Summary: Claire says goodbye to Boone.
Characters: Claire, Shannon.
Pairings: Claire/Boone friendship.
Distribution: lost-forum
Disclaimer: Don't own them, don't sue.
Feedback: Completely necessary if you want the next part.

She slipped into the clearing, pulling her thin jacket tighter around her waist. Loose blonde strands whipped around her tear-stained face as the soft breeze steadily picked up. With a grunt, she knelt beside Boone's grave.

For a moment, she was silent, brushing her fingers through the dirt. Then, a gut-wrenching sob escaped her throat and her hand flew to her mouth, trying to muffle the sound. Tears leaked from her eyes, running down the dry tracks on her cheeks.

"Boone," she cried out, biting down on her hand to stop herself from saying more.

Then, there was a hand on her shoulder, and she was being pulled around to face the person behind her. She was surprised to find Shannon looming over her, a blank expression on her face.

"Sh-Shannon," Claire stammered, crawling to her feet and swiftly wiping away the tears under her eyes. The two blondes stared at each other for what seemed like forever, Claire fidgeting nervously while Shannon simply stared. Then, Shannon was moving towards Claire, and for a brief second she wondered whether the younger girl was going to hit her, but then she was leaning into Claire and sobbing helplessly on her shoulder. Claire patted Shannon's back awkwardly and murmured reassuring nothings in her ear.

It only lasted a minute, then Shannon was pulling away and glancing around shamefully. She gestured at the ground and in mutual understanding, they took a seat beside each other on the ground a few metres away from Boone's grave. For a moment, the air was tense.

"I know about you two," Shannon blurted out. Claire glanced at her timidly and Shannon smiled wryly. "Yeah, for ages. He never told me, if that's what you're wondering. I just started wondering where he was going, so I followed him a few times and saw you two together." Claire nodded slowly.

"You, uh, don't mind?" she asked softly. Shannon shrugged.

"A bit, but I'll get over it. I had Sayid anyway, and I think Boone really needed someone to talk to that isn't over fifty," Shannon joked. Claire laughed slightly, but quickly sobered back up.

"Look, if you ever want to talk-" Claire offered, but Shannon cut her off abruptly.

"Sorry Claire, but that's not really my thing. But thanks anyway," Shannon muttered, patting Claire's leg as she pulled herself upright. "Anyway, I just wanted to say, he really did care about you." Claire grimaced and nodded as Shannon wandered back out of the clearing towards the beach.

Claire wistfully turned back to the grave as she pulled her diary out of her pocket. She flipped towards the end of it and cleared her hoarse throat.

"Well Boone, I wrote this letter to you. You wrote letters to me to say goodbye when I was gone, so I thought I'd return the favour," Claire whispered. She cleared her throat again and glanced down at the diary page. "Ok. Boone, you are my best friend. I don't remember you very much, but I do remember parts of you. Like your smile, when I made a bad joke. And the way the sun light up your hair at midday when we would eat lunch at the beach."

Claire took a deep breath as she felt her throat tighten and tears sting her eyes, but she wouldn't let anymore tears fall.

"I loved you Boone, I really did. And I know you don't reciprocate those feelings, you made that painfully clear," Claire continued, stumbling over the words. "Anyway, I'm sure that wherever you are, you're happy and safe. And, y'know, not on a island." She chuckled bitterly as she tore out the page and folded it neatly before placing it on Boone's grave.

As she walked away from the clearing, she felt a tingle on her spine, and she knew that he was watching over her.

End Series

End Note: Well, that was the last part. I hope you guys all enjoyed it, you've all been brilliant. Mwah, I love you all::hugs all around: