched her unfasten the seat belt that imprisoned Willie, and watched him waddle as quickly as he could to the slide with Claire anxiously towing behind. He leaned against the fence and affectionately watched his family play. He looked delighted as Willie slid down into Claire's waiting arms, shouting in his squeaky child's voice, "Wheeee!"

He suddenly felt the presence of someone else behind him.

"Hey, little brother," a familiar British voice said.

"Liam!" Charlie turned to see his brother, hands in pockets, grinning. He looked pleased with himself, having successfully snuck up Charlie and definitely shocked him.

"Surprised?"

Charlie closed his open mouth. "Bloody hell, Liam!" He gave him a quick, awkward hug. "I don't believe it!"

Liam's smile faltered a little. "I'm only sorry I haven't shown up before now. What kind of brother am I not to come the second I hear you're alive?"

"Hey." Charlie brushed it away. "I knowyourwife was really sick. How's she doing?"

Liam leaned his back against the fence. "Last you heard, she'd just had chemo right?"

Charlie nodded, concerned.

"Well, it's been… what, two weeks since I talked to you on the phone? She had a doctor's appointment a few days ago, and he said the cancer's completely gone!"

Charlie sighed, relaxing. "Fantastic. Must be a weight off your shoulders, I'm sure."

Liam nodded seriously. "It's been a hard year. You have no idea. I mean, I don't know who had it worse, you or me. I felt horrible about you… well, dying after getting on that plane once you left our fight, and –"

"Hey," Charlie interrupted. "We've been through this. It was not a fight. It was me being a dumbass." He laughed, slightly bitter.

Liam opened his mouth to speak, then hesitated, looking as if he was afraid to say what he was about to. His eyebrows knit together, a familiar habit he had when he was thinking hard.

"Are you clean?" He finally managed to say, casting his eyes away, as if embarrassed he had to ask.

"Completely." Charlie said proudly. He thought back to when he'd accidentally found the plane… the plane that had killed Boone… the plane that had almost made him give in. He frowned slightly remembering those dozens of baggies of the exact thing he was afraid to come across again. He had stared down at them, picked one up and held it in his hand, looking wonderingly and unbelieving of his bad luck. Or his good luck? He'd gone so far as to unwrap the bag, and reach down to the contents of it. Then, disgusted in his lack of self-control, and his complete selfishness, he'd dropped the bag as if it was on fire. He'd spent one moment looking one last moment at the bags and bags of heroin, and fled. He'd returned to caves, and straight to Claire, feeling full of power and exaltation.

Suddenly, Claire was beside him, holding Willie on her hip.

"Hello." She said politely. She looked at Charlie. "Who's this?"

"This is my brother." Charlie said, his jaw beginning to ache from genuinely smiling.

Claire gasped. "You're Liam? Oh, my God!" She immediately gave him a warm hug. "I can't believe I'm finally meeting you in person!" Flustered, she beamed, looking excitedly back and forth between Charlie and Liam. "Oh! This is Willie!" she cried, squeezing the boy slightly and looking at him with obvious love. His thumb was in his mouth, and he was watching with interest the stranger whom he would later call "Uncle Liam".

She looked about her in a frenzy, sudden horror on her face. "We don't have any food at home, and the guest room is still a mess!"

Liam nodded warmly at them. "I assume this is Claire." He said dryly, but with amusement in his voice. "No need to prepare anything for me." He added, kindly to her. "I know I should have called and asked if I could come. I was selfish and wanted to surprise you."

Claire shifted Willie to her other hip. "But the wedding's a whole month away!"

Liam choked mid-chuckle. "Huh?"

Charlie glanced at her with a mock-exasperated look. Her hand flew immediately to her mouth, realizing what she'd done. "Oops." Her muffled voice said.

Charlie turned back sheepishly at Liam.

"I called you yesterday. It seems you didn't receive my message…"

They sat in a small coffee shop. Claire sat next to Liam in one booth, and Charlie sat across from them with Willie on his lap, who was beginning to get droopy-eyed after his sojourn in the park.

"It's amazing," Liam was saying. "how you met on an uncharted island during what should have been… well, the most horrible time of your lives!" He took a sip from his steaming mug. "It's like some sort of fairy tale."

Amused, Charlie looked at Claire purposefully. "You have no idea." He scoffed lightly.

Claire smirked. Polar bears, unseen monsters, hidden hatches, kidnappings… yes, this fairy tale has it all. Charlie thought to himself, and knew Claire was thinking the same thing.

Liam looked at them both. "Ah, yes." He began wisely. "The secret mind-readings of those in love. I know it well."

Willie opened his coloring book with his pudgy fingers. He looked, uninterested, at the pictures, on each page, coming to rest on one page and staring at it avidly. Then he picked up a crayon and scribbled on the picture, trying with a humorously serious expression. When he deemed it worthy, he pulled on Charlie's sleeve until he had his attention.

"Daddy!" he said, pointing to a picture of a bear trying to catch a fish in a stream. In a clear, confident voice, he said seriously,

"Daddy! Polar bear."