Chapter 3
" What?" Charlie asked in disbelief.
" It's my birthday today." Claire repeated staring into his eyes.
" I don't understand? Why would you not tell me?" Charlie asked sadly. He left her, on her birthday he had left her.
" I just.. I mean. It doesn't really matter. Right? We're stuck on an island, it doesn't really matter much that it's my birthday," she said sadly.
" Yes, it does Claire. It does matter. You matter." he said.
Claire smiled softly," I'm sorry Charlie." she replied.
" I just, I feel awful Claire. If I had known, I never would have left you. I would have stayed here and been with you," Charlie said rambling.
" I know. I know that Charlie. And that's why I couldn't tell you. I didn't want you to have to get me anything or try to cheer me up." Claire said.
" You're right. I would've done that." Charlie said smiling at her.
Claire laughed. Then it became silent. They sat there staring into each other's eyes for the longest time. Then slowly they began to lean in slowly, and there faces were merely inches apart.
Suddenly Vincent picked that moment to run past Charlie and Claire breaking up what would be a kiss.
"Sorry about that," said Walt, " Me and Vincent were playing catch."
"That alright," replied Charlie, obviously disappointed that he didn't get the kiss from Claire he wanted.
"Walt," yelled Michael, " It's time for bed"
Walt ran toward his father, Vincent not far behind.
"Well I guess I better be getting to bed," Claire said.
Charlie watched her walk to their sleeping area. A smile on his face. Tomorrow was another day and anything could happen.
Claire woke up to find Charlie not there. She slowly sat up and looked to the area where he usually was when she woke up.
Then she remembered the night before. ' Where we really going to kiss?' she thought to herself. Sure she was disappointed that it had got interrupted, but was she really ready to go down that road? To kiss him, already. True they had known each other for over a month. But she wasn't sure. But that disappointment in her when their soon to be kiss was broke, showed her that she did want to kiss him. So badly. He did too. Right?
" Hey there." Charlie said walking up to their tent as Claire crawled out.
" Hi." she smiled as she stood up a little light headed. She stumbled backwards. Charlie quickly grabbed her lower back.
" Are you alright?" he asked worried.
" Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry. I just got a head rush, stood up too fast." She said with a reassuring smile.
" Okay." he said convinced.
They stood there next to each other for a few moments. Then finally Claire broke the silence. She just had to know if they were actually going to kiss.
" About last night, before Vincent came..." She started.
"Were we really going to kiss?" He asked
"Yeah I think we were," Claire replied. " Did you want to kiss me, Charlie?"
"I did, but if you're not ready I don't want to push you." Charlie said
"I wanted to, but there's so much emotions running through me right that it's so much to take in." "I really like you Charlie, but I just want to take it slowly."
Charlie smiled, " I completely understand. I mean you still have this little one coming soon that you need to worry about." he said putting his hand on her giant belly. It had seemed to get even bigger than the night before, if that was even possible.
Claire smiled when Charlie did this and then all the sudden the baby started to kick.
" Whoa!" Charlie exclaimed excitedly.
Claire giggled. He was so adorable. Then she remembered that this had happened before, or was that a dream?
" This seems familiar." Claire said to him.
" That's because, right before we were.. Taken... You let me feel him kicking." Charlie said shuttering at the memory of them being taken.
"You know I still can't remember what happened that night." Claire said. "But whenever you're near the baby kicks." "I think he likes it when you're around." "You keep us safe."
"That what I'm here for," Charlie said, " To make sure you're alright." "But it's so much more then that." It's because I like you Claire, and you already know that."
"Yeah I do Charlie, and I like you too There isn't anyone on this island, and possibly this world who I'd rather spend my time with." "I'm glad you're here."
Charlie smiled. He hadn't felt happier in his whole life. This was so much better than the drug. It was like he was addicted to Claire. Needed to have her around, to talk to her, to spend time with her.
" It's almost funny, that I can actually say, 'I'm sort of glad we crashed here.' Charlie said.
" Yeah." Claire said as she slightly laughed. " I'm glad too, except for the fact that I have to give birth to my baby in this place. I'm scared. Of doing that. I'm freaked out that something might happen to the baby or me while I'm giving birth. I mean there's no hospital, no medicine, no tools to help if something goes wrong." Claire said staring off trembling a little.
Charlie put his hand on her shoulder, attempting to clam her down a little. "Claire I'm sure everything will be ok." "I mean we have Jack here." "And don't worry I'll be with you, I won't leave you"
Charlie paused for a bit looking for words to say.
"And you know what Claire?" "You're going to have a beautiful, healthy baby." "He's going to love you to pieces and I'm positive you'll be a great mother. You already love him more then anything. I can see it in your eyes and they way you talk to him. You won't have to worry Claire. Everything will turn out ok."
"Thanks, Charlie, I don't know what I'd do if it weren't for you." "You always know how to make me smile and feel better."
" Well, that's my job" he said smiling.
Claire smiled as well. " So what are we doing today?" She asked.
" Hmm. Well, we're stranded on an island, I don't think there's much to do," he said laughing.
" Really? I thought you said you were having a wonderful time? You even built a golf course," she said mocking him.
Charlie was glad that she was feeling better and well enough to make fun of him. " Yeah? Well.. That's old news now. It got kind of boring, because well you know. I kept beating everyone," he said to her.
Claire starting laughing.
" What? I happen to be an excellent golfer!" he exclaimed.
" I'll bet," she said smiling.
" And soon as this little guy comes out, I'll teach him how to be a pro golfer, like me!" he said to Claire.
Claire smiled, and then thought about it for a second. Did he really think that they were going to be on the island for that long? This worried Claire.
" Charlie? Do you think that we'll get rescued?" she asked. The question seemed to come out of nowhere.
Did he think they were going to be rescued anytime soon? No. This island was strange, too many things were mysterious. They wouldn't be leaving, he knew that. It seemed as if no one was even looking for them. But did he want to tell Claire that? He did not want to lie. That was for sure. Last time he lied to her, it backfired on him. He wouldn't ever lie to her again.
Claire, "I honestly have no idea." "I want to think we will get rescued, but then again I don't want to sell myself short. So I'm just going to leave it at I don't know, but I'm hoping and that's about all I can do.
"Yeah I suppose it's best we don't know," said Claire. "I was pretty sure before that'd we be rescued by now, but then I was kidnapped and we're still here. But I'm glad I'm with you, Charlie". She then decided to change the subject, the moment a little sad for her.
"Charlie, do you have any Peanut Butter left?"
Charlie laughed. " Well.. It's not that full anymore. You ate quiet a lot last time," he said winking. " But yeah. I still have some." he said as he walk over to the tent area and started rummaging through his stuff.
" Ah ha!" he said when he finally found it. He untwisted the jar and held it out for her to have some. She smiled as she stuck her finger in the jar, the same as she had last time. The memory of last time was coming back to her even clearer than before. That seemed to happen a lot now, just like when he felt her stomach for the second time.
She put her finger in her mouth for a moment. And then Charlie took the jar and stuck his own finger in his mouth.
" Mm.." Claire said tasting the imaginary peanut butter.
" Is it weird that I can actually taste it?" Claire asked him.
" Well of course you can, silly. You just ate it." he replied.
Claire smiled and played along with him.
"Yum that was good", Claire said when they finished. "Best Peanut Butter I ever tasted. "It just keeps getting better and better,"
"Why thank you" said Charlie. "I searched high and low for that Peanut Butter.
"You know Charlie," Claire said adding to the moment," You should market this Peanut Butter"
"And sale it to whom? People on the island with no money?" he asked " I can't sale it anywhere else." Charlie said smiling at his silliness. "Nope this Peanut Butter isn't for sale." "I'm not sharing with anyone other then you"
Claire giggled at Charlie and took a drink of her water. Imagining it was cold milk washing away the Peanut Butter stuck on the roof of her mouth.
" You want to go sit by the beach?" Charlie asked her once he put their peanut butter away.
" Yeah, that's sounds refreshing. It gets really humid in these caves," she said smiling. " Especially with this thing on me." she said pointing to her stomach.
" Yeah, it is humid, though I wouldn't know what it's like to carry 'that thing' around." he said as they began to walk away from the caves and to the beach.
" Lets hope not," she giggled.
Once they got to the beach they saw Sawyer who was with Kate and Jack. Jack was helping Sawyer put on what appeared to be glasses.
" Sawyer looks pretty goofy with those glasses on, doesn't he?" Claire said giggling.
"Yeah sort of looks like Harry Potter." replied Charlie. "I guess he's having trouble with his sight."
"Yeah I guess he is", Claire said turning her head to look at the ocean." "Is a beautiful day isn't it?"
"It's always a beautiful day when I'm with you Claire."
Claire smiled. Charlie always seemed to say the perfect words.
"I feel like sitting the beach in the little spot you made me, how about it, Charlie?
"Sure", and Charlie took her hand, which Claire gladly accepted and together they took off hand in hand.
They finally reached the spot where they had been the previous night where Claire had fainted.
Charlie helped Claire sit down, then he himself sat down too in front her.
" How are you feeling?" Charlie asked her when he noticed that she was looking slightly pale.
" I'm feeling fine." Claire lied. She didn't want him to worry, but she was feeling a little lightheaded.
" Really?" he asked her knowing that she was lying.
" No." she said. He knew her so well already.
" What's wrong?" he asked.
" I don't know, I guess I just feel kind of tired and everything on me if sore. Oh yeah, and I'm pregnant too." she said adding a little joke in. Which she knew would comfort him.
" You don't say?" he asked.
"Why yes I do", Claire replied slightly laughing.
"What do you think it is?" Charlie asked.
"I have a strong feeling it might be a boy", Claire said as she place her hand on her tummy.
"Well name him Charlie like I suggested before." Charlie said.
Claire just giggled. "I'll put that on my list" She was feeling a bit tired and yawned.
"Claire are you tired?"
"A little bit"
"Then why don't you get some sleep I'll stay right here with you."
Claire nodded and lay down. Soon she feel asleep.
Charlie smiled at how peaceful and beautiful she looked. She was slightly snoring and her hair was drooped over her. It wasn't long before Charlie too fell asleep.
Charlie woke up to a hand gently shaking his shoulder.
" Charlie. Charlie" Claire said.
" What? What happened?" he asked sitting up quickly.
" Nothing," Claire giggled.
" Ohh." Charlie said still a bit confused by where he was. Then he remembered.
" You ready to go back? It's almost dark." Claire told him.
" Yeah, lets go." he said helping her up.
" So I see you were protecting me really good," she said being sarcastic as they were walking back to the caves.
Charlie blushed. He hadn't meant to fall asleep.
" That's okay. I was watching over you," she said.
" You were watching me sleep?" he asked.
" Yeah, I couldn't help it. You looked so peaceful," she admitted.
" Yeah, well that's because I was dreaming of you probably." Charlie said.
Half way back to the caves, Claire turned to Charlie "Did I ever tell you about the time I had a crush on this rock star guy?"
"Well that depends...what band was he with?" Charlie smiled to himself knowing exactly where she was going with this.
Claire smiled sweetly and looked up into his eyes, "Have you ever heard of 'Nsync? I had the wildest crush on Justin Timberlake!"
All the color drained from Charlie's face. "That American band? I didn't realize that pretty boys were your type."
"Charlie you're too easy! Why would I like that Yank, when I have a living, breathing rock god standing before me?"
"Uh...because you didn't even know me before we got stranded on this island". He said laughing to himself.
"That's right", Claire replied. "But I did have a crush on you when you helped with my luggage in fact even before that. I saw you from the distance and thought you were cute." "I even wrote that I liked you in my diary after we became friends." "You should know that, you read it"
"True I did read your diary and the part about you liking me." "But I also told you I liked you and love you."
"So I guess we both like each other?" Claire said wishing she had the guts to say love.
Claire was angry with herself for letting her past hurt from Thomas interfere with her relationship with Charlie. But as much as she knew the words were true, she just couldn't bring herself to say them. She looked away hoping that Charlie couldn't see into her mind and read her thoughts. Then she reached for his hand and they continued to walk back to the caves in silence.
