RP3 Part Two "One Year Later"

After a few weeks of seeing more and more of each other, Zoe started to realise she was starting to develop true feelings for Sawyer, which scared her, as everyone she seemed to love and get close too - something terrible always happened.

Zoe was sat outside. It was another bright sunny day as usual. Her babies were in a push chair together. She was having a picnic with Sawyer.

"I have something to ask you." Sawyer said suddenly as they were eating their lunch. Zoe paused in mid chewing of her sandwhich, eyeing him suspiciously. She swallowed the rest of her food quickly.

"What's up?" She asked a little nurvously. Sawyer grinned at her mysteriously, and took one of her hands, stroking it affectionatly.

"I thought maybe it's about time you moved in with me." He said to her gently. "You wouldn't have to live with Juliet anymore, and you always have the kids with you. It will be perfect!"

"Are you sure?" Zoe frowned slightl. "Don't you think we would be moving a bit fast? We've only been seeing each other for a few weeks." Sawyer leaned in and kissed her.

"I've never been so sure of anything in my life." He promised sweetly. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me. It would mean the world to me."

"What about Abbie and Charlie? You don't mind having them with us?" Zoe asked carefully.

"I would be more then delighted having them with us! They're your children, I could never expect you to abandon them. Besides, I like to think we all get on very well." Sawyer mused.

"Oh, you do! They love you!" Zoe assured him. "Well, okay then, let's do it. Only if you are really sure though." Sawyer kissed her again, and she knew that was his answer. She beamed delightedly. She was wrong, things could only get better.

"3 Weeks?" Sophie asked. Ben nodded. "Whats happening to me?" she asked. Ben looked away, he seemed to know something but couldn't tell her. "I'm part of Dharma aren't i?" she asked making Ben look at her surprised.

"Wh-What?"

"My dream. My vision whatever it was. I saw Christian and me as a baby in a hospital. He injected me with something. I picked it up and it was part of Dharma. Is it true? Am i part of them?"

"Yes...." Ben paused. "Your just an experiement to them..." he said in an angry bitter manner. "They have been watching you since you were a baby. Your family and friends had no idea. Neither did you. Thats why i brought you to the island. Too protect you from them. Then they found us......"

"Why do they want me?" she asked.

"Your powers Sophie. They caused it. Now they want to exploit it." Sophie sat there scared and worried. "I won't let them get you. I won't let them." he sat down and carresed her cheek. "Thats why Sayid was here. I've made a list and one by one the people who work for him.. Work for dharma. Will be killed."

"Then i want to help!" she said not really thinking straight.

Emma and Desmond had finished preparing their hideout, and had nothing left to do but wait for something to happen. She remained dutifully by Jack's side after the kiss on the beach and never spoke about it or her confused feelings towards Desmond. Desmond followed her cue and never mentioned it either, but the two would share meaningful, questioning glances whenever they saw each other.

At the same time, her feelings towards Jack grew significantly as her pregnancy progressed. Thankfully, Jack remained completely oblivious to anything stirring between Emma and Desmond. He was so attentive to her and the baby growing inside her that it made her feel guilty for even thinking about Desmond. He was grateful that Desmond had agreed to become Emma's protector and never imagined there might be more to it than a deep and lasting friendship.

Emma wondered herself if there really were more to it than friendship, or whether she had just been carried away in a romantic moment. It was only a kiss, she reminded herself. She was having a baby with Jack; how could she even contemplate going any further with Desmond? It would destroy Jack, as well as their chances for happiness when the baby came.

Still, Emma couldn't help but wonder what might happen when she and Desmond would be forced to spend time alone together when Christian's war began...

Mel walked into the house and found Christian sitting at the kitchen table. She set her gun down next to him, causing him to look up.

"Since when do you carry a gun?" he asked.

She didn't answer his question as she sat down across from him.

"I'm ready." she said, "I'll tell you everything."

Christian slowly closed the book he had been looking at and gave her his full attention.

Mel took a deep breath, "I've been lying to you." she admitted.

"I know that darling." he whispered.

She looked down, "I'm so sorry."

"Why don't you start at the beginning?"

"Okay." Mel nodded. "It was me who sent Ben away. I told him that you had orders to kill him and that he had to leave the island. He left with Sophie and Molly that night. He also took William and Bella."

At this Christian's head shot up, "You sent your children with him?" he said dangerously.

Mel felt tears sting the corners of her eyes, "Yes."

"You regret that don't you?"

"Very much."

"Go on." Christian pushed.

"Two months ago Ben came back here. He has a way to travel back and forth from the island. There is a hidden room behind the bookcase in his old house. He has passports and money. Everything in that room needs to be destroyed."

Christian's eyebrows rose as she continued to talk about Ben.

"I met him in the jungle, I told him what I knew about the purge and then I slept with him."

Christian stood abruptly, his chair clattering to the floor behind him, "You did what?" he roared.

"I know! I'm sorry! He still had that hold on me, it was like I couldn't resist him."

Christian came around the table and grabbed her left hand, "Does this mean nothing to you!" he yelled as he wrapped his hand around her ring finger.

"It does!" she cried. "Please, let me finish. When I'm done you can do whatever you want to me. Send me away, banish me, but let me finish."

"Fine." he spat and threw her hand down.

Mel took a shakey breath, "When Ben and I were done, he nonchalantly told me he was going to marry Sophie. I got upset and told him that the next time he came to the island he better bring William and Bella with him."

"And he didn't" Christian said. He'd been trying to warn her about Ben since they were married. Mel had finally begun to listen but now it was too late.

"No." Mel shook her head, "he didn't bring them back. I met him again, not five hours ago. He said that William and Bella were with their mother, Sophie. My children are calling that woman mother."

Christian could see her heart break and pulled her into his arms, "Darling. I'm sorry that William and Bella are not home like you hoped they would be. Can you admit now that Ben is not a man to be trusted? You have to let him go, for good."

Mel looked at Christian, "Oh I have. I am done with him for good, I promise you that. Seeing him out there today made me realize something that I have been blinding myself too for a long time."

"What is that?"

Mel kissed Christian softly, "That I love you Christian Shepard and I'm not going to let anyone or anything get in the way of that."

Christian smiled and hugged her tightly, "You don't know how happy I am to hear you say that darling. My love for you has always been true, you know that?"

"I know. Can you forgive me Christian? I've been a horrible wife."

Christian chuckled then his face got serious, "You're not pregnant with his child are you?"

Mel laughed, "Absolutely not! What a relief that was. Trust me my sweet husband, my next child is going to be a Shepard."

Christian laughed with her and scooped her into his arms, "I think we need to celebrate! The purge is mere days away and I finally have my wife all to myself."

Mel held on tight to him as he carried her into their bedroom.

"Darling?" Christian asked as they crossed the door frame.

"Yes love?"

"What did you do with Ben?"

Mel smirked as she pushed the door shut behind them, "I shot him."

Emma lounged on the couch and dozed contentedly. She was awakened by Jack when he appeared by her side with a tray of food.

"I thought you might like some lunch," he said. He placed the tray on the coffee table in front of her and joined her on the couch, tenderly placing his arm around her. "I'll admit, I make a better doctor than a cook, but I tried."

Emma grinned and struggled to sit up, her growing belly making it more difficult every day to do the simplest things. "It's so lovely, Jack." she replied. She was really touched.

Jack had been so loving and attentive lately, and she adored him more than ever. The recent peace in the village had allowed him to relax a little, and he wasn't as overprotective as he was in the beginning of her pregnancy. Emma had forced herself to forget her kiss with Desmond, and had been purposely avoiding him in recent days. She knew her future lay with Jack, and with their baby.

"You're about six months now. I was thinking maybe we could talk about baby names."

"That's a great idea!" Emma responded cheerfully. Then a sudden stab of fear made her blood run cold. Six months...Desmond had said it would happen when she was about six months pregnant.

"Jack," she whispered. "I think it's going to happen any day now."

Jack immediately understood what she meant. He stood up and helped Emma off the couch. "Then it's time to get you out of the village."

"Come with me!" she pleaded. "You don't have to be here when it happens. Your father promised he would keep you out of it."

Jack shook his head. "I've got friends here, Sawyer and the others...I need to be here for them. And I might be able to keep my father in check. You'll be in good hands with Desmond, I trust him completely."

Emma frowned. That's exactly what she was worried about.

Zoe held Sawyer's hand as they walked around the old camp on the beach, having stayed there for a couple of days, their first mini break together. It had been brilliant, having time to themselves alone. It was nice to get away from the village too. Away from people staring - especially with some of them still despising her - those who were loyal to Ben - for murdering Mikhail.

Zoe knew there were other issues too - like when she saw Mel around the village, walking around as if nothing had happened after she had killed her father. It was a relief to be back at the beach, so it all could be forgotten, just for a little bit. They could pretend they were some place normal, like a holiday beach.

Zoe glanced over every now and then to check on Abbie and Charlie who were soundly asleep as Sawyer and herself had walked along the shore and into the shallows of the sea for a gentle paddle.

"I wish we didn't have to go back." Zoe commented back. "To the village. The only other person I get on with really is Juliet - and Sophie. But I haven't seen her around for ages! I think she might have disappeared with Ben."

Sawyer held Zoe's hand and tugged her into his body to embrace her.

"We have to go back sometime." Sawyer said gently to her. "The left over Dharma food won't last long, and the showers are so much better back at the house. And since when did you care about what people thought about you?" Zoe shrugged, and hugged him back, both of them oblivious to the chaos going on back in the village.