Safe Secrets, Childish Game And A First Kiss

Sawyer looked at Shannon, "what is it babe?" he asked.

Shannon looked at her feet, "well I have a past."

Sawyer laughed at her comment, "of course you do, everyone does."

"Well does yours involve marriage, pregnancy and death?" she asked bluntly leaving Sawyer confused.

"Well no but yours can't be no worse than mine," he said frowning.

"Look forget I even said anything," said Shannon looking at him and beginning to walk away. Sawyer was too quick he grabbed her right arm in his hand, tight enough to keep here there but not enough to hurt her, "come on I know you really want to tell me something."

"It's nothing it can keep till morning, look I'm really tired," she gestured to their tent.

"Don't change the subject."

"I'm not I'm really tired," she said pulling away as he had loosened his grip on her.

"If you're sure it can wait," he said following her up towards their tent.

Shannon headed into their tent first as she had a slight head start to Sawyer, when he arrived she was already lying down with her eyes closed.

Sawyer knew she wasn't asleep he could tell by her breathing but he thought it best to just leave her be, so he lay down next to her and held her close so she knew he was there when she was ready to talk.

Shannon had her eyes closed but she felt Sawyer lie down next to her and pull her close, she moved into his embrace willingly, thinking about how she was going to tell him about Danny and her daughter.

Shannon woke up and looked around, "Sawyer! Sawyer where are you?" she called. It was then she realised that she wasn't at the camp; she didn't know where she was another part of the island perhaps, "Sawyer this really isn't funny anymore, please come out if you're hiding." She frantically looked around trying to find answers.

"Sawyer? Shannon what are you talking about?" asked a man leaning up against a tree.

"Oh my god Boone, you're alive," she said in disbelief rushing towards him and hugging him.

"Of course I'm alive you moron, what did you think I was dead?" he asked laughing at such an absurd thought.

"You did die I watched you die, the creature it killed you," she said pulling away form him.

"No sweetie you didn't watch me die, you watched Sawyer die."

"What!" she exclaimed her eyes filling with tears, "no Sawyer can't be dead he's not dead."

"Honey, saying he's not dead will keep him alive for you but when you realise the truth it's just going to hurt so much more," he said calmly taking her hands in his.

"What happened?" she asked letting her tears fall down her face.

"Do you really want to know?" he asked, Shannon nodded her head, she needed answers why Sawyer, why the only man other than Danny to accept her for who she was.

"Ok then, you and he had an argument, Sawyer was really hurt by your words and you were hurt by his. Sawyer took off into the woods and you followed, I told you not to go but you're just so stubborn sometimes. Anyway you followed and I'm guessing when you were there you guys argued again. Next thing I know you're screaming and the rest of us happy campers are running in to save you. That's how we found you standing over his body staring, Jack said you were in a catatonic state, he was right you didn't speak for days, didn't acknowledge anyone, eat or sleep you just drank water and stared at the sea." Boone was still leaning against the tree telling Shannon this story like she was supposed to know.

"What did we argue about?" she asked not really wanting to know, but hey she wanted answers. 'Please don't say Danny and Lilyella,' she thought.

"You argued about your marriage to Danny and Lilyella, you also argued about Sawyer's past but I don't really know any of that," Boone said as if it was common knowledge.

"No Sawyer and I wouldn't argue not about things like that," she said her tears still falling and her breath catching in her throat.

"Oh but you did," he said approaching her with a look in his eyes that she couldn't place.

"No!" she screamed, "No!"

Shannon bolted upright breathing heavily sweat dripping from her forehead. Something moved beside her she looked down and came face to face with a sleeping Sawyer.

"Sawyer! You're alive!" she squealed jumping on him.

"Yeah darlin' but I won't be if you keep sittin' where you are, you're gonna suffocate me," he said his eyes wide open in shock where Shannon had jumped on him.

"Oh sorry," she said moving off him and sitting next to him.

"Hey I didn't mean you had to get off me just move slightly form where you were sittin'," he said smiling.

She smiled back at him taking him up on his offer; she was now straddling his waist.

"So what makes you wake up in the middle of the night and try to kill me?" he asked sarcasm dripping from his voice.

"I just had a really bad dream, Boone was there."

"Oh so all your dreams with Boone in make you want to kill me?" he smirked knowing he was annoying her.

"No, but he was talking to me, he said…he said you were dead and he told me how it happened, why it happened," she paused taking in his expression, "then he did something completely out of character, he was telling me the story as if I knew but had forgotten, I believed you were dead and that's when I woke up."

"And tried to kill me," Sawyer finished.

"You're just not going to let that go are you?" she asked annoyed.

"Nope, because it's something I can use against you," he said smirking.

"I just tell you that you were dead and you look at it as a way to have leverage over me," Shannon stated in disbelief.

Sawyer chuckled, "Look sweetie it was a dream, ok, I'm alive you're alive and it's really early in the morning can we at least get some more sleep?"

"Ok night," she said leaning down to kiss him. He kissed her back before she got off him and laid back down resting her head on his chest. Soon enough they were both back asleep…peacefully.

Claire was sound asleep and didn't hear the loud cries of the baby lying in Charlie's arms. Charlie's eyes shot open and he rocked Aaron trying to get him to calm down. Aaron was having none of it he kept crying, it was then Claire realised she wasn't dreaming and her baby really needed her. She opened her eyes and saw Charlie rocking Aaron with no success.

"Here let me," said Claire holding out her arms for the baby, Charlie handed him to her and he immediately stopped crying.

"Wow he knows his mummy," said Charlie smiling.

"Yeah I guess he's just hungry," said Claire standing up with him.

"Hey where are you going?" Charlie asked.

"I'm going to take him to a more private spot," she said looking at him.

"Ok, I'll see you when you get back."

"Yeah," she said heading out of the tent and across the beach to a quiet area.

"Are you hungry little man?" she asked nursing her baby boy. She smiled; she couldn't believe that she was going to give this little guy up for adoption. She couldn't take her eyes off of him; he was a miracle she couldn't believe how she nearly lost him. Claire lifted Aaron and put him over her shoulder to burp him, she then cradled him in her arms and rocked him back to sleep. She hoped that Aaron's cries hadn't woke everyone else up it was still quite early.

Back at camp everyone had heard Aaron crying and decided that since they couldn't get back to sleep they may as well get up, Charlie was waiting for Claire to return with Aaron, he was sitting on one of the many logs they used as seats.

"Hey dude," Hurley said sitting next to him.

"Hey Hurley, what's wrong?" asked Charlie looking at him. Hurley looked like he had hardly slept but then most people weren't sleeping well on the island.

"Nothing just wanted to see if you were ok now the baby is back," he said yawning.

"Aaron woke you up didn't he?" Charlie questioned smirking.

"Well yeah kinda."

"Sorry the little guy was hungry, scared me too I was lying holding him."

"You've become the right daddy haven't you?" Hurley laughed.

"Well you know, since I met Claire I've liked her and the baby is just so cute I can't help myself," he said smiling.

Neither noticed Claire smiling behind them holding Aaron. The baby gurgled and Hurley and Charlie turned round to face her.

"Uh…Claire," Charlie stammered.

"Hey Claire, how's the baby?" asked Hurley smiling.

"He's fine thank you Hurley, do you mind if I talk to Charlie for a minute?"

"Sure, I was just on my way to get breakfast anyway," he said standing up and leaving the trio.

"Hey Claire."

"Hi," she smiled at his nervousness, "did you mean what you said?"

"What did I say?" he asked acting confused.

"About you liking me since you met me and that my baby is cute," she said a little nervous herself.

"Yes I do like you Claire," he said looking at the baby who was smiling in her arms.

"I like you too Charlie."

The baby giggled as if in agreement and Charlie and Claire laughed at him.

"I think Aaron agrees," Claire said looking at Aaron then to Charlie smiling.

"I guess he does, so I like you and you like me."

"That would seem correct."

"Fancy going for an early morning stroll?" Charlie asked holding out his hand.

"Ok," she said taking his hand and holding Aaron in her other arm.

They walked along the sand hand in hand talking about anything and everything. Claire had held Aaron the whole time and her arm had begun to ache.

"Can we sit here for a while, Aaron is getting heavy," she said sitting down and lying Aaron on hr legs.

"Yeah sure," Charlie said sitting beside her, "what are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking how everything has fallen into place for me, Aaron, you, Shannon."

"I'm always going to be here for you Claire and so is this little girl," he said as Aaron gripped his finger.

"Thanks Charlie," she said kissing his cheek.

The both of them continued to play with Aaron; Charlie built a couple of sandcastles while Claire laughed at him for being such a big kid.

Kate had just woke up from her not so peaceful sleep, she kept thinking about 'the others' and what they were going to do when they found out about, Aaron going missing as well as Emilie and Shannon. Kate sat by the fire staring at the flames, only Sawyer, Charlie and Claire knew about what she had done and she was grateful for that but her mind kept wandering back to what everyone else would do to her if they ever found out the truth.

"Dad! Where are you going?" called Walt chasing after his dad Michael who had just walked past Kate.

"To get some more fire wood, stay here with Sun."

"But dad I don't want to stay here with Sun," complained the young boy.

"It's not up for discussion Walt," Michael replied leaving the little boy with his dog feeling upset and unwanted.

"Come on Vincent lets go find something to do," said Walt talking to his golden retriever. The dog barked as if understanding him and bounded back across the sand past Kate.

"Hey Vincent buddy wait up!" Walt yelled chasing after his best friend.

"Hey Walt where are you running off to?" asked Hurley watching him race past after his dog.

"Dad told me to stay with Sun while he gets some more wood!" he shouted not stopping but turning round and running backwards.

Hurley just smiled at Walt; he was the only one enjoying being stuck on this island.

Vincent had run all the way to Jin and Sun.

"Hey Vincent," Sun smiled stroking the dog, "there you are Walt, your dad has asked me to watch over you."

"I know he said," Walt replied sitting down on the sand.

"Walt what's wrong?" asked Sun sitting next to him.

"I tried, I tried to make an effort, asked him what he was doing hoping I could go with him, but no it's like he avoids me and doesn't really know me."

"What are you talking about Walt your father loves you," Sun said taking in what the young boy was saying.

"He's got a funny way to show it," he said looking at her.

"Come on Walt, I've got to go check on my plants, would you like to help me?" she asked smiling at him.

"Ok," he said standing up with Sun and heading to check on the plants.

It was mid morning, nearing the afternoon when Sawyer and Shannon emerged from their tent, Claire and Charlie were still away from camp with Aaron and everyone else was making themselves busy.

"So you, last night you had something important to tell me, wanna tell me now?" Sawyer asked picking up two plates from where they were kept and heading over to where they cooked their food.

"What?" She asked playing dumb.

"Last night, you said you had something to talk about and then you backed out at the last minute, I left it but I know it's bothering you," said Sawyer cooking the boar for himself and Shannon.

"Oh that," she said, "no it's nothing to worry about." Shannon smiled at him.

"Hi Shannon!" called a little girl skipping over to the pair.

Shannon was grateful the little girl had interrupted them, "hi Emilie."

"And, err hi Mr…sorry can't memba your name," Emilie said.

"Sawyer," he said looking at her then back to the cooking food.

"Oh yeah, hi Sawyer," Emilie smiled, "Shannon I wanted to ask you if you would be able to do my hair for me?" she asked sweetly.

Shannon smiled, finally she had another person to share fashion tips with and make up tips, granted Emilie was only four but Shannon knew she'd be so beautiful when she was older just like her little girl, "of course I will sweetie come here."

Emilie skipped over to Shannon with her hair band and brush that her mum had kept after the crash and when she had gone missing. The little girl sat in front of Shannon while she brushed her blonde hair holding it in different styles of how she could tie it.

Sawyer watched Shannon and Emilie 'she would make a great mum.' Sawyer thought, "whoa where did that come from.' Sawyer shook all thoughts from his head, what was he doing thinking about Shannon being a good mum.

"Sawyer!" Shannon called.

"What?" he asked confused.

"We've been calling you for ages now," she said smiling at Emilie.

"Sorry I was lost in thought."

"So we saw, now…what do you think?" Shannon asked presenting Emilie.

"Well I think she looks really beautiful," Sawyer said smiling.

Emilie blushed at the comment and Shannon smiled, "I'm going to show my mummy," Emilie said proud of her new hairstyle.

"Ok, I'll be here whenever you need me," Shannon said still smiling.

Emilie skipped back to her mum her hair swaying in the slight breeze.

"Is this for me?" Shannon asked pointing at the second plate of boar.

"Yeah," Sawyer replied moving over so she could sit next to him, "did you have fun?"

"Thanks and yeah I did she's a lovely little girl."

"You acted like you'd done it before," Sawyer said knowing this could be a touchy subject.

"Well I have done it before, my family is quite big and there's one little girl she's five, my cousin's little girl and lets just say she loves me," Shannon said, "I wonder who's doing her hair or her before she goes to school."

"You know I'm sure she's doing great and I bet she can't wait to have you home," Sawyer said placing an arm around her shoulder.

"Yeah I can't wait to get home, have a proper shower, food and my bed."

"Don't think about that ok, 'cause then you'll get home sick," said Sawyer hugging her.

"Yeah, but just think if we hadn't have crashed we never have met and you wouldn't have met Claire either," said Sawyer letting her go and picking up the used plates and putting them in a pile ready to be washed.

"That's true and I can't bear the thought of not having you in my life," Shannon replied scrunching up her face.

"Don't do that with your face," Sawyer laughed looking at the expression on her face.

"You're lucky you're hot," Shannon said matter-of-factly.

"Is that so?" he asked smirking, she really did boost his ego.

"Yeah it is so," she said smiling standing up on tiptoes to kiss his nose.

"You call that a kiss?" he asked placing his hands on his hips.

"Well that's all you're getting."

Shannon turned on her heels and headed out of Sawyer's reach. Sawyer's arm reached out to grab her but she dodged it laughing.

"Oh I'll give you a five second head start," he said challenging her.

Shannon took her shoes off leaving them on the floor and ran across the beach, Sawyer laughed at her and ran after her. They looked like a couple of teenagers, Sawyer was chasing Shannon and she was laughing as he kept getting his feet stuck in the sand.

"Oh come on Sawyer!" she called over her shoulder still laughing at him.

"I'll have you know that if I was not in sand I would have caught you by now!" he shouted.

"Yeah right," she taunted facing him smiling.

"Yeah, right," he said starting to run again.

She laughed and continued running. Two arms wrapped round her waist and the next thing she knew she was on the floor with Sawyer on top of her.

"Told you I'd get you," he said smirking in triumph.

"Ok, but I wasn't prepared to be landing on my ass," she said pouting.

"I'm sure it'll be just fine it's only sand you landed on."

"Yeah but I also didn't expect a fully-grown man to jump on me as well," she said smiling at the look he had on his face.

"Yeah well I didn't expect a fully grown woman to jump on me in the early hours of the morning and wake me up," Sawyer said still smiling at the blonde lying under him.

"Can we call it even?" she asked sweetly smiling up at him.

"Yeah sure."

He stood up and held his hand out for her, she took it and he pulled her up with ease.

"That was a fun game," Sawyer said holding her close, "I don't think I've seen you have fun like that for ages."

"I don't think I've ever been this happy before," Shannon replied, sure she had been happy with Danny but Sawyer was different.

"Well I'm glad I can be of use," he smiled still holding her hand.

Just as Shannon went to kiss Sawyer she saw her sister, "Claire!"

"Hey Shan," she said smiling holding Charlie's hand while he had Aaron cradled in his other arm.

Kate looked around and noticed the three people who knew the truth were with the one person who she never wanted to find out. She stood up and walked over to them.

"Can we help you?" asked Shannon bitterly.

"I need to talk to these guys," she said gesturing to Sawyer, Charlie and Claire, "is that ok?"

"Ok," Claire said looking at her, "Shannon can you take Aaron for a little walk?"

"Uh sure, ok." Shannon took the baby from Charlie smiled at him, "Hi Aaron I'm your auntie Shannon," she said as she walked away from the three of them with Aaron giggling in her arms.

"Ok what do you want?" Claire asked hatred evident in her voice.

"I just wanted to ask you if you were going to tell anyone about what I did," Kate said looking at them.

"Why would we tell anyone?" Claire asked, "as much as it pains me to say I don't want to hurt you, but I'm doing this for Shannon I don't want to see her hurt again."

"Thank you," Kate said relief washing over her.

"Just forget what happened and move on," Charlie said.

"Ok, I'll leave you alone now," Kate, said turning and leaving the three of them.

Shannon noticed Kate had left the group so she headed back over with a sleeping Aaron.

"How did you do that?" asked Claire amazed.

"Easy, I just rocked him and sung a lullaby."

"Can you watch him for a little while?" Claire asked.

"Sure I'd love to," Shannon said smiling.

"Hey I'll help." Sawyer and Shannon took Aaron up to the campfire deep in conversation.

"Can you believe Kate actually thought we'd tell people about what she did," Charlie said.

"I know but can we not talk about her, I need to know what this is between us, Charlie I've been hurt before," Claire said looking at him.

"Claire I would never hurt you," Charlie said shaking his head.

"I know but I have to make sure, you know I don't want things to move to fast and then it all falls apart," she said as Charlie placed one hand on her waist and the other on her face. She leaned closer to him and their lips met in a passionate kiss, moments later they parted breathless.

"We won't move to fast but I hope there'll be more of that," Charlie said smiling.

"Definitely," Claire said with a smile matching Charlie's on her face, they both moved simultaneously and closed the gap between them in another passionate kiss.