Chapter 2
She could smell him before he even touched her. She tried not to moan at his gentle touch. His hands graced over her like she was a fragile doll. With every touch, her body yearned for more. She stared into his blue eyes. God, they were so beautiful. The way he looked at her with the gentlest eyes made her heart melt. He looked at her and yet didn't care about the child that was growing in her stomach or the fact she was turning into a whale."You're so beautiful," he whispered.
He grazed over her growing stomach lightly. He placed such delicate kisses over it and softly talked to it. It made her want to cry. He looked up at her and smiled. He sat up right and pulled off his t-shirt revealing his very ripped body. He was the guy that every romance writer wrote about. He was hers. She knew it the moment he leaned over her and kissed her ever so softly. He held her up and removed her shirt. He pressed her body against her.
"Oh, Sawyer," She moan softly.
The soft kisses turned heated and needy. Their hands moved everywhere they could greedily. Neither one of them wanting to stop or willing to stop.
Layla was jolted awake by the sound of something hitting the planeside of the tent. She sat up and breathed heavily. She pressed her hand against her forehead. Her body throbbed from the very vivid and exciting dream. She lay back down and started at the branch. What had her mind going into such very wrong side of the dream?
"Layla, you awake?" Sawyer asked popping his head in.
Layla looked at him and still saw the rock hard body in her dream. She started to reconsider moving next to him.
"Yeah, just give me a few," She answered,
Sawyer opened the flap wider and walked into the tent. He offered her a hand. She looked at the hand and smiled. He truly was a gentleman and knew her mind too well. She put her hand into his and he pulled her to her feet. He grabbed her arm before she fell forward or lost her balance.
"Easy there, Blondie. Why don't you do want you need to while I get you breakfast."
Layla stared at him a little stunned.
"Sawyer, you don't have to take care of me. I'm a big girl," Layla reminded.
Sawyer shook her head and walked her out of the tent. He didn't have a good feeling the moment he woke up. Something about the day unsettled him. He didn't know whether it was her brain dead boyfriend or the fucking island they were on. It rattled his bones.
"I know that but you can't climb the trees to get food without jeopardizing junior," Sawyer reminded.
Layla cocked her head as she smiled. So, there was a softer side of him and it was towards her. It wasn't Kate that he showed this sweet side to. It put pride in her chest. She had discovered another layer of Sawyer and hoped to discover more.
"Why, Sawyer, I didn't know you cared so much," Layla teased.
Sawyer huffed and ran his fingers through his hair roughly. His face tried to harden but it just made her smile widen.
"Yeah, Well don't get use to it."
She saluted before turning and trudging to the forest to use the bathroom. When she was done, she headed back towards Sawyer's camp when she felt a hand grip her arm very tightly. She turned and saw Charlie's angry face. She stared at him unsure for a moment. She never had seen him look so angry.
"Who, the bloody hell, do you think you are? You can not just make me worship you and then leave me like some maggot," He hissed.
Layla stared into his gray eyes and recognized the red haze in them. He was high again. She didn't know if it made the situation worse or better. No, she knew it made it worse but god, her heart, just for a moment, weakened and wanted to tell him that she loved him so dearly but she doubted it would make the situation better.
"You think you can secretly have an affair with a brainless American? As long as you're carrying my child you will not be seen around him. I will not look bad because my whore decided she wanted fool around, " He continued.
His gripped tightened and made her hiss in pain. She stared frightened at him as tears clung to her eyes. He never had been this hateful towards her. He always was so caring and gentle towards her. Her breath quivered.
"I am not your whore. I was not nor will I ever be. I am a grown woman and no man will control me. That includes you, Charlie. You were a good man at one time but now…I don't know who you are anymore nor do I even want to know," Layla snapped.
She pulled her arm from his grasp. She stared dead into his eyes. Oh, how she wanted to fall to her knees and wrap her arms around him. She wanted her old Charlie back. She wanted the man she loved and this wasn't him.
His gray eyes narrowed at her. He grabbed her shoulders tightly and started to shake her. His face twisted in anger. Cruel words spilled out of his mouth but her mind blocked them out refusing to hear it.
The next thing she knew, she saw was Charlie getting decked into the face. She cleared her vision and saw Kate standing there with a look of disgust on her face. Over Kate's shoulder she saw Sawyer running towards them with everyone else following but Jack was all ready there with his hand on her shoulder. Shock of the whole situation just made her still. She couldn't comprehend any of it.
"Layla, are you all right?" Jack asked looking for any bruises or cuts.
Kate stood close next to him doing the same. Sawyer pushed between them and looked at Layla with concerned eyes. He had a rope of bananas on his shoulder but suddenly slipped from his shoulder. He stood in shock at her pale complexion and the red eyes as tears streamed down her face. It was clear she didn't even know that she was crying. The tears just ran freely down her cheek. It was clear he would have no choice but to protect her, even if she fought him about it.
Jack paced back and forth down in the hatch. The place was designed in the late 70's and had the theme of the era. The walls were cement and wood. The floors were covered in wood with a huge kitchen in the middle. In the tiny sleeping area, there was a build in bunk bed. It gave them a sense of slight normalcy.
He stood in the living room pacing as Kate and Sawyer sat on the couch watching him. Sawyer sat back with his feet up on the table. He wouldn't let them think that he actually cared about Layla. It would ruin the image they had of him. The more isolated he was, the easier he could protect Layla. It might not seem logical to anyone else but it was logical to him and that all that mattered to him. He lit up a cigarette and watched Jack.
"So what's the plan, doc? Some great army or hold the one hit wonder in that cement cage of yours," Sawyer asked.
Kate rolled her eyes though she was thinking the same thing. What were they going to do? Charlie had a right, in a very microscopic way, to her. She was carrying his child but he, basically, just stood there and pushed her around, maybe not physically but verbally.
"I'm not sure yet. For right now, until we figure out what to do about Charlie, she will sleep in the hatch. It will make a lot more sense with there always being someone down here doing button duty," Jack informed.
Kate shook her head with a disagreement face. Something about the plan didn't seem right.
"I can understand where you're coming from Jack but watching her 24/7 isn't going to work. We don't want her to feel like a prisoner. She shouldn't pay for one mistake," Kate argued.
"I never said she was paying for getting with Charlie but I'm say he's unstable and unpredictable. We can't take our chances of him coming back and hurt her."
"Why don't we ask her what she wants instead of you two bickering about it? It is her problem, not ours," Sawyer jumped in.
Kate and Jack looked at Sawyer stunned. He was just sitting there calmly smoking his cigarette. He looked like nothing had just happened on the beach even though his insides were twisted around. He wanted to sit on guard and make sure the lofty bastard wouldn't touch her.
"It isn't just her problem. He could also hurt Claire or anyone else. I'm not taking any chances with him," Jack shot back.
Sawyer put out his cigarette before crossing his arms. He just looked amused. Kate noticed how odd he looked. Something was off with the smile and the way his body sat. It didn't seem relaxed or cocky. It seemed almost rigid.
"Why doesn't she just stay with Sawyer? He has all the guns and we, both, know how he is with a gun," Kate offered.
Jack shook his head and opened his mouth to say something but Layla interrupted him.
"No one needs to protect me. I'm not a child," Layla interrupted.
She stood in the doorway with her arms crossed against her chest. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she changed into a t-shirt and a pair of shorts. Her face was stone. It seemed that the incident only stopped her for a moment.
"Layla, this isn't only about you. We have to think of everyone in the camp," Jack reminded.
Layla scuffed and rolled her eyes. She cocked her head with an amused face. She shook her head before she unconsciously scratched her collarbone that didn't go unnoticed by Sawyer. He, suddenly, got a clear image of her beautiful naked form. The simple way the breasts were placed against her body frame. Her beautiful expanding stomach that grew each day made her look like an angel. He could just feel her body pressed against his. He shook his head whipping the image away. He couldn't let his mind go that far or vivid. It could get himself into suspicion from each of them. He just needed a good cold shower and some 'alone time'.
"Please, Jack, Walt could kick Charlie's ass. He's a wimp," Layla argued.
"He wasn't a wimp when he shot Ethan," Jack reminded.
Layla stood there quiet for a moment. She remembered the moment. It was the true moment she knew Charlie had decided to toss her aside. The pain was still there with the memory. He was her one weakness and she hated it. It wasn't fair. She made one mistake and she was still paying for it.
Sawyer stood up and stretched his body. He tried to make it seem natural he just decided he wanted to get up even though when Layla came into the room he wanted to get her out of there and lock her away. He wanted to be her hero. He mentally groaned. The last thing he ever wanted was to try to be someone's hero. He wasn't a good man and he knew she deserved better. It was clear she deserved better than the doped up one hit wonder.
"Well that was different. That was when he wasn't doped up on heroin," Layla added.
Layla stood over the stove putting the noodles into the steaming hot pot. Water boiled to the point steam was coming out of the pot. She heard the kitchen door open before feeling a pair of arms wrap around her waist. She looked over her shoulder and smiled at the British blonde that was holding her.
"Something smells delicious," Charlie purred into her ear.
She smiled at him amused.
"I haven't even put the food in yet," Layla chuckled.
Charlie kissed her neck and started to put light kissed down her neck and over her shoulder.
"Who said it was the food?" He asked cockily.
Her eyes drifted closed loving the feel of his breath against her skin before snapping out of her trance and hitting him with the dishtowel.
"Stop that, my parents are in the other room and I prefer not to traumatize them," Layla reminded.
"You are such a parent's dream child, aren't you?" Charlie groaned.
"Not since I came home with a British rock star boyfriend," She teased.
He chuckled and pocked her in the side making her squeal then burst into a fit of giggles.
"You're such a bad kid. I don't know how your parents deal with you," He said sarcastically.
She laughed and tossed the dishrag at him.
Layla still heard the laughter in her head as she walked towards the beach. They got along so well then it all fell apart. She didn't know how or when but things turned into something that she always dreaded. Though, he never was abusive or ever treated her horribly. He just wasn't there. He was so empty towards her. He had no emotions when he talked. It broke her heart as he just turned to stone.
What had happened had been emotion, it was nice to see some in him but it killed her it had to be anger. She had prayed it would be some sort of love towards her but as the days go one, she started to really doubt he would show her love and or any compassion towards the child she was carrying.
The sky suddenly turned dark and the rain started dumping out of the sky. She stared up at the sky as the huge raindrops fell on her face. She closed her eyes and smiled. She loved the rain. It always seemed to sooth her rough nerves. Something about it was peaceful. She didn't understand it but she preferred not to question it.
Layla whipped the rain off her face and started walking again. She strolled on the beach and saw Charlie sitting on a rock with his back to her playing on his guitar. Her heart ached and jumped at the same time. She wouldn't give up on him. It wasn't her nature to give up easy. If they were going to separate, then one of them would have to either get killed or kidnapped.
She walked up behind him. She found it hard to even say his name. She wanted to touch him but she couldn't pull herself to even move. She just stared at the back of his head. Her mind rustled with a million thoughts of if she was in danger or if he would even talk to her.
Charlie felt someone behind him and he turned and saw Layla standing there soaked to the bone. She was just staring at him with her emerald eyes glistening with seemed to be tears. He felt the guilt that he was even rough with her. His gray eyes looked at the stomach that held his child. He felt his heart stopped. He felt like his life was a haze about the pregnancy until that very moment with the clothes clinging to her skin.
Layla felt her heart jump into her throat as she watched in pure surprise Charlie place his hand against her stomach. It was the first time he even made the true acknowledgement to the baby besides his anger tantrum. He was coming. She could feel it in her chest. She just had to keep faith.
Charlie felt the baby kick against his hand. He felt suddenly choked up. He dropped his guitar and wrapped his arms around her waist sobbing begging for her forgiveness. He, suddenly, felt her delicate fingers in her hair before she started to move. She got on her knees as she came to his eye level. He couldn't dare look her in the eyes.
"Charlie, please look at me," Layla said softly.
He lifted his eyes to her face. Her eyes show the love that he always felt from her. The sweet understanding and caring that was Layla. She was his Layla. He didn't understand how he could screw up.
"I'm sorry," Charlie whispered. "Layla, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you in any form."
Layla placed her finger on his lips silencing him. She leaned in and kissed him softly. Charlie pulled her closely kissing her urgently as his guilt ate at him. He would never forgive himself for even hurting her.
Sawyer watched from the forest as the two kissed passionately. He felt jealousy run through his veins. How could she forgive him? He was a useless bastard. He could only hurt her worse.
"Get yourself together, Ford, you don't care what happens to her," He whispered to himself before turning and walking away still feeling the sting of being tossed aside.
