Claire stood hand in hand with Aaron above-deck. It was a beautiful day; the chill morning air swirled the dense fog around and around over the surface of the water. Claire could just barley see a few feet ahead; Kate, Sawyer, Desmond, and Penny were bickering in hushed voices on the docks. A cold wind blew past Claire, trying to chill her to the bone. She shivered, but not from the cold. They had finally arrived at their destination, and the full reality of what they were doing had finally hit Claire. We don't have a next move, she thought glumly to herself. She couldn't be sure, but she guessed that the others were fighting over 'the plan'. Right now, they were in a Marina close to London, having sailed along the Thames river, and they had no idea where they would go next.
Aaron tugged on Claire's wrist, twisting impatiently in an effort to explore. Claire didn't respond to Aaron's persistence straight away, so he yanked on Claire's shirt to get her attention. She pushed thoughts of Charlie out of her mind and looked down. Aaron was looking up at her with his big, innocent blue eyes. Claire's heart melted at the sight of him, and she held him closer. He was wearing an oversized sweatshirt, one of Kate's, and he was staring at her curiously.
"Momma, what are they fightin' about?" he asked and pointed to the group with a chubby hand. Claire looked back at her friends. Sawyer seemed to be angry about something; he was pointing and gesturing madly. Kate was trying to calm him down. It took Claire a moment to realize that he was pointing at her. In his anger, Sawyer had forgotten to keep quiet, allowing Claire to listen.
"There's no way that Claire and the munchkins are comin' with us!" He yelled loudly. Kate tried again to quiet him, but he continued with the same intensity.
"We all know it'll be dangerous, so unless the Seer over here has seen them gettin' back on this boat alive, they ain't comin." He finished defiantly before glaring at them all, silently daring them to argue back. Beside him, Desmond nodded in agreement. Kate stood silently with her arms crossed, lost in thought.
Claire rolled her eyes from aboard the ship. She appreciated Sawyer's concern, and understood his guilt, but she could take care of herself perfectly fine. She had survived on the island alone for three years after all. No one had helped her then. Finally fed up, Claire hopped out of the boat, picked up Aaron and walked over to the others.
"I think we all need to talk about this somewhere else," Claire cautioned. She gestured to the other people on the boardwalk a little ways off. Sawyer turned around to locate the voice. When he saw Claire, he sighed in an exasperated manner. Penny saw Aaron, and left to go wake Charlie from his nap.
"I'm guessin' you want to come too, Indiana?" Sawyer asked. Desmond and Kate looked to Claire for a response. Claire thought about Charlie, how much she missed him and wanted to see him more than anything, and then about her son and Penny's, and how she didn't want for them to be in any danger. She absentmindedly twirled the driveshaft ring that she now wore around her neck before answering.
"I think...", Claire said evenly putting emphasis on each word, "I think that we need to figure out where it is we're going before we do anything else." Aaron waved to Kate and she smiled. Penny returned with Charlie on her hip and looked around at them all, wanting to be filled in. When Aaron caught sight of Charlie, he twisted in Claire's grip, reaching out with his other hand to his friend. Claire walked over to Penny and Charlie so Aaron could say hello.
"Well, whatever we do, somebody is gonna have to stay behind with the kids." Sawyer reminded them all. Claire sighed, this is what she had been dreading. The choice of Charlie or her son. Charlie and Aaron started to play tag, but Penny stopped them.
"I can stay with them." Penny offered politely. Desmond nodded, Claire knew he didn't want his family to be in danger.
"Claire should stay too." Desmond began, "With her son. Sawyer, Kate, and I can-"
"No, this is Charlie we're talking about, okay. I'm going to help him." Claire interjected. She refused to be left behind again. She stared daggers at Sawyer who had opened his mouth to argue.
"How about we get some food first?" Kate suggested, "Our supply is almost gone." She looked around at them all, her expression pleading. Charlie and Aaron were pulled from their conversation at the mention of food.
"Ice cream?" Charlie asked. Aaron looked up at Claire and began to plead.
"Mommy, can we get ice cream? Pleeeease?" he begged. Claire noticed Kate smiling to herself; apparently Aaron really enjoyed ice cream. Desmond laughed and exchanged a look with Penny. She nodded.
"Of course you can have ice cream Charlie." He said. Charlie laughed and ran to his father. Sawyer looked around at them all, obviously displeased at the detour.
"Waste of time," Claire heard him mutter. Claire let Aaron toddle over to Kate who picked up and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you!" He said happily. Claire laughed, glad that her son was happy.
"Fine, w'ell eat" Sawyer conceded. Kate smiled satisfied that she had stopped the argument.
The group leisurely walked along the boardwalk and picked a place to eat. Desmond and Penny pointed out various restaurants, and they finally decided on a seafood place. Sawyer had difficultly picking only one meal, and ended up ordering almost everything on the menu. Desmond and Penny split a platter of fish and chips, with extra tartar sauce, and the boys had macaroni. Afterwards, due to the boys' persistence they entered an ice cream parlor, unaware of who they would meet there.