RP3 Part Two "One Year Later"

Mel tried to clear the tears from her face before she snuck back into her house that she now shared with Christian. She silently opened the door and slipped into the bed. As soon as she did Christian turned to her wide awake.

"Where were you?" he asked quietly.

Mel looked at him, he would know if she was lying but she did it anyway. She wasn't about to give Ben up. "I couldn't sleep so I took a walk." Mel couldn't help the tears from starting again when she thought of her children who were most likely leaving with Ben this very moment.

Christian watched her begin to cry. "Oh, darling." he whispered as he took her into his arms. He wrapped his arm tight around her shoulder and held her close. He ran his free hand through her hair, trying to soothe her.

Mel buried her head in the crook of his shoulder and cried.

Still on the boat Sophie watched as the 3 children rest peacefully asleep. Ben came down the stairs from the deck to check on them all.

"Are they ok?" he asked climbing down the last step.

"They fine." she replied.

"And you?"he asked. Sitting down next to her.

"Just confused." she sighed. "I don't understand. Ever since we been together i always thought you had never left the island."

"You never asked." he smiled. Making Sophie smile back.

"Where we going to stay? We have no money or anything."

"Sophie don't worry its all arranged." he said kissing her cheek.

"You gonna tell me whats really going on Ben?" she asked. "Why? Who are we running from? Why do you have to protect me?" Ben listened as she listed load of questions to him, while he poured coffee for himself he paused when she asked. "Why do you have a file on me?" Placing the kettle down and turned to her.

"How do you know about that?" he questioned her back.

"I found it. Accentidly. I was going to read a book when it fell from the shelf."

"But you never read!" Ben replied. "What did you see?" he asked.

"A lot of things Ben. Whats going on? What were all these scribblings about me?"

"Not now Sophie." he said heading towards the deck.

"No Ben Now!"

"Good morning darling." Christian said after walking into the kitchen. He came up behind Mel and wrapped his arms around her.

Mel continued to clean the dishes as she leaned back onto him. "Good morning, husband." she said good-naturedly. "Where we're you off to so early?"

"Just looking around. I ran into Emma. Her and Jack are close aren't they?"

"I would say so. Jack left Juliet for her. And she turned away from Desmond as well. I never expected it from Jack. He's always been so reliable."

"He fell in love. People do crazy things when they are in love with someone."

An image of Ben the last time she had seen him flashed through Mel's mind. "Yes, I suppose they do."

"Are you okay Mel?" Christian asked.

Mel turned and wound her arms around his neck. She kissed him softly. "I'm wonderful."

"I do find it odd that two days ago you were kicking and screaming at the thought of marrying me and now your are suddenly pleasant."

Mel smiled, "We do have history Christian, and a lot of that history I look fondly on. We're already married, I figure I can fight you and we will both be unhappy, or I can stop fighting the inevitable and we can be happy together."

Christian thought about her words and smiled back at her, "Thank you for being my wife."

"I'll be a good wife to you Christian, you believe that right?"

"Why do you think you were chosen darling? You're my match."

Christian pulled her into a strong hug. Mel closed her eyes tightly, willing the tears that threatened to spring up in her eyes to go away.

She could do this, she told herself. She could play the obendient, happy wife as long as she needed to. Not only was her life being held in the balance, but the entire fate of the island was at stake.

"No Ben Now!" Sophie snapped. Making the coffee cup fall on the floor that Ben had poured for himself earlier. Ben turned around and looked at her shocked. Then to the other side of the room where the coffee mug had shattered and the coffee spilled all over the floor. Sophie instantly went over to clean it up. As Ben crouched down next to her to help. "How did that just happen?" she asked

"You did it!" Ben replied.

"I didn't i was at the other side of the room."

"You want answers Sophie and there you go, i just gave you one."

"I don't understand." she said placing the shattered mug into the bin.

"Do you remember the day i told you to take the frieghter people to Jacob? Trick them into beliveing you wanted to get off the island?"

"Yes.."

"What happened?"

"That thing came. That monster! It killed them all and left me. Jacob did it. He told me you were shot....."

"That wasn't Jacob. You did it and somehow you knew i was wounded. I was dead. Then you came and I was breathing i was alive again. You knew Mel was shot too. Yet you were off in the jungle with John."

"What? It was Jacob. How could i of done that? "

"I don't know Sophie. You have a connection with the island and its something you will have to work out for yourself. The file was made before you came to the island. Everyone has one, it was only when you came to the island. We found out how special you are."

"What so i control things?"

"I don't know Sophie."

"Then why are we running away? Who we running from?"

"Dharma."

Mel walked onto the front porch where Christian was sitting, staring intently at Ben's house across the way, "Darling, have you seen Ben lately?"

Mel looked up at his question, "No, actually I haven't in a few days. Sophie either. Do you think they have gone somewhere?"

"I'd rather hear what you think." Christian said darkly.

"Who knows Christian. Sophie runs off all of the time. Ben always goes after her."

"Why does she run off?"

Mel bit her lip, "Normally, because of me."

"So everytime you come back into Ben's life, she takes off?"

"Something like that." Mel nodded.

"Are you still in love with him?"

Mel kneeled at Christian's side and took his hand, "I was at one time, but why would I continue to love someone when they don't want me? He's chosen Sophie time and time again and left me alone."

Christian ran his fingers through her hair, "You're not alone any longer darling."

Mel smiled at him while inside she felt like she was going to be sick. 'I didn't mean it!' she screamed inside her head as an image of Ben surfaced. Was he safe? Were their children safe?

"Come with me." Christian said as he stood and pulled her up with him.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"To see my son." he answered with a forced smile. "I think it's time he met my wife."

"Hello Jack." Christian said as they approached him, Emma, and Desmond outside of the stables.

"Dad." Jack said cooly as he noted that Christian held Mel's hand securley in his own. He quirked an eyebrow in question to Mel, but she looked away from him.

"We need to talk Jack."

"Okay, talk." Jack said.

"Are you sure you don't want to do this in privacy?" Christian asked.

Jack shook his head, "I'm fine with talking right here. Whatever you came to say you can say in front of Emma and Desmond."

Mel saw Des shake his head as if he knew what was coming.

"Sure thing Kiddo." Christian started. "Well, I guess I should make introductions first."

"They know who you are dad."

"I wasn't talking about me. I was talking about Mel." Christian said as he raised her hand to his mouth and kissed it. "I would like you all to meet my wife."

Jack stood there and Mel watched the color drain from his face. Emma gasped and Desmond, poor Desmond looked miserable. Mel wondered how long he had known.

"Des." Mel whispered and made to move closer to him but Christian didn't release her hand.

Jack finally regained his voice, "You can't be married to her. You are already married to my mother."

Christian shook his head, "No longer. I am married to Mel."

"Why?" Jack roared startling them all.

"She is a remarkable woman and I have felt very strongly for her for a long time."

"Not you! Her!" Jack yelled as he pointed at Mel, "Why would you agree to marry him?"

Mel looked down, "It's complicated Jack."

"You are in love with Ben, that is plain to anyone."

"Ben never wanted to marry me Jack. He wanted to keep me quiet on the side in case things with Sophie went bad. He never truly cared for me. Your father does." Mel hoped her words had been convincing because everything she had said was a lie.

"No. This isn't right. This man is a drunk. He doesn't deserve you!"

"Aye, I agree with you there brutha." Desmond chimed.

Mel saw Emma shoot a glance at Desmond, Christian did the same.

"Look kiddo, I don't want any trouble. I thought you needed to know what was going on." Christian explained calmly.

"If it involves you dad, then I don't want to know what is going on."

Mel shook her head at Jack's stubborness. "You might want to reconsider Jack, you all may want to."

Emma rolled her eyes. Mel knew that she would no longer have any kind of ally in her. When Mel looked at Des he stared back at her sadly before looking away. She was afraid she'd lost Desmond as well.

Jack, she knew she lost when she joined with his father. He looked at spitefully, "And why would we want to do that?" he spat.

"Because Jack," Christian chimed, "a war is coming and you don't want to be on the wrong side of it."

Mel looked at Desmond. Of course he would know. he would have seen what the future would bring.

"Desmond's telling the truth Jack. I've seen it myself. Christian is carrying out the wishes of the island."

Jack shook his head, "You're all insane. This is just an island. Nothing more."

"Jack, you know that is not true." Mel admonished. "Think of what you have seen."

"I don't want any part of it." Jack claimed. "Emma either. We just want to live in peace."

"Then you should have left with the boat, brutha. They'll be no peace here for a long while." Desmond said.

Mel's eyes grew wide as her eyes darted to Desmond. She prayed she had heard him wrong and he hadn't really said what she thought.

"What did you say?" Christian asked dangerously. He had heard Desmond just fine.

Mel looked at Christian and he could see the answer written all over her face. He didn't need Desmond to repeat himself. He knew the boat was really gone.

"Mel." he whispered as he shook his head sadly. Suddenly anger clouded his features and he grabbed her wrist. His other free hand wrapped tightly around her throat.

"Tell me darling," he hissed. "What else have you been keeping from me?"

Tears came to Mel's eyes, "Nothing!" she cried.

Desmond came to her aid, "Let go of her!"

Christian ignored him, "I don't believe you."

"I'm sorry!" she whispered and Christian loosened his grip a fraction.

"What?" he asked.

"I just wanted my children safe. I didn't want to lie to you!"

Christian released her and pulled her close so their faces were only an inch apart.

"Then why did you?" he whispered.

Mel looked up into his eyes, "I only did it for William and Bella. I didn't want you and Jacob to be able to hold them over my head. But I'm still here. I'm still here with you!" she pleaded.

Christian looked back into her eyes as if trying to read her thoughts. Finally he sighed and kissed her forehead. "You are still her darling aren't you? You had the chance to leave. You could have gotten away but you didn't."

"Do you forgive me?" she asked.

Christian smiled, "I'm not happy about you keeping it from me, but yes, I forgive you. We have too much work to do to be upset with each other."

Mel smiled, "Thank you." Someone walking across the courtyard caught her eye and she looked meaningfully back at Christian. "Look, there he is."

Christian followed her gaze and saw John Locke walking with Lauren around the courtyard. He looked back to Mel and smiled.

"Go on." Mel pushed. Christian nodded and left her, making a beeline for Locke.

Mel nearly collapsed to the ground in relief that Christian hadn't just killed her. If he knew the truth that would the first thing he did.

Jack and Emma were paying attention to the interaction going on between Christian and Locke when Desmond came up to her.

"You've become quite a skilled actress, or should I say liar, love." Desmond spoke softly into her ear from behind her.

Mel turned her head a fraction of an inch, "I always have been Des. You of all people should know that."

"You've gotten youself into mess."

"I know, but at least my children are off of the island."

"Ben will keep them safe love." Desmond assured.

Mel looked at him fully over her shoulder, "You know a lot more than you are letting on don't you?"

"I'll take it my grave, rest easy."

"I know you'd never betray me Des. Thank you."

Mel looked back to Christian and Locke. "I may not be able to see the future but I can tell you one thing, we are about to have a huge Locke problem."