Disclaimer: Don't own Lost. Never will.

Author's note: Okay, so this chapter focuses on Claire—although I haven't really decided how it's going to play out quite yet. I hope you enjoy—and please review!

Chapter 2

Claire made her way towards the open tent. What could Jack possibly have to tell her? As she reached the tent, Jack glanced up.

"Claire, How've you been?" He was taking supplies from the pack he was holding and placing them in a row on a spread blanket.

"Good, thanks. Um, Hurley siad you wanted to talk to me about something?" she asked.

Jack rose and swung the pack over his shoulder. "Yeah. Sayid mentioned that you and Charlie planned on staying at the beach?"

"Uh, yeah. Charlie said he'd go where I went, and I wanted to stay here. He's so sweet"... Claire grinned.

"Uh, yeah. About that, Claire." Jack gave her a concerned look. "I don't think"--

"If this is about you thinking I'd be safer at the caves, the answer is no," she said firmly. "I've already made up my mind."

"No, Claire, I was going to say--I don't think its safe for your baby being out in the open. There's much more of a risk of sickness, and if something ever happened, it would take longer for me to get to the baech with any medical supplies than if your baby were safe at the caves."

"So, what are you suggesting?" she asked, eyebrows raised skeptically.

He hesitated. "Well, we had an idea"--

"Who's 'we'?" she shot.

"Me and Kate." He took a breath." We thought maybe--now this is just a suggestion--maybe you could let Sun watch your baby at the caves, that way you can still spend time at the beach during the day, and come to the caves any time you want--and your baby will be safer."

Jack waited, hesitant. Claire stared at him blankly. "Claire, if you don't think its a good idea"-- he stammered.

"Just--let me think about it, okay?" she asked shortly.

"Sure, of course.Take all the time you need," he reassured her. She smiled, a bit bewildered. He seemed relieved.

She left the tent, just as the sun began to sink below the horizon. Glancing around for Charlie, she figured he must have went to get them some food. As she passed one of the central fires that were beginning to be lit for twilight, she noticed Shannon sitting with a blanket wrapped around her, gazing at the darkening clouds.

"Twilight. My favorite time of day." Claire sat down next to Shannon, hugging her knees to her body.

Shannon slowly looked at her.

"I guess when your stranded on an island, those kind of things mean more," Claire smiled.

"What?" Shannon seemed to have broken off her thoughts. "Oh. The sky. Right."

"Yea, um, have you seen Charlie?" Claire asked, trying to sound indifferent.

Shannon slowly turned up her mouth in asmile. "I saw him just a few minutes ago. He was headed that way," she pointed. "He seemed like he was in a hurry, or something."

"Really? Oh, okay,thanks," she got up quickly and headed in the direction of her tent. When she arrived, the fire was burning brightly and Hurley, Sun,and Ginwere gathered around it, eating fish. She passed throughthe entrance to her tent and stoppd short.

Charlie was bending over the wooden cradle where Aaron was just opening his eyes, smiling and cooing baby noises. Charlie had a bowl of fruit in one hand and a blanket in the other, and as Claire entered, he looked up.

"Hungry?" he grinned.

Claire had to laugh uot loud at his spur-of-the-moment thoughtfulness--he never ceased to amaze her.

"Charlie," she reached in the cradle to scoop baby Aaron up. "You didn't have to"--

"Don't.Claire, I want to help you.You don't have to worry--see, I even laid out a fresh blanky for his bath in the morning," he indicated the fresh blanket and diaper along with what baby-scented soap he could get a hold of.

Claire smiled, and gave Charlie a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, Charlie."

"Your quite welcome," he smiled. "Now, shall we have some deectable fruit and fish?" he held out his arm.

"Yes, let's," she grinned playfully. She took his arm, and they strode out of the tent and into the twilight, fire-lit night. "Maybe things won't be so bad," Claire thought as she and Charlie took thier places around the fire. Gin handed her a plate full of fresh fish, and as she propped Aaron up on one knee, a sudden breeze flowed through her hair. Charlie lifted his head slightly. All of a sudden, a great sound echoed up from the distance, all around them.

Everyone was silent.

"Uh, guys...did anyone hear that?" Hurley spoke up.

"Yea." Claire drew baby Aaron closer. Sun and Gin exchanged glances.

Charlie turned his head slowly. "What the bloody hell was that?"