Chapter 25- Walks in the Jungle

"Oh my God, congratulations!" Claire squealed, throwing her arms around Sayid's neck. "A baby! Oh my God, Sayid! You're going to be a dad!"

Sayid was all smiles. "Yes, I know."

"When did you find out?"

"Alex told me yesterday."

"And you didn't tell me until just now?" Claire accused jokingly.

Sayid grinned. "Yesterday was our one year anniversary. We spent the whole day together, walking in the jungle."

Claire roller her eyes. "Yeah, sure. You were just 'walking in the jungle.' Well, if Alex wasn't pregnant before, she sure is now!"

Sayid looked embarrassed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Claire snorted. "Yes, you do. You two better lay off the long walks in the jungle. One of these days, someone is going to catch you and then you'll be sorry!"

Luckily for Sayid, Charlie came into the cave just then with Hope on his back.

"Go, 'sey, go!" the child laughed.

"No, Horsy is tired now, princess!" Charlie panted. "Hi Claire, hi Sayid. I've been playing Horsy all bloody morning, my back is killing me!"

"Charlie! Don't use that kind of language in front of the baby!" Claire reprimanded.

The former rock star grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, love! It just slipped out."

Claire smiled softly. "I just can't stay mad at you, can I?"

Hope waved frantically at Sayid from her father's back.

"Sa-sa! Sa-sa!"

The three adults laughed.

"You are too cute, you know that?" Claire said to her little girl as Sayid lifted her off Charlie's back.

Charlie stood up straight and stretched. "Thanks mate! I needed that!"

"No problem." Sayid replied, letting Hope tug on his hair.

"Aw, Hope! Don't torment poor Sayid." Claire giggled, gently disentangling the girl's fingers from Sayid's hair and taking her daughter into her arms.

"Yes, don't mess-up Sa-sa's perfect hair, he spends quiet a lot of time separating the curls, you know." Charlie stated matter-of-factly.

Sayid glowered in mock anger. "Shut-up, you liar!"

"Sayid! The baby!" Claire scolded.

"Aha, you got in trouble!" Charlie taunted, dancing out of Sayid's reach.

"Oh yeah? Well you got in trouble first!"

The Iraqi man chased after Charlie, who was laughing like a maniac.

Claire was completely exasperated. "Stop acting like children, you two!"

The two boys didn't hear her, and continued chasing each other around the caves.

Balancing Hope on her hip, Claire went off in search of someone to talk to who wasn't acting insane.

Claire plopped down on the frayed towel next to Shannon and Alex.

"Hey Claire, hello Hope! How's my baby girl? Did she miss her auntie Alex?" Alex cooed, cuddling Hope.

"Sayid told me the good news, Alex! Congratulations!" the Australian woman said, fanning herself.

"Thanks! I have no idea what I'm going to do, though. I don't want Jack to deliver the baby because, well, we don't exactly get along all the time."

"I get along with him fine." Shannon said dreamily.

Alex and Claire both roller their eyes. "Maybe you could get Kate to help, she delivered Hope."

"Don't sweat it, it'll be okay." Shannon added, popping a piece of mango in her mouth. "Speaking of Jack, have either of you seen him today? We were supposed to take a walk through the jungle…"

Claire choked on the slice of banana she was eating. She started laughing uncontrollably, much to Alex and Shannon's dismay.

"What! What's so funny?"

"If you aren't careful, you gonna be the next pregnant lady around here, Shan!" Claire managed to gasp out between giggle fits.

Shannon blushed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Her response sent Claire into a fresh peal of laughter.

"You know what? I'm gonna go see if Charlie is done acting like a five year old. Maybe he'll like to 'take a walk' with me." Claire joked. She took Hope and walked away, still giggling.

Shannon looked over at Alex in bewilderment. "What was that all about?"

"No idea. Must be all this sun." Alex replied, fanning herself with Shannon's ancient Cosmo magazine. "It's so…frickin'…"

Alex suddenly slumped over, unconscious.