Goodbye
"What?" Jack asked in astonishment.
"You heard me…we're not going." She said in a soft voice.
"Why the hell not?" Jack asked puzzled and angry at the same time.
"Think about it dad. We live in two different worlds. Isn't that why you call me monkey? I was raised by apes, or at least close to it. We're adults; to go back to the real world now would be insanity. We've had no proper schooling; we don't even know half the stuff you guys refer to. I've never seen a refrigerator and I've never used a computer. I wouldn't be able to get a job as a doctor anywhere…even if I am good. It's just wrong to go and I have to stick to that decision." Taylor thought she was going to cry. This was the hardest thing she could ever remember doing.
Jack looked down in realization. They didn't belong in the real world and he had to come to grips with that. It was going to be hard to get used to not having Aaron and Taylor and the others around. The lump in his throat had become so big he thought he was going to choke.
"I understand." He nodded slightly and set his things down.
Taylor licked her lips and sighed. "I'm sorry." She whispered so that only Jack could hear her. He just smiled and nodded as if to say he was too. Then he pulled her into the deepest hug he'd ever given her. "I love you pop." She told him as they clung to each other.
"God, I love you too monkey." He pulled out from the hug and took her face with his hand and noticed the glitter of tears in her eyes. "You'll always be my monkey. Don't you ever forget that."
"I won't." She inhaled sharply to keep in the tears. "It's going to be really hard without you here." The tears finally came.
---
"We want you to take good care of yourselves." Tina said to Marie and Will. Bailey was asleep on Marie's shoulder. The two 'kids' nodded as an understanding of Tina's wish.
The couple looked at each other and then at their sleeping infant. "Tina…Sawyer. We want you to take Bailey. She's young enough that she won't remember all of this and she can live a normal life." Marie told them; her voice cracking from emotion.
"No, Marie. She needs her mother and father. She doesn't need a couple of old geezers like us to raise her." Sawyer told them.
Will nodded. "We know but this is the way we want it." He said with a straight face. "Marie and I both think this is best for her." Tina and Sawyer both looked at each other and agreed to take the girl.
Marie handed her over to Tina with a heavy heart and tear filled eyes. "Mommy loves you very much Bailey. This is very for her, but this is what's best for you." She kissed the child's forehead and stepped back. Her hand covered her mouth in a desperate attempt to keep the sobs in. She failed as her body jerked with them.
Sawyer embraced Will and said his goodbyes while Tina reassured Marie that she would take good care of Bailey and that she wouldn't let Bailey forget the two of them.
---
"Now you take good care of your family Aaron." Charlie lectured. Aaron just stood there and took it. In a way he was going to miss it.
"I will. Don't worry. Taylor and the baby are in good hands." Aaron smiled as he laid a hand on his father's shoulder.
"The best of hands. I know my Aaron and I'm sure I raised him the right way." Claire cut in with tear stained cheeks. "Come here." She ordered Aaron.
"I'm going to miss you mom." He hugged her the best her could without smashing her completely.
Claire backed away from him and looked at the man she had for a son. She was so proud of him and it killed her to know that she wouldn't be there to see him raise his child. She knew he'd be all right though. She had faith in him.
---
Taylor looked around at all of the sadness. She saw many people hugging each other and she could almost smell the salt from all of the tears. She looked over at Mia who was crying hysterically in her father's embrace. Taylor was going to miss Sayid. She was going to miss a lot of people.
"Taylor!" She heard her mother shout to her. Suddenly, she was tackled by her mother's forceful hug.
"Mom…mom you can't hold me this tight. I'm pregnant remember?" Casey laughed and wiped the tears from her face.
"Remember? How could I forget? I'm the one who threw you into motherhood!" Casey raved.
"No, mom…that would be Aaron." She said with a smile. Casey smiled too realizing the joke and hugged her daughter again.
"I love you so much. I'm so proud of what you've become and I wish…well let's not go to far with this other wise I won't make it out of here."
"I love you too mom." Tears stung Taylor's eyes once more.
000
Soon all the parents were on the boat and waving as it slowly moved through the water towards what they used to call life. Everyone else was on the beach watching the boat get smaller and smaller until it was just a dot on the horizon.
Taylor finally realized that her parents were really gone. All of them had just left them and anger filled her. Why did she have the nagging feeling that they would stay if they told them not to go?
Aaron stood up out of the sand and offered to help her up. She gently took his hand and held herself as she got up. He hugged her and rubbed her back while whispering sweet nothings in her ear. It made her feel better to know she hadn't lost everyone she loved. She just leaned her head on his chest, his hand on her bulging stomach, and watched the ocean lap against the sand.
A/N: Okay from here on out, every other chapter will be about the parents. Like the next chapter will be about Jack and Casey and everybody then we're back at the island. Get it? Well I hope you liked the twist! Please read and REVIEW!