June 2005

Two weddings in less than a month, and I'm sick and tired of the sappy love nest I've been thrown into. Gil and Sonja got married in early February, Sonja wearing her baby bump proud under her white dress. She made me wear this hideous purple things as one of her bridesmaids amongst a group of women I didn't know, who asked me tons of questions about the crash that I had to cover with lies. When they figured out that I wasn't into sharing much of my time on Membata, they decided to resent me for delaying the wedding from October to February, noting that the purple color would have made much more sense in autumn, than in February, where the colors should be pink and white in honor of Valentine's Day. I didn't really care. I was just happy to see Gil so happy, constantly smiling, his new bride on his arm.

Sayid and Nadia's wedding was much more enjoyable. Nadia was Sayid's long-lost love from childhood, who he'd been searching for since he'd left the Republican Guard. It was such a sweet story and their wedding was much simpler and I didn't have to walk down the aisle and I could wear whatever I wanted. I mostly hung out with Kate and Aaron, who was getting bigger every day.

Today I was happy to be headed to a party that did not include a wedding. Kate and I were headed to Hurley's birthday party that his mom was throwing. We got to the house and Carmen made us park the car at a neighbor's house across the street, as it was a surprise party and she didn't want Hurley to get suspicious.

I carried my gift into the house, Kate and Aaron behind me and Carmen led us to the back yard, which had been decorated in a tropical island theme. Kate took one look at the decorations and almost turned a color of green, but she recovered quickly and we hid behind the back doors. Carmen rushed to the back yard to tell us that Hurley had arrived.

When Hurley opened the door, he was holding a gold statue of Jesus Christ up in the air, ready to whack someone.

"SURPRISE!" Everyone shouted, but backed off after they noticed Jesus in his hand.

Carmen walked up to him. "Hugo, what are you doing with that?" she asks.

"I don't know. I thought there might be a prowler or something."

"Jesus Christ is not a weapon," she says taking it from his hand. "Okay. Enjoy your party."

Everyone laughs and cheers as Hurley is bombarded by guests. "Let's give him some space," I say to Kate and she nods. "Come on, I heard David say they set up an open bar."

I'm about have the bartender make me a scotch on the rocks, but I change my mind and choose a glass of white wine instead. Kate orders a club soda, as she's driving us back to her place. I've taken up staying at Kate's house when I come to Los Angeles from Sacramento. It's much better than staying in a hotel, and she insisted that she doesn't mind.

"No way," Hurley says, coming up to Kate, Aaron, and I.

""Happy birthday, Hurley," Kate says, giving him a hug.

"Hey, Kate. Hey, little buddy," he says to Aaron.

"Say hi," Kate says, waving Aaron's tiny little hand. "Jack's running late. Sorry."

"Happy birthday, Hurley," I say giving him a hug.

"I'm glad you guys came," he says, and he turns around at a tap on his shoulder.

"Happy birthday, Hugo," Nadia says with Sayid next to her.

"Wow, you guys are here," Hurley says, giving her a hug.

"Interesting choice of theme," Sayid notes, looking uncomfortable.

"Yeah, my mom... really doesn't get it, Dude," Hurley says.

"Hey! How's everybody doing?" Hurley's father, David says to us, approaching and putting his hand on Sayid's shoulder. "What are you talking about? Building a fire or hunting boars?" He laughs at his joke, but none of us follow. "I guess not. Uh, listen. Uh, do you mind, uh, excusing us for a little while? I wanna show you your birthday present, Hugo. Hmm? Come on. Bye-bye now."

David takes Hurley away, leaving us with each other. Nadia is about to say something when Kate's phone rings. "Can you hold Aaron for me?" she asks, handing him to me without waiting for a response. She grabs her phone out of her bag. "Hello?...What?...But he'll be so disappointed. I told him you were coming…Yeah, I understand…okay, I'll see you later." She puts the phone back in her purse. "Jack's not coming. He has an emergency surgery."

We all pause for a minute as I hand Aaron back to Kate. "So Tia," Nadia says. "Have you decided if you're going back to school?"

"Um, I don't think I am," I tell her, taking a sip of my wine. "Between keeping my father's business afloat, and my brother's baby coming, I'm just a little swamped right now. Plus, my older brother is trying to get his restaurant started, so I'm helping with that."

"Has anyone heard from Sun?" Kate asks.

Sayid shakes his head. I talked to Sun yesterday, actually. Last month, early May, she completed her plan of using her compensation from Oceanic to take out a controlling interest in her father's company. We've been talking business plans diligently, but she's asked me not to say anything to anyone.

"Not for a while," I say, lying to Kate. Lying is like a second nature to me these days.

"I'm worried about her," Kate says. "She would be very pregnant at this point. We don't even know if it's a girl or a boy."

"I'm sure she's fine, Kate. We can't spend our lives worrying." I know for a fact that Sun doesn't even know if it's a girl or a boy. I turn back to Sayid and Nadia. "How was your honeymoon?"

"It was lovely," Nadia says. "Very private, very beautiful."

"And what about you two? You gonna have any little kids of your own?"

"Maybe," Nadia says. "But right now, we're happy with just the two of us."

Nadia knows nothing of the truth. She believes the same lie that the Oceanic Seven told the rest of the world. I wonder how their relationship functions with this big secret between the two of them.

I like Nadia a lot, but I've always kind of resented her. Sayid loved Shannon. He buried her on the Island. Mourned her for days. I can't imagine spending my life with anyone but Boone, but maybe that's because I don't have a long lost Iraqi love waiting for me. If Gibbs were alive, would I go for it and disregard the only true love I've ever felt in my life? I don't know the answer, and it doesn't help with my Sayid/Shannon/Nadia thing in my head.

"How is your sister-in-law?" Sayid asks me.

"She's great. Due in two months. It's a girl."

"Aww, you're gonna have a niece? That's so exciting!" Kate says.

"Yeah, it sure is. How's Jack doing?"

"Oh, he's just being Jack. We honestly don't talk as much as I'd like, but what can you do?" Aaron takes this moment to spit up and Kate excuses herself and goes inside to clean him up.

This leaves me alone with Nadia and Sayid, standing awkwardly with nothing to talk about. Without Others to chase, or working to find a way off the Island, Sayid and I really don't have anything in common anymore, and when we're alone or it's just us and Nadia, it gets super awkward. "I'm gonna order another drink," I say, heading towards the bar, leaving them before they can say anything. I get to the bar and order a scotch, sending it down my throat with its sting.