Point of View

This is the second part to my earlier fan fiction, I'll Be There. I want to dedicate this story to my daughter Laura, and my online friend nana1218 (get better soon!) who miss Charlie almost as much as Claire and Hurley.

The balmy tropical breeze whispered to the playful sapphire waves. The luminous yellow sun watched those waves tease a helpless piece of driftwood; pushing it toward the shore, only to pull it back out to sea again. Libby snuggled in closer to Hurley and put her arm around his back. Aaron was content, curled up on Hurley’s chest, while Libby idly stroked Aaron’s downy hair. Hurley sighed; Libby was so pretty doing something as simple as rubbing a baby’s head. Did she ever have any children of her own? Maybe he should ask her. No, don’t spoil this perfect moment.

WHAAAA! Come on Hurley, wake up. Your dream is over. Don’t look confused. We took a nice nap, but now I need something to eat and some dry nappies. That’s right, get up. Are we going back to see my mom? She’ll know what I need.

Look, there goes Vincent running in front of us. I like Vincent; sometimes he tells me secrets about this place where we live and the people we live with.

Okay, Hurley, Mom is right over there in our tent. Uh oh, she still looks sad. I wish she’d be happy again. She has been sad a lot since Charlie left. I miss him too.

“Here’s your little dude. He just woke up crying. We were taking a nap, but I guess he’s had enough sleep and needs a snack.” Hurley handed Aaron to Claire. “Oh…you have Charlie’s ring. Are you… you know…okay?”
Claire shifted Aaron on her lap, held up the ring, and sighed. “I like having it with me. It makes me feel better, like part of him is still here. Is that weird?”
“Nah, I’m glad he left it for you and Aaron.” Hurley turned to leave but paused. “Hey, would you want me to bring some dinner tonight?”
Claire smiled, brushing the hair out of her eyes. “Yes, that would be really nice.”
“Okay.” Hurley leaned forward and poked Aaron in the belly. “I’ll bring some oatmeal for my favorite little dude, too.”

Yuck, do not do that. No oatmeal.

Aaron started fussing. Hurley shrugged his shoulders while grinning at Claire and left.

And why does he always call me little dude, not that I liked turnip head any better.

Mom, where’s Charlie’s ring? I remember seeing it on his finger. It was shiny and I wanted to taste it. But then he’d sing me a song or make a funny face and I’d forget about it.

Whew! Thanks for changing me and feeding me. I feel much better.

Oo, Oo, Oo, are we going for a walk? Yay! I love looking at all the colors and shapes of this camp. Hey, look, there’s Hurley. Big Dude, what are you doing sneaking into Sawyer’s tent? I see you, Hurley. Mom, look. Hurley’s sneaking into Sawyer’s tent. Sawyer won’t like that.

Uh oh, it’s those new people. I don’t know if I like them. Just keep walking Mom.

Claire walked past two of the rescuers; they paused in their conversation and looked at Claire and Aaron. Noticing they were watching her, Claire approached them, offered her hand, and said, “Hi, I’m Claire Littleton and this is my baby, Aaron.”

The average sized, dark haired man shook her hand. “Hi, I’m Daniel and this is my friend Miles. We were just saying we hope we can repair at least one helicopter; so you and Aaron can be one of the first ones we take to the freighter.”

Claire smiled, “That will be great. It’s too bad about the helicopters crashing like that. You think you’ll be able to fix the one then?”

“Yeah, we think so. We’re going to the other’s compound tomorrow to see if there is anything there that could help with the repairs.” Pointing toward Aaron’s head, Daniel asked, “How’s the baby?”

Claire kissed Aaron just above the almost healed cut he had received from the falling helicopter debris a few days earlier. “Oh, you know how babies are. They heal quickly.” Aaron started fussing.

Let’s go Mom, I don’t like the way they smile at me; it makes my tummy hurt. Say goodbye Mom, weren’t we going to see Sun and Jin? I like them much better. Oh good, this is the way to Sun and Jin’s tent. Jin doesn’t talk the same as everyone else, but that’s okay. When I come to visit, he pulls out this lovely shiny watch. He lets me hold it and shake it and suck on it. Look, here we are. Hey Jin, where’s that watch? Mom is sitting down and talking with Sun. Boring. I want the watch. Alright, I’ll try to be patient.

Hey, here comes Vincent. Any new secrets, Vincent?

Vincent, you silly doggy, you already told me that one. “They aren’t strangers. They are good people.” I thought and thought about that secret, Vincent. I think you are talking about Juliet. Right? Don’t you have anything new to tell me?

“The secrets we kept and the lies we told will be said by an important person.” That makes no sense whatsoever, Vincent. My head will hurt too much if I try to figure out what that is supposed to mean.

I do trust you Vincent, but I will be walking by the time I figure that out.

Wow. “Everyone pays the price now.” That’s something new. I don’t know if I like that; it sounds sort of scary.

I know you don’t want to scare me. Would you mind singing me that song?

I like that song so much. Can I sing it with you this time? La mer Qu’on voit danser le long des golfes clairs A des reflets d’argent La mer…

Thanks for singing with me and listening to me, but I am tired now. Nighty night.

Claire brought her sleepy Aaron back to his crib after the visit with Sun. Hurley would be over with dinner soon. When she walked past the kitchen, he was busy stirring something in a pot over the fire. While tending to a few chores to pass the time, she accidently knocked Charlie’s ring into the sand. Even though she found it quickly, the thought of losing it scared her.

“I brought fish, Dharma risotto, fruit, and some ripe banana and oatmeal for my favorite little dude, just like I promised.”

Claire was changing a squirmy Aaron. “Sounds delicious, doesn’t it Aaron?” Claire finished with the nappy and kissed Aaron’s belly. The little group enjoyed their dinner and spending time together. When they were finished eating, Claire gathered the plates. Hurley reached over to take them but before she let go she asked, “When I was talking to Sun today, she told me that Jin was going to the other’s compound with Daniel and Miles’ group. Sun thought she heard you were going too. Is that true?”

With the plates still between them, Hurley hung his head, not able to make eye contact. “Yeah.”

Claire grabbed the plates, marched over to the tray, put them in noisily, and stood motionless with her back toward Hurley.

“Oh, come on Claire. Don’t be mad…This is something I got to do.”

Claire remained, her back toward Hurley, for a few minutes. Hurley just waited, not really knowing what else to do. Finally, Claire turned toward Hurley, arms folded across her chest, “Fine then. Go.”

“Uh uh. We aren’t going to end the conversation like this. Go get Charlie’s ring.”

Claire stood her ground.

“Please.” Hurley added.

Claire hesitated, then marched past Hurley, picked up Aaron, went into the tent, brought back the ring and held it out for Hurley.

“Thanks. Now turn around again. Please.” Claire started to say something but stopped and turned with Aaron on her hip. Hurley took out a chain he had “borrowed” from Sawyer’s stash earlier, and put Charlie’s ring on it.

“Now close your eyes.” Hurley was right behind Claire. She felt him move behind her, his large hands brushing her hair to one side, and then placing a chain around her neck.

“What?” Claire opened her eyes and saw the ring on the chain. She bit her lower lip and fingered the ring with her free hand.

Hurley moved to her side and took Aaron from her. “Now Charlie can always be with you.”

Claire was quiet for several moments. “Sorry…Thank you. This is so sweet. I just…”

“It’s cool, Claire. I understand.”

“Where did you find this chain?” Claire was still admiring the thoughtful gift.

Hurley chuckled. “Ask me no questions, and I’ll tell you no lies.”

Just then, Daniel and Miles walked past. They waved at Hurley and Claire. Daniel called, “Hey, Hurley, we’re leaving a half hour after dawn, you still coming?”

“I’ll be there.” Hurley waved back.

Hurley and Claire watched them walk to the community fire. When they were out of earshot, Claire asked in a low voice, “What do you think about them? Do you think they are keeping secrets or telling us lies?”

Hurley shook his head. “I don’t know what to think. We all have secrets we kept and lies we told before we crashed on this island. Are they any different from the rest of us? I wish I knew.” Hurley shrugged his shoulders. “Half the camp thinks we should trust them and half don’t. I was hoping to get some answers by going with them tomorrow.”

Claire moved in closer to Hurley’s side. They were both watching Daniel and Miles interact with a group around the community fire. Putting her small hand on Hurley’s shoulder, Claire looked up at Hurley. “I still don’t like you going with them, just...please promise me you’ll be careful.”

Hurley returned the look, “I promise.”

Neither noticed Aaron, bouncing happily on Hurley’s hip.

Hey, Vincent, where are you? I think I figured out one of those secrets.