failegaidin

            Claire found the ring when they got back to the beach, and she knew. She knew that Charlie would never be coming back to her. Her gaze swept out across the ocean as she held a sleeping Aaron in her arms. The waves moved ceaselessly back and forth, an undulating grave for the man she had fallen in love with.

            She wanted to be angry with him. She wanted to hate him for sacrificing himself, for leaving her. But she just couldn't do it. The ring told her that he knew what would happen to him when he dove down to the underwater station – and he had gone anyway, willingly. She smiled a little at that. Whatever else could be said about Charlie, he was a hero.

            Footsteps approached her from behind, and Claire turned to find Hurley standing there. His eyes rested on the ring in her hand.

            "Guess he did it. Charlie. He saved us."

            Tears built behind her eyes as she nodded. "Yeah. He did."

            "I wanted to go with him and Desmond. But he wouldn't let me." Hurley's gaze moved out across the ocean, just as hers had only moments before. "He's gone, isn't he? That's why he wouldn't let me come with him. He knew he wouldn't be coming back."

            The emotion in his voice was her undoing, and tears began sliding down her cheeks. Gently, she placed Aaron in his crib and then turned back to face the man before her.

            "Yeah, Hurley. I think he's gone."

            His face fell as his own tears came. Claire watched him for a moment, her heart breaking for both of them. Then she stepped forward, wrapping her arms as far around him as she could and holding him tightly.

            They stood there for a long time, mourning for their friend. The only thing left to do now was remember him kindly, and wait for the rescue he had died to bring them.