Disclaimer: I do not own Lost or its characters. I only own the story in my head.

Summary: They changed everything. Flight 815 never crashed, the island is underwater, and the same people are living different lives. So they think, because fate as other plans.

Sideways Stories from the Castaways

Rose and Bernard

Rose and Bernard Nadler were in the hospital again. They had been here so many times they had almost gotten used to it. Rose lay in the bed while Bernard fussed about trying to make her comfortable. When she told him about her diagnosis he didn't care, he still wanted to be with her. They had gotten married a little under two years ago and she couldn't imagine her life without him. He was her rock, the one person that kept her sane through all the chemo treatments.

Bernard loved his wife more than anything; she was the strongest person he knew. She was fighting her cancer and he knew in his heart that she could beat it, even if it was supposed to be terminal. Rose didn't take crap from anyone, so she could fight off those cancer cells and be healthy again. He knew he was expecting a miracle but he wasn't going to give up hope.

They hear a knock at the door and look up. "Mr. Reyes?" She asks surprised to see her boss visiting her.

"Hi, Rose" he greets. "I brought you some flowers to brighten up the room. I always hated hospitals they were to plain." He says a little shyly.

"You didn't have to." She tells him, they were beautiful flowers. They looked set up in a fall theme. With light orange and yellow flowers. They also looked expensive.

"What kind of person would I be if I didn't help brighten up one of my best supervisors" Hurly replies back with a smile.

"I'm hardly your best." Rose replies back.

"You are, Rose. You have a knack for finding people the jobs that are almost tailor made for them." He beams proudly; thanks to her they had the best job placements in the city.

"Rose, come on now. He is right, most the jobs you find people end up becoming permanent." Bernard tells her. He always liked Hugo. He always made time to come and speak to them at the company parties. He was a real nice fellow and didn't let the money to go to his head or drive him crazy. He admired that about the younger man.

Hurley motions to the chair asking if he could sit. He came here hoping some of his luck would rub off on her. She wasn't only a great employee she was a great person and didn't deserve this happening to her. Most people were afraid to talk to the boss and steered clear of him. But Rose always came right up to him and gave him her opinion and he liked that.

"Rose, how are you feeling today?" a doctor says as he enters the room.

"I'm fine, ready to get this over with" she replies with a smile.

"That's my girl, always the optimist." He jokes. "And we have a new visitor today." He says noticing Hurley sitting on one of the chairs.

"That's my boss" Rose replies.

"Boss, you must be one great employee to have boss pay you a visit." He says with a smile.

"Hugo Reyes" he says standing up to introduce himself.

"Dr. Goodwin Stanhope" the doctor says shaking his hand.

"Your Rose's doctor?" Hugo asks.

"I'm her radiologist." Goodwin replies.

"And my favorite one." Rose says. He was, he was the only one that actually took the time to talk to her, and the others always acted like they were in hurry. She knew they were busy; taking the time to relax was a rare commodity among the young people nowadays. They were always rushing here and there and making rash decisions because they didn't know how to slow down.

"Thank you" Goodwin replies as he walks over to her bed to start wheeling her out of the room. "Are you coming with Bernard?"

"You don't have to." Rose tells him

"I can go, I don't mind." Bernard answers.

"It's going to be boring as always." She says, she knew he went to support her but it was just x-rays and they always said the same thing that she was dying so there was no need of for him to hear that again.

"I don't care, Rose. All that matters to me is that we are together in this." He replies taking her hand.

Rose saw Hugo smiling in the corner. She knew she was lucky to have Bernard and he was right. They were together in this no matter what happens.