Author's Note: Italics are used to indicate dreams. This format will be standard throughout the story. Please remember to review. Enjoy! Gitania

Hope Anew

Chapter 5: Clear Signs

Hope could hear her own voice, speaking in a jumbled mess of words that she couldn't understand. Her left cheek ached with pain, and she could taste blood in her mouth. Suddenly, she was falling backwards, struggling to hold onto something that could break her fall. She screamed in surprise as she tumbled through the air, waiting for impact…

"…please." Hope woke with a gasp, the falling sensation still in her stomach and the metallic taste of blood in her mouth. Adrenaline coursed through her body and she felt sick. She got up quickly, ran into the trees and vomited.

The cave group gave her strange looks as she wandered back into their midst, and she knew that they had all heard her impressive start to the day. She smiled weakly at the crowd and walked with purpose towards the main cave. She grabbed the nearest water bottle, and walked back towards the trees. Walt watched with wide eyes as Hope repeatedly swished water around in her mouth and then spat it into the undergrowth.

"Are you okay?" Walt asked, worried about his friend.

"Sure," Hope smiled, and drank some water, feeling that she had finally rid her mouth of the foul tastes. "Just not feeling a hundred percent today, that's all. I'll be fine."

The group were already heading in different directions, and Hope wondered if she had woken late.

"Has everyone been up for a while?" she asked Walt.

"No," the boy said kindly, "but I think they were ready to get going after…"

Hope smiled grimly, "After hearing me vomit spectacularly?"

Walt nodded with an expression that could only be described as 'grossed out'. Hope nodded in a business-like manner and went back to the cave for more water. Today was a day to see Claire.

"Hey there," Claire smiled calmly as Hope approached her on the beach. She was sitting in the sand, shaded by the trees at the edge of the jungle, watching her son as he played in the sand before her. "How's it going?"

"Okay," Hope shrugged and sat down beside Claire. "Can I talk to you about something? Something personal?"

Claire looked surprised, but smiled invitingly, "Of course. What's going on?"

Hope mentally psyched herself up to reveal her secret again. "I think I'm pregnant."

Claire's eyebrows shot up into her hairline, and she blew out a low whistle. "Big news – congratulations!"

"Thanks," Hope sniffed, feeling tears forming; and Claire's expression shifted to compassionate.

"Need some advice?" Claire offered.

Hope nodded meekly, and a stray tear fell down her cheek.

Claire put her arm around her friend, wiping the tear away in her motherly way, "Well, first I think you should go and see Jack – he was a huge help and comfort to me."

Hope nodded, "I've seen Jack. I skipped a period this month so I went for a check-up. I might have missed last month too, but I don't really remember – it was right when Boone…"

"I understand," Claire said softly. "So, what did Jack say?"

"He said it's probably too early to tell. Apparently skipping isn't enough of an indication on its own, so I'm supposed to wait for any other signs, and talk to you in the meantime about what to look for."

Claire laughed a little, "Well, throwing up is a big sign!"

Hope grimly ticked it off on her index finger, "Check – this morning. Though I did have a bad dream right beforehand, so maybe it was something to do with that."

"Have you seen Jack today?" Claire asked.

"No, I haven't seen him around yet. But I will."

"Good," Claire sighed, "I know this might sound kind of weak and unhelpful, but I think you just know when you're pregnant, you know?"

Hope nodded with interest, and Claire urged her on. "So, what do you think? Do you think you are?"

Hope sat quietly for a moment, and then nodded slowly. "I think I am."

"Well then," Claire said, "I think that's the clearest sign of all."

Tears fell from Hope's eyes in streams, and Claire hugged her tightly. The women sat side by side in silence for a long time, watching Aaron amusing himself by playing with handfuls of sand. Whenever he would hold the sand too near to his mouth, Claire would step in with a firm 'No', but otherwise they sat uninterrupted.

Eventually Hope broke the silence, "I think I should see Jack."

"I think that's a good idea," Claire smiled. "Then we can sit around and talk about babies!"

Hope laughed at Claire's excitement. It had never occurred to her that it might be lonely for Claire to be the only new mother in the community – in normal society there were support groups for that sort of thing.

"Thanks so much Claire – this has been great." Hope hugged her friend, and gave her an impulsive kiss on the top of her head, causing Claire to laugh out loud. Hope gave Aaron an affectionate pat on the head, and wandered away to find Jack.

"Sawyer! Have you seen Doctor Jack!" Hope called, walking past his shelter to see him reading as he sat on the sand outside.

Sawyer grinned and lifted his glasses as he called back, "Blondie cut her foot on a rock – he's in Aladdin's lair looking after her."

"Thanks."

Hope approached Sayid and Shannon's shelter as the pair and Jack walked out together.

"Just wash it in some sea water and stay off it for a couple of days while it heals," Jack said. "They're not deep enough for stitches; just be careful. Hey, Hope!"

He greeted her as she wandered over, and she gave a small wave in return.

"Hey," she said when she reached the group. "I was hoping I could make an appointment with you today."

"Are you okay?" Shannon asked. She stood on one foot, held up by Sayid on her weak side.

"I'll be fine," Hope said honestly. "How about you? Sawyer said you cut yourself."

"Yeah," Shannon rolled her eyes, "Just so you know – walking barefoot over the rocks at sunrise? Not as romantic as it sounds. Light gets in your eyes – not a good idea."

"I'll keep that in mind," Hope smiled at her friend, glad to see that she wasn't in any real pain.

"Anyway, I have to wash this," Shannon continued, gesturing to her lame foot. "See you later?"

"Sure," Hope said. "Hey, how about we do something today? Not a walk, obviously, but something."

Shannon smiled, happy to see her friend re-entering the real world. "'Something' sounds great. Come find me, okay? I'll be here." She rolled her eyes again, and Hope caught Sayid's smile as they turned to walk down to the water.

"So," Jack said when they were out of earshot, "What can I do for you today?"

"I threw up this morning," Hope got straight to the point, "And I think I'm having more dreams – but that's another thing entirely."

Jack sighed, "Starting with the strict medical issues then – you threw up? Do you think two fairly likely signs are enough for you to feel sure? I mean, we can chalk anything up to chance until you start showing; but that could be another month or more, depending on how far along you may or may not be at the moment."

"So, what are you saying?" Hope asked.

"Well, you seem a lot happier about the possibility now, so I don't mind telling you that I think you're going to be this island's next mommy."

"I think so, too."

Jack looked at her sceptically, "Is there something going on? You seem a lot happier today, and I can't help but think that I missed something. On a personal level, I mean; not medically."

"Well," Hope smiled, "Personally I realised that it's about time I started letting people help me through this. Something Sayid said really rang true, and it occurred to me that we really are a family here. I don't want to alienate myself anymore, and I don't want to mourn Boone forever. I mean, I am still mourning him; but I think it's time to start moving forwards again, don't you?"

"I do," Jack smiled, and Hope saw the grin reach his eyes. He shrugged in disbelief, "Wow, Hope. That's great! So, does that mean you're going to tell everyone about the baby?"

"In time. Right now I'm going back to basics – fishing with Walt, time with Shannon, story time. Things are going to get better from now on."

Jack laughed, "I know it will. I'm proud of you, Hope. It won't be easy, but we'll all be happy to help you get through; you know that, right?"

Hope nodded, "I know, Jack. Thanks. Maybe we can tackle the dreams another time?" she asked hopefully.

Jack nodded, "Soon, though."