Claire came over to the group by the fire and said "Now that Aaron's down for the night. What were you going to tell us Illana".
Illana answered "The reason why I was on the plane. Why me and my men were the ones that were taking the Oceanic six to Guam was to come to this island. You all needed to come. Jacob told me to and that I needed to protect the remaining candidates".
Kate asked "Candidate. Candidates for what".
Illana answered, "To replace Jacob".
Hurley asked "Replace him. How can we replace him".
Illana answered "I don't know. All Jacob told me was that I needed to get the candidates here and protect them".
Kate asked, "Who are these candidates".
Illana answered, "The ones that are still alive are Kwon, Reyes, Ford, and Jarrah".
Kate said "Those were the names that weren't crossed out. Neither was Jack or Locke".
Illana said, "They were the final six".
Kate said "So, I was a candidate but not anymore".
Illana answered, "No Kate, you're not".
Kate asked "Why".
Illana answered, "I don't know".
Kate asked, "Jacob never told you".
Richard said, "Jacob never says anything".
Kate asked, "How are we supposed to help him if he doesn't tell us anything".
Richard said, "Now you see why I wanted to kill myself".
Illana said "The only thing Jacob told me was that after I took the candidates to the Temple, was to ask Richardos what to do next. That he'd know".
Hurley asked who Richardos was, and Illana turned to Richard and said he is. Illana then asked Richard what they were supposed to do next and Richard laughed at this and said "I. I. I have no idea what we do next. I just said that I just tried to kill myself. Does that sound like someone who has a plan". Illana asked why Jacob would that that he would know what to do if he didn't and Richard said that Jacob was a liar and everything, he ever said was a lie.
Kate asked, "What are you talking about".
Richard responded "You wanna know a secret, Kate. Something I've known a long, long time". Richard went up to Kate and said, "You're dead". Hurley asked if he meant that figuratively and Richard said that he meant literally and that they were all dead. Richard then said that this isn't an island but Hell. Richard then said that he was not interested in what Jacob said and that they should listen to someone else. Richard said that it was what he was going to do before grabbing a torch and going into the jungle.
Illana prepared to go after Richard and Kate asked, "What are you doing".
Illana answered, "I'm going after Richard".
Kate asked "Why. You heard him. He doesn't know what we need to do next".
Illana said "He knows. Jacob told me. He has to know".
Kate said "Richad has lost his mind. He thinks that we're in Hell. If he cared what Jacob said, he wouldn't be talking about, about listening to someone else". Illana went back to the group and Kate realised that she knew who Richard was talking about and Kate said "Wait. You know who he meant". Ben remarked that this would be interesting. Kate asked "What".
Claire said, "He meant Locke".
Kate said "Claire. Locke's dead". Ben said that it wasn't exactly Locke. Kate saw that Hurley was talking to someone and in Spanish and guessed it was Jacob. Kate went over and asked "Hurley. What's he saying".
Hurley asked, "What's who saying".
Kate said "Jacob. I saw you talking to him".
Hurley said, "I'm not talking to Jacob".
Kate responded "Hurley. Don't you dare lie to me. Please if you know something, anything that can help us".
Hurley interrupted and said "Kate. It's not Jacob".
Kate asked, "Then who is it".
Hurley responded, "Sorry Kate, but this has nothing to do with you".
Hurley went back to the group and Ben told Illana "Kate's right, you know". Illana asked what she was right about, and Ben said that going after Richard was a waste of their time because he doesn't know anything. Illana asked what made him so sure and Ben said that he met Richard when he was twelve. Lapidus said that they met when they were kids and Ben said that he was a kid and Richard looked exactly like he did today. Lapidus asked if Richard didn't age, and Ben said that it was exactly what he was saying.
Carole remarked "Oh sweet lord, when did this become normal in my life. What in my life happened to make hearing that seem like it was real".
Claire said "You came to this island mum. As I said, everything that seems unrealistic and would be impossible anywhere else, is real here".
Lapidus asked Ben "And how in the world do you believe that he became this way".
Aaron screamed awake in fear and Claire immediately awoke. She turned and said "Aaron, baby what is it". Aaron began to cry, and Claire rushed to comfort him She held him close and said "It's okay, it's okay. It was only a dream. It was a dream. Mummy's right here".
Aaron said, "I was taken mummy".
Claire asked "What".
Aaron said "You were tucking me in and reading me Alice in Wonderland when Kate hit you. She took the book and whacked you with it. She then said that I was hers and she grabbed me".
Claire said sympathetically "Oh, Aaron". She then held him close and told him "It was only a dream. It is not real. I'm here and you're not going anywhere. You're my baby and we're going to be together always".
Kate rushed over and said, "I heard screaming what's wrong".
Aaron squealed in fear and hid himself from her on Claire. Kate realised that Aaron was hiding from her and Claire looked down at her terrified son before looking up in pure rage and said, "You did this".
Carole rushed over and grabbed Kate. She told her "Get out of here. Go now. Get out of here and don't come back". Carole then pushed Kate away and Kate moved away.
Kate knew that she was the reason for this and turned to see Carole sitting next to Claire as she comforted Aaron. Claire said "It's okay Aaron. You're okay. Mummy's here. And mummy loves you". Claire then began to sing 'Catch a falling star' to Aaron to calm him down and Kate knew that she was right about Claire and that she was good. No person that was evil could be doing what she was doing. Kate felt like she was the bad person and was what Aaron used to come to her to protect him from. Kate missed it being her that Aaron needed but that it was the reason Aaron's like this now. Kate hurt him and for that she could never forgive herself. Kate went back to her tent and began to cry.
Richard goes to where he buried her cross and calls out to the monster that he had changed his mind. Hurley then goes to Richard and tells him that his wife sent him. Hurley then communicates between Richard and his wife Isabella. When Isabella's gone, Richard puts her cross on and Hurley tells him that he has to stop the man in black.
The monster goes to talk to Jin and Sun and tells them "I showed James the cliffs and inside a cave were names on the wall. These names are the names of candidates and most of them are crossed off but names like Reyes, Jarrah, Ford, Shephard, and Kwon still remain".
Sun asked, "what does that mean".
The monster answered "that you are candidates to protect the island. Now I don't know if it means you or your husband, but a Kwon is a candidate".
Jin asked, "what do we do".
The monster told them "Nothing because the island doesn't need protecting at all, it's an island. So that's means all the names that haven't been crossed off have to go together".
The monster then leaves to check in on the other candidates and Sayid tells the monster that he doesn't feel anything anymore. The monster leaves and to check on the beach camp. Jin and Sun didn't care what the monster just told them because Sawyer had a plan to get them all of the island and it didn't include the monster. Darts then came from the tree line and knock everyone out. Zoe comes out from the tree and says to the men around her "unfortunately we can't take this one because he could help us with finding the pockets of electromagnetism on the island, but this will still prove its purpose". They then leave taking no one but wait for the response the monster will give. The monster finds everyone knocked out and that they've been hit by darts.
The monster asks Sayid about who attacked them, but he doesn't know, the monster is thankful that no one was taken but has to talk to Charles Widmore. The monster and Sayid goes to Hydra Island and Sayid stays there in wait as the monster sees the pylons. Charles Widmore appears wants to know why he's there. The monster said "you attacked my people, obviously as a message to me but messages like that causes wars. A wise man once said war was coming to this island and I think it just got here". The monster then left and returned back to the main island.
On the beach Richard returns and tells them all pack their bags because they were leaving. Kate asked, "Where are we going Richard". Richard asked Ben where the monster was because he came here to recruit him. Ben answered that it was Hydra Island and Richard said that it also where the plane was. He then said that since the monster wants to leave the island and it's the only way he can do it. They're gonna stop him. Miles asked Hurley is this was Hurley's fault and Hurley agreed. Illana asked how they were gonna stop the monster from getting on the plane and Richard answered that they were going to destroy it.
Claire and Carole exclaimed "What".
Claire walked up to Richard and said "You wanna blow up the plane. You want to blow up our only chance of getting off this island. My son is here. He's on this island and I'm not blowing up the only thing that can keep him safe and get him home".
Richard responded "Well, your son's in danger from Locke no matter what. There is literally nothing you can do if he wants to come right in here and kill us all".
Carole said "Don't talk like that. Especially in front of him".
Kate said "Yeah, Richard. There has to be another way. We have to get off this island".
Richard said "There isn't and I'm sorry but it's the truth. You wanna hide the truth from him because from what I've gathered, people have been doing that his entire life".
Claire said "I'm not keeping the truth from him. I just wanna protect him. Keep him safe. He's my son and I don't care monster or not, I will protect him".
Claire walked back over and picked him up. She then said, "You better find a different way of stopping Locke because I will not allow you to blow up that plane". She and Carole walked away, and Claire told Aaron "Don't listen to them. Listen to mummy. Your safe and will always be safe. I will not let anything hurt you. I love you".
Claire took Aaron to her tent and place him on her bed. Aaron asked, "Mummy are we safe".
Claire said "Of course we are safe. We are baby. We are safe".
Claire then hugged Aaron and asked "What will make you feel safe baby. What can mummy do for you. Mummy will do anything for you".
Aaron asked, "I want to go home, mummy".
Claire said "We will Aaron. We will go home".
Aaron said "I'm scared. I don't like this place".
Claire said "Neither do I baby. Neither do I. But as long as we're together and we'll always be together. Nothing can hurt us".
That night Claire was sitting with Aaron on the beach under a blanket and Claire said "That Aaron is the Southern Cross. You can always see it in the Southern hemisphere. You've probably never seen it before".
Aaron said "No".
Claire said, "To us it's the most important constellation in the entire sky".
Aaron asked "Why".
Claire answered "Besides from being a good compass. It's also on our national flag. Have you seen it before Aaron".
Aaron asked, "What does it look like".
Claire answered and drew in the sand "It's has a dark blue background and to the right has that cross. At the top left it has the Union Jack which is another cross like a T with the line in the middle. With behind it being an X shape. And that it also the flag of the Great Britian. And below that is another star below that with Seven points. They are to represents the six states of Australia and the seventh is for it territories.
Aaron said "They have that on the American one. Mommy said that they represented each state".
Claire turned to Aaron knowing that he made a mistake and accidently called Kate his mother. Aaron realised this to and said "Sorry mummy. I. I. I made a".
Claire hugged him and said "It's okay Aaron. It's not your fault. It's not your fault. I love you Aaron".
Aaron asked, "Do you forgive me, mummy".
Claire said "You have nothing to be sorry for. It's an adjustment and we're both gonna make mistakes. We just have to accept that. But the one thing for sure is that we're always gonna be together and we love each other".
Aaron was happy to hear it and said pointing the drawing "I've never seen that before mummy".
Claire said "You soon will. You'll see it all the time. That's our home and it's where we're gonna live".
Aaron asked, "Is it nice".
Claire said "It's beautiful. Everything is so open and with an amazing view in every direction".
Aaron said "LA was so crowded. And mommy". Aaron realised and grunted a scream to himself and put his hands to his head and said "Aaron bad. Aaron bad".
Claire grabbed Aaron's hand and told him "It's okay, it's okay. Aaron. It's okay".
Aaron responded "I love you mummy"
Claire said, "I love you to, Aaron". Claire then asked, "Tell me more about LA. I've never been there".
Aaron said "Kate, said it was dangerous. That you couldn't trust anybody and that I always had to stay close to her. But I don't know if that was a lie".
Claire said "Well, Sydney's not perfect but there are a lot less people. You still should stick to me though. And there we don't worry about guns".
Aaron said "TV always showed them. Bad people".
Claire said "It safe Aaron. I'm not rich. And in fact, I'm very poor but you'll always be safe with me Aaron. You'll go to a good school and live in a good suburb. I don't care if I have to work in a horrible place and I have no money. As long as we are together, and you have everything".
Aaron said "Mummy. Can I tell you something".
Claire answered "Anything".
Aaron said "Mummy, when we first met and when grandma told me about you. Showed me your picture. I was scared you weren't my mummy".
Claire said "And that's okay. You have every right Aaron to feel that way. You've gone through so much and the person you thought you could rely on most, betrayed you. Aaron, you have every right to question it. But I want you to know that I am. I really, really am, I am your mummy. You grew inside me, and I remember hearing your heartbeat for the first time". Claire began to cry and said "I remember every kick and punch you gave. I could feel inside me. I remember hearing you cry when you were born. I remember the first time I held you. I remember the first time you look at me with those beautiful eyes. How you wrapped you entire hand around my finger. How you would fall asleep in my arms. How you'd smile at me whenever I look at you in your crib. How whenever you were scared or frightened would calm down and feel safe with me. I remember it all Aaron. I just, I wish we were never a part. I wish I could have seen your first step, first word which I'm assuming would have been mum, your first birthday and watched you smear cake all over yourself. I wish I was there for it all".
Aaron said, "Oh mummy, my birthday's the first of November".
Claire said "Yeah, yeah it is. Why, were you told otherwise".
Aaron nodded and Claire exclaimed "That bitch". She then said, "It's getting real hard no to". She then turned to Aaron and calmed down. Claire said "I'm sorry that you had to go through that. I should have protected you from that. I'm a terrible mum and I'm so sorry. You should never have gone through that. I don't deserve to be your mum".
Aaron said "But now I know your my mummy. You love me and you care for me. I felt it when you first picked me up, and when you saw me struggling in the pool, and every moment we've been back together. You're my mummy and no matter what happened. I want you to be my mummy".
Claire began to cry and said "Thank you, Aaron. Thank you. I will not let you down".
Aaron turned to Kate and said, "I don't like being scared".
Claire said "And you don't have to. I'm right here and I'll always protect you".
Aaron asked, "Mummy can we do something".
Claire asked "What".
Aaron said "I don't like being afraid. I want it to end. Can you help me, mummy".
Claire answered "Anything. What do you want me to do".
Aaron said, "Come with me". Aaron grabbed Claire's hand and led her over to Kate.
Claire asked "Aaron, where are we going. You need to tell mummy so she can help you".
Aaron called out angry "Kate. Kate".
Kate turned to see that Claire and Aaron were outside her tent. Kate answered "Yes".
Aaron said "I don't like you. You were my mommy, and I loved you. But you didn't love me. You hurt me and told me lies. Kept me from my real mummy and grandma. Every act of what I thought was love, was lies. You're a monster and you made me afraid of you. But I'm not afraid anymore. I have my real mummy back and have her love. Someone who loves me as much as I love her. She cares about me while you only care for yourself. I want you to know that I'm not afraid anymore and never will be. I have my mummy and she'll be there. She loves me and I'm so happy that she is my mummy. I'm going to go home with my real mummy and we're gonna be happy. While you'll always be alone. Monsters are never happy because they always take. You took me and stole every moment that me and mummy should have been together. For that I will never forgive you. You took my mummy from me, and I hate you. I will never forgive you. Goodbye Kate, I'm Aaron Littleton and am free from you". Aaron walked away with Claire and Kate accepted what Aaron told her. She was a monster for what she did to him and will never forgive herself. She hurt the person that relied on her most and put him through Hell. She was proud of him for standing up for himself and was happy that he was feeling better in himself. He was reclaiming what she took, and she knew that she deserved it.
Aaron walked with Claire away from Kate and he stopped at their tent. Claire knelled down and asked, "How do you feel about what you just did".
Aaron answered "I feel good mummy. I needed to do that. I needed to tell her that she didn't scare me anymore. I couldn't do it alone; I needed you mummy. Thank you".
Claire responded "You're welcome, Aaron. And I'm so proud of you. You were so brave and so strong. I couldn't ask for a better son. And you know what. Daddy's proud of you". Claire showed him Charlie's ring and said, "He's so proud of you. And Aaron, I have to tell you something important. I'm not afraid anymore either and you wanna know why".
Aaron asked "Why".
Claire answered by picking him up and saying "Because a big, strong, brave boy to protect me. I have my Aaron, and I know nothing can hurt me".
Aaron said, "I'll protect you mummy". Aaron hugged Claire and Claire happily embraced this.