Lost Lorenzo: Hey, glad you liked the whole Liam and Shannon connection. I was trying to figure out some more ways for Charlie and Claire to interact, and the idea just came to me. And I actually started to like Eaden in this chapter too, witch was actually the purpose. I wanted to show why Charlie liked her so much. But like you said of course, Claire, is much, much better. Thus, they will be together. I like the idea of him going over to help Claire with Aaron, I might just have to use it. Thanks for the suggestion. Oh, and by the way, I'd love to have you as my bata! I planned on sending you this chapter soon as I got your review, but for some odd reason, my computer isn't letting me send e mails. I've been getting them, obviously, so I don't understand why. But as soon as I can make it work, you'll have the next chapter.

CCLover4ever: Yay! Favorite list! I know it sounds sad, but to me, that's an accomplishment. I though I might have trouble with this one at first, since at times it confuses even me. But I'm glad its starting to make sense.

Hekate trivia: Hey, good to hear from you again. I know a lot of people have problems with bad spelling. I've been getting a couple offers for bata from other people as well, but since you can spot the mistakes really well, I think it might be a good idea to have more that one bata. I know the story is making very little, if any sense, but I think chapter five should make things a little bit clearer. So until then, well, just try and bare with me. In order for you to do bata, normally I would send you the chapters through e-mail, so in order to do that I would need your e-mail address. There has been something strange going on with my e-mail for the last couple days, to where I can review them, but I can't send any. So I'm not sure what's going on. But as soon as it starts working I'd be glad to start sending you newer chapters.

Deja Vu

Three days later...

"Do I really have to go?" Claire questioned, trying once again to guilt her way out. "Yes," Shannon insisted, for the hundredth time, pulling up her hair as she walked past. Claire sighed, and continued brushing her hair. As tradition, whenever Shannon found a guy that could make a relationship last longer than one night, she had to drag Claire along to meet him.

This time, it was to a club. Not a nice restaurant, or even a coffee house. Just a low, grungy club to see the guy's band. She wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea. But she was more worried about leaving Aaron alone. Obviously, he wouldn't actually be alone. Shannon's brother Boone was coming over to watch him. But Claire's dream had brought on a new since of paranoia, especially after the one she'd had last night.

"Ok, how do I look?" Shannon questioned, turning to Claire with a pose. "The word awful comes to mind" The answer came not from Claire, but from the door way. The two turned to see Boone leaning against the frame with a playful smirk on his face. "God, Claire. Couldn't you find a better baby sitter?" Shannon questioned teasingly, smiling confidently despite her brothers comment.

"No. But I wouldn't need one if you weren't forcing me to go" Claire retorted smartly, hopping up from her chair. "Would you stop complaining? This is our tradition. Have I ever missed one of your third dates?" Shannon questioned, laying one hand on her hip. "I haven't had a third date since I've known you" Claire exclaimed, in contradiction. Shannon paused for a moment. "Exactly!"

Claire replied only with a frustrated growl, and walked out into the living room. "Women" Boone sighed, shaking his head. "Good thing It'll be just me and you, right little guy? Get you away from all that estrogen" He continued, turning to little Aaron who was standing in his crib, starring back at him blankly.

"Keep bashing women like that and your gonna turn him gay" Shannon noted teasingly, giving herself one last check in the mirror before heading to the door. "OK, he's been crying a lot at night, so be prepared. The bottles are in the fridge, dippers on in the bag, my cell phone numbers on speed dial if you need anything-" Claire rambled franticly, her motherly paranoia shinning through.

"Claire" Boone interrupted, holding a hand up to further shush her. "I've done this before, OK? Me and Aaron will be fine. I promise" He assured, looking her dead in the eye. "I know" Claire sighed with a nod, not feeling much better about the situation. "Just try to have some fun, all right? You deserve it" He added with a smile.

"Yeah, right. I'll try" She muttered sarcastically, though a smile had worked its way onto her face. "All right. And keep an eye on my sister!" He called after her as the two headed out the door, receiving only a slam and the sound of giggles in reply. Once again, he turned to the one year old and sighed. "Women"

Later...
This was how it was supposed to be. Back stage in the dressing room Charlie sat in his chair, obsessively messing with his guitar. Eaden stood behind him, looking at their reflections in the mirror before them. Telling him how sexy he looked. Charlie simply smiled modestly and continued looking down at his guitar. It had been for ever since they could sit back stage without listening to someone argue. Rather it be the two of them, him and Liam, Liam and someone else or all of the above. It seemed like things were finally getting back on track.

"Would you stop fidgeting" She scolded playfully, reaching down to grab hold of his hands. "You need you relax" she added, kneeling down and laying her head on his shoulder. "I am relaxed. I'm just...nervous" He explained, setting his guitar aside with a shrug. "I don't see why. You've done this how many times?" She asked teasingly, sliding onto his lap.

"Eaden, you know very well that there are many things I have done a thousand times that still make me very nervous" He reminded playfully, pressing his forehead against hers and ending his sentence with a kiss. "Hey, Charlie, off your ass. Its time to go!" Liams voice called from the door way. "Sorry luv. My crowd of screaming fans awaits me" He note playfully, hopping up from the chair. She smiled and kissed him once again before letting him fallow his brother into the hall.

"wow, that was weird" Liam noted once Charlie had caught up with him. "What?" Charlie asked, turning to him in confusion. "You and Eaden. You weren't arguing or anything. I haven't seen you two like that in a while" Liam exclaimed simply. "I know, right? Its nice." Charlie nodded in agreement, a slightly happy smile coming onto his face.

"That's good. What about...what about the dreams?" Liam asked, his voice lowering to a whisper as if it were some sort of secret. "They're gone" Charlie explained in all honesty. "Haven't had one in three days"

"Good. You were really starting to worry me" Liam explained, sighing in relief. "Yeah, I know. I was worrying myself" He assured, bluntly. "Well, forget about all that, all right? We've got a show to do" Liam reminded him, optimistically, giving him a hard pat on the back. Charlie just smiled, and headed out on stage.

Later...

"Shannon, I don't think were supposed to be back here" Claire noted softly, looking around nervously at the crowd of people back stage. "I'm dating the lead singer. I think that's good enough for a back stage pass" Shannon assured, tugging her by the wrist. Shannon dragged her over to where the bouncer stood, eyeing them skeptically.

"Name?" He asked in a low monotone, little expression on his face. "Shannon" She explained proudly. "Right...go on in" e confirmed, giving an indicating nod to the door behind them. Shannon walked straight in, Claire slowly trailing behind. The hall way was narrow, dark and smelled of smoke and alcohol. She decided that if she were going to stand being back there for more then five minutes, she'd have to breath through her nose.

Shannon however, appeared fine. Waving to random people and smiling as she walked by as if she were on the red carpet. Only, if the floor back here was red it was because someone got stabbed. Finally, the made it out of the hall and into a semi-open room. The choking smell died down somewhat, making it a little easier to breath.

"I'm gonna go get us some drinks" Shannon explained, not giving Claire a chance to protest. She disappeared into the crowd, leaving Claire alone to be the perfect wall flower. She crossed her arms and leaned back against the plain stone wall, watching as the various people, each with a bear bottle in one hand, and a cigarette, or what she assumed was a cigarette, walked past.

It was no more than she expected. As usual, Shannon ditched her. As Claire scanned the room, her mind began to wonder. They wondered straight back to her dreams. It was just a quick flash, almost live a vision. The two of them once again on that beautiful beach. He sat with his legs crossed, guitar across his lap, playing and humming a song that sounded in know way familiar. She knelt behind him, a smile on her face and a pair of scissors in her hands.

A warm, fuzzy, happy feeling swept over her, momentarily capturing her breath as she slowly opened her eyes. She took in a couple of breaths, trying to lower herself back down before she did anything else. When her head lifted back up her eyes caught sight of a familiar person as once, opening wide as they watched him walk past the crowd with a grin and a guitar in his hand and disappear into the hall.

Once the shock died down, and she'd blinked a couple times to make sure what she was seeing was real, and not just an extension of the dream she'd just had, she pushed herself off the wall. She made her way through the crowd, keeping her eyes on the place where he had entered. The dark little hall. She was so fixed on it that she barely noticed that Shannon stood in front of her.

"Hey, Claire" She spoke up, catching Claire's attention just in time before the poor girl ran into her. Claire's eyes travailed from her to the man beside her who she assumed was Liam. "Where were you going?" Shannon asked, giving her a little confused look. "Um...to find you" Claire explained, quickly thinking up an excuse.

"Oh. Well, I'd like you to meet Liam" Shannon explained happily, quickly changing the subject. "Hi.." Claire muttered awkward, faking a smile. "Hi" He replied in a similar manor, although, he seemed a little less uncomfortable. "I'm gonna go change. I probably smell awful" He explained, turning back to Shannon with a playful grin. She laughed, and he gave her a kiss on the cheek before heading back to that dark little hall.
"Isn't he great?" Shannon questioned, watching him walk away with a huge grin that faded slightly when she turned back to Claire. "What's wrong?"

Claire shrugged and sighed. "Where's that drink you were supposed to be getting?" She questioned, sarcastically, crossing her arms. "Oh right! Sorry, got a little side tracked" Shannon apologized simply. "I'll be right back" She assured, and headed off once again to go get the drinks. Claire took the opportunity in hand, and made her way to the hall. She made it past the small crowd and reached the entrance, but stopped when she spotted Liam talking to the very man she was following.

Her eyes grew wider as she watched them talk, unable to hear what either one of them were saying. Liam ended they're little conversation with a pat on the back and a hug. She could see him begging to turn his head in her direction quickly stepped aside. She leaned back against the wall, just beside the opening to the hall, hand laid over her mouth in surprise.

She let out a breath and tired to think, running her hand back through her hair. But no matter how hard she tried, no clarity would come to her aid. It was all just a jumble of facts that made no since and questions she couldn't answer. It was staring enough that she was having dreams about him. Even stranger that he ended up living next door. But now this? Being friends with Shannon's new boyfriend? She was now convinced that this was just a bunch of coincidences. This was fate. For some reason, the two of them were supposed to meet. Apparently, more than once.

"Charlie!" She heard Shannon's voice call, and lifted her head to find her friend hugging the very man she'd been hiding from. He smiled uncomfortably and stepped back after she let down her arms. Claire looked down, letting her hair fall in her face in an attempt to hide herself.
"Charlie, this is my friend Claire" Shannon decided to introduce, turning to face her with a grin. Claire looked up surprise, her eyes instantly meeting with his. The look of shock came across both their faces instantly. "Do you two know each other?" Shannon questioned after a moment, looking back and forth between the two in suspicion.

"Um, yeah. Kind of..." He explained, seeming to have lost his breath. "He came into work...and he lives next door" Claire explained, quickly breaking the eye contact between them and turning to Shannon. "Really?" Shannon questioned, looking mildly surprised. "Isn't that a coincidence?"

"Yeah...no kidding" Claire muttered under her breath, trailing her gaze away from them both. "Well, I've got to go find Liam. You two can keep each other company" Shannon announced, placing one of the glasses into Claire's hand before heading back down the hall. Claire had wanted to say something to stop her but know words came out. So she was left once again to fend for herself.

"Let me guess, she dragged you along?" He questioned playfully, once again trying to spark up a conversation. She lifted her head once again, there eyes meeting instantly. "Yeah...its tradition" She explained with a nod, feeling the warmth rushing to the surface of her skin, especially in her cheeks. "Well, from the looks of it your not enjoying yourself much" He noted with a smile, looking her up in down.

"Fraid not" She agreed with a shrug, maintaining a faint smile. "I know the story. I think me and my brother share the same one-sided tradition" He explain with a playful grin. "Your brother?" She questioned curiously, glancing down the hall. "The man I was hugging? Yes,." He assured with a laugh, looking down at the floor.

"Oh, all right. Makes more since than what I was thinking..." She explained playfully. "You have quite the dirty mind" He teased. "I assure you, Shannon is entirely the one to blame for that" She contradicted sarcastically, playfully up holding her honor. "Well, since she's dating my brother, that comes as no surprise" He replied with a smirk, leaning back against the wall beside her and sliding his hands into his pockets.

"Oh? Seems to me like you and your brother have a few unsolved issues" She noted, playing with her straw as she glanced around the corner of the hall, catching a quick glimpse of Liam and Shannon, bastardizing the meaning of PDA

"Well, of course, like any pair of siblings we have our disputes, but for the most part...we get along" he explained with a casual shrug. But his sentence was followed with a sigh, that told Claire him and his brother weren't quite as friendly as they appeared. She was curious to figure out why, but held back the urge to comment on it.

Instead, she warped her lips around her straw and waited patiently for him to speak. But instead she heard nothing but the chattering around her, and the gentle tapping of his painted fingers against his thigh. She glanced down at his hand, watching as it kept a nervous, steady beat. He was fidgeting.

"Hey"

Claire glanced up, assuming that he was trying to grab her attention. But instead, he faced away from her. Looking forward at the tall blonde women who stood in front of him. "Hey, I've been looking all over for you" the women exclaimed with a grin, wrapping her arms around him. Claire watched as he gave her a kiss, feeling the jealously rushing back. She forced herself to look away, trying hard to hold it back.

Her hands clinched into fist at her sides, and the sound of the women's laugh made her cringe. She couldn't control it one bit. Some where deep inside her, and angry, jealous pool had been tapped into, and know it was flooding over. It was overwhelming, far to much for her to handle. She couldn't keep herself there in front of them and stay calm. So she pushed herself off the wall and quickly moved through the group of people around her, blinded by the tears welling up in her eyes.

She somehow found the exit and pushed through the door, stalking the parking lot until she found Shannon's Car and collapsed on the hood. She laid her head back against the wind shield, biting her lip and fighting back tears. She closed her eyes, finally giving in and letting them fall. After taking in a deep breath and letting the feeling pass, or at least, lose its strength, she opened her eyes and stared up at the sky. It was to dark, to cloudy, to smokey. Nothing like Australia.

Australia had beautiful skies, both day and night. They were bright, and clear, with thousands, and thousands of stars. From her current view, all she could see was the few that neighbored the moon, and she was pretty sure some of them were planets. But she sighed, and stared up at them any way. All two of them. Watching them try to shine brighter than they're ability in attempt to light the sky just as the thousands did back in Australia. There attempt wasn't working all that well since she could barely see her feet at the end of the car, but she had to give them points for effort.

Slowly, a smile crossed her face and she sat up, quickly digging into one of the purses she borrowed from Shannon and pulling out her diary and a pin. It wasn't hard to find, since the only other thing in there was her ID. She flipped it open to the next clean page and rested it on her knee, making a few swirly-scribles to get the pin working properly before she began. Laughing in amusement as she jotted down the random little dedication.

Heres to the little L.A. stars,
in a place full of darkness and smoke
they do their best to light the way

Later...

Charlie sat on the couch backstage, well, more like laid. He held his hand to the bridge of his nose, eyes squeezed shut, hopping that if he focused hard enough he could defeat the head ach. But it was hopeless. Headaches always win. Suddenly, something slammed down by his head, jolting him into and open-eyed, sitting position.

He gasped, and turned breathlessly to see his brother, a had laying on the arm rest where it had been slammed down and an amused grin on his face. "Damn it, Liam" He muttered, to startled to sound as annoyed as he really was. "Sorry, man. Couldn't help it" Liam apologized with a giggle, showing absolutely no remorse.

Charlie muttered something under his breath that wasn't quite audible and laid his hand over his forehead, shielding his eyes from the lights, witch seemed unusually bright for the backstage of club. Thus, the effects of alcohol. "Where's Claire?"

He heard another, somewhat familiar voice questioned, and glanced up, noticing Shannon kneeling next to his brother. "Huh?" He asked, unable to remember her question. "Claire? Where is she?" Shannon repeated, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "Uh..." He glanced around the room, trailing off for a long delay."I don't know." He confirmed after a moment, giving up at the fact that he couldn't see her any where.

"Well, he did you last see her?" She asked, sternly, speaking down to him like a toddler. Charlie considered the thought for a moment, all the while pretending not to be offended. "Um, I don't know. I talked to her for a little while, then Eaden showed up, and when I turned back around, she was gone" He explained with a shrug, finding it hard to remember his own name let alone recall events.

Shannon frowned, unsatisfied, and turned to Liam. She raised an eye brow, a hidden gesture telling him to handle the situation or else they would be conciciquiences. Women and their controlling ways. "Are you sure you haven't seen her? At all? Think" Liam insisted, with a hint of begging in his voice. Charlie sensed his desperation and made an attempt, trying hard to remember. It was more difficult than it seemed. It was like trying to remember a dream a few hours after it happened and explaining it to someone.

You could remember it perfectly fine at first, but after a while, key points faded out, leaving nothing but a bunch of little clips that made no since, and didn't connect. It was confessing as hell. Especially because this was not a dream he couldn't remember, but real events.

"I...I cant remember" he explained softly, talking more to himself then two his audience. Shannon gave a loud, annoyed sigh. "Come on, Liam. Your brothers obviously to stoned to help" She muttered smartly, rising to his feet. Charlie glanced over at Liam, hopping to hear some sort of comment in his defense. But Liam gave none. He simply stood and obediently followed the tall blonde away like a good little dog, feeling no guilt at all.

"Hey, wait-" He called after his brother, hopping up off the couch way to fast, struggling to keep his balance as a head-rush struck him dead on. Liam turned his head, continuing to walk. "Did you see Eaden?" Charlie questioned, talking as loud as his horse voice would allow. "She left!" Liam explained, able to shout freely as he pleased.

A momentary look of confusion crossed Charlie's face. "Where did she go?" He called, able to raise his voice a pitch or two. Liam simply shrugged in reply and turned on his heels before disappearing into the crowd. She let out a long, heavy sigh and blinked a few times before starting his journey to the parking light. Driving would be hard in this condition. Finding the car, would be hard in this condition. But Charlie was determined to get home.

He couldn't really remember anything. But this type of feeling coming so early in the night was usually a product of an argument. And he wasn't about to let one little bender and coming home at three in the morning mess up the nice little relationship that he'd just gotten back. He wanted it far to much, and he wasn't going to let anything get in the way. Confidently, he slammed the car door shut, pulled on his seat belt (just in case), and pulled out of the parking lot.

Later...

If jealously was what Claire had felt back at the club, this was rage. She sat out on her balcony, arms crossed over the rail, starring out at the city in front of her, trying to ignore the faint sounds that still came from inside. She had been in bed, trying to sleep, when she first became aware of them. Moaning. Quiet at first, but it got much, much louder. High, loud, female moaning that could only be caused by one activity. Claire cringed.

Her hands were shaking, keeping a frantic tap against the stone rail of her balcony. She kept it going, trying to focus on it. Anything to block out the sounds that were coming from inside. How it could be so loud, was beyond her. Perhaps it was just because she was aware of it. After all, none of the other neighbors were out on they're porch compiling to themselves. Then again, none of the other neibors were having passionate dreams about the very person who was causing those sounds.

She opened her eyes, trying to get rid of the mental image she had just created for herself. She couldn't think about that. It was far, far to much. After a moment, she closed her eyes again, focussing on the tapping of her hands agents the stone, witch was against to hurt. But at this point, she didn't really care.

The slamming of a door startled her into a state of awareness. Her eyes flew open instinctively, waiting for the next move. The sound hadn't come from her door, she noted to herself, giving it time to register. Before she could turn on instinct, the next sound came to play. A sound that made all her rage disappear, and become replaced with utter sympathy.

She looked over in surprise. Watching with wide eyes as the shadowed figure witch she recognized so well leaned back against the brick wall, eyes squeezed shut, head bowed. With the small, barely audible sobbing sounds it wasn't hard to figure out.

She wished so badly that she could reach across the little balconies and wrap her arms around him. To hold him, comfort him. Protect him. It was so strong that her she actually felt her arms lifting at her side, but quickly fought back the urge. She couldn't comfort him. It was best to not even let him know she was there. All she could do was watch.

All right, that's all for now. Confused about the way it ended? Don't worry. All will be explained in time. Only other thing I have to say is review, please! Thank you.