From this chapter on, I will now be using the name Mr. Eko since we now know what it is. I will be updating the other chapters with his real name, but this is just so you know. Thanks.

Chapter 8

The waterfall was unbelievably warm. Its pressure was perfect and Valerie felt as though she was back home in her shower. Kate had led her to a beautiful waterfall which she said gave the best feeling of a real shower. And how right she was. The instant Valerie was undressed and under the fall she was transported back home and forgot all about the bad luck she's had the last three months. The water streamed from her body like butter on bread. Areas tingled and as Valerie stroked her hands through her hair she felt untouchable.

Sawyer limped through the jungle. He had turned quickly to leave and twisted his ankle a little. He saw Kate talking to Valerie earlier and was curious, but left it alone. For all he knew Valerie was still mad at him and asking her what Kate was saying was not going to make it any better.

A barely existent breeze swept past Sawyer and he kicked at a branch he nearly tripped over. Cursing he started to think about anything. Anything but Valerie. Since the day they met he could not get her out of his thoughts and he was not use to feeling this way about anyone. Yeah, he thought about Kate, but as a concerned friend. He still has not made it clear to everyone on the island they formed a friendship; it would place him in a different light and that was the last thing he needed.

Valerie was different. He thought about her and imagined her wherever he was. He had a feeling Jack and Kate could see through him, they always could. What would they think if they knew Sawyer actually 'liked' this girl? Sawyer could not think of anything because standing exactly twenty feet from him, her back turned, was a naked Valerie.

Kate had led her to a waterfall to wash and there she stood, soaking the soothing water like it was life itself. Sawyer froze in place and tried to tear his eyes from her. He now saw more of her perfection. Underneath those clothes the entire time was a flawlessly toned body. Her skin was evenly tanned from the constant days out on the beach. Her muscles were beautifully pronounced. Not too hidden and not too exposed. Moving his eyes a little lower he scoffed how cleverly hidden her lower half was by the branches of a tree. It's like a PG movie, he thought and inched up slightly.

He froze again.

Valerie had turned her head to the right and could see over her shoulder. She'd seen him. Sawyer, acting quick, turned his eyes from her and started back towards camp. Valerie watched him the entire time. The time she was showering she felt his cold eyes on her, but did not make a move. For some strange reason she actually liked the idea of him watching her.

Sawyer stumbled back to the beach just as Jack, Mr. Eko, and Ana Lucia returned from the caves. Each one had a satisfied but worried expression. Sawyer did not need to hear Jack's announcement to know what they planned on doing.

"Ok," Jack began while waiting for the few stragglers to reach the crowd who all appeared out of nowhere. "We came to the conclusion that it's probably best for the rest of the back survivors to join us here."

"What?" Charlie called from the front.

"You heard me, Charlie," Jack replied. "Mr. Eko, Ana Lucia, and Roger are going to leave today to gather the rest of them and bring them back here."

"Won't it be a little overcrowded?" Hurley asked trying his best to get a laugh from people and succeeded with only a few including Jack.

"Well, yeah, Hurley, it will be. Which means we will have to expand camp. The caves are still going to be off limits, but if we expand a little further out into the jungle we should be fine."

"Whatever," Hurley shrugged and everyone else nodded in agreement. They knew there was going to be no argument. Jack gave one last look to everyone before they departed and went about their business.

Jack turned to Mr. Eko and shook his hand gracefully. "Good luck," he said and nodded to Ana Lucia. Kate appeared with three new jars of water and handing one to each of them nodded as well. Mr. Eko, Ana, and Roger wrapped the water jugs to their shoulders and disappeared immediately into the jungle.

An hour passed and Valerie, dressed and clean, was sitting under the shade of a tree with Kate and Shannon.

"So you and the Iraqi are an item?" she asked after learning about the relationships on the island.

Shannon blushed and replied, "Yeah. I guess we are."

"And you lost your step-brother?"

Boone's death was always a sensitive subject for Shannon. She still could not accept the fact that Boone was gone from her life forever. "Yeah."

"I'm sorry. I lost my father right before this."

Shannon forced a comforting smile and was relieved when Valerie moved on to Kate.

"And what about you and the doctor?"

"Wh-you, mean, Jack?" Kate was speechless and Shannon couldn't help but smile. Everyone on the island saw the chemistry between the two of them. Kate and Jack were always too embarrassed to admit themselves. Valerie nodded enthusiastically.

While Kate struggled to find the right words to say Sawyer watched silently from the distance. Valerie still had not said a word to him and now she was laughing it up with the Princess and Kate. He was so focused on her he didn't notice Sayid standing beside him with his arms crossed.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" Sayid said with a mischievous smile on his face.

"I hope you're talking about the horizon," Sawyer replied his tone of sarcasm back in his voice.

"No, I meant women." Nodding over to Shannon, Kate, and Valerie, Sawyer tried to remain calm and collect. "They are so beautiful."

"Yeah, beautiful in bed." Sayid closed his eyes and shook his head. Good old Sawyer was back and he couldn't lie to say that he missed him. After their unfortunate episode with Sayid torturing him they some how formed a silent friendship. Of course, Sawyer would never admit to it.

"Sawyer, you soon learn women are beautiful not just in bed and I'm pretty sure you'll learn soon enough."

Sawyer turned to reply, but Sayid had walked away and was heading towards Shannon. Sayid spoke holding out his hand to Shannon. Smiling she happily accepted it and waved bye to Kate and Valerie. Sighing, Sawyer noticed the sun was beginning to set and decided it was time to retire.

Valerie watched Sayid and Shannon walk off hand in hand and turned around just in time to see Sawyer disappear into his tent. Saying goodnight to Kate she stood and made her way in that same direction.

Sawyer sat inside his tent reading the letter which he found still safely in his bag. How a letter could hold so much misery and memories he still didn't know, but every time Sawyer read this letter he felt the little child inside of him fading slowly away. Suddenly a draft blew in and Sawyer looked up to see Valerie walking inside. Stuffing the letter inside his bag, Sawyer sat up and for minutes they just stared.

"I'm sorry," Valerie finally said and sighed. "That's not a word I like very much. But I knew it was the right thing to say."

"We seem to have that in common," Sawyer replied and saw Valerie's confused gaze as she kneeled down in front of him. "I don't plan on ever using that word until I find the man who killed my ma."

"Your parents were killed too?" Valerie could not hide her surprise.

"My dad gunned her down and shot himself afterwards. Someone was responsible for him doing that and I won't stop until I find him."

"We seem to have a lot in common. More than we both thought."

"Yeah."

Sawyer stared into her eyes and could not help it. Closing the last few inches between them, Sawyer kissed Valerie. She immediately kissed him back and wrapping their arms around each other, they explored everything. Their mouths, hearts, and souls. It was the first kiss Sawyer gave and wanted to forever kiss just her; and the first kiss Valerie received and wanted to receive it only from him. Finding the ground, Sawyer moved his hand up and down her side, savoring every part of her silk smooth skin. Valerie placed her hands on his back pushing him closer to her wanting more. And as the other survivors lay down to rest, Valerie and Sawyer welcomed the night passionately.

The morning sun rose against the ocean. It was very early and Valerie rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Rolling on her side she saw the still sleeping Sawyer, lying naked under the sheet. Gently she stroked his cheek. He looked at peace when he slept and she was not going to disturb him.

The sun shone through the crack in the tent, which helped Valerie locate her clothes. She planned on surprising him. Kate had shown her yesterday where the water and fruit was. There was always the hatch, but Valerie had no idea how to get there and knew she would not make it back in time. After tying her shoes Valerie slowly stepped towards the opening but instead kicked Sawyer's bag. A few items fell out and cursing Valerie bent down to clean it up.

After tossing a few bottles of sunscreen and a book into the bag she came across a letter. Valerie remembered Sawyer reading a letter when she came into the tent and though she knew it was wrong carefully unfolded it. Scanning the letter her eyes widened when she saw it was addressed to a Mr. Sawyer and signed by a little boy. What did this child mean saying this to Sawyer? Did he take the lives of someone close to this boy?

Realizing what she was doing, Valerie stuffed the letter back into the bag and picked up the last item, a wallet. Noticing it had opened Valerie went to close it until she spotted a familiar name. Blinking her eyes a few times to make sure she wasn't dreaming Valerie held the wallet close and read. Next to a picture of Sawyer were a name and address and her eyes again widened when she read the name. James Ford.

Hey guys - sorry about the extremely slow update. Now that the winter holidays are here I will definitely be updating faster and hopefully have it done by the beginning of next year so keep checking up and thanks for the reviews, but I would love to have more.