Part 430: Proposals

The group had moved from the dining area to the massive living room. They had gathered around, trying to find spots to sit. McKay was on the couch, laughing as he relaxed against the seat with a cold rag on his forehead. Taylor was by his side, happy that someone close to him being pregnant was the only thing that could make him faint. The bald Australian was just overjoyed at the prospect of being a father. He was always a father figure to many but now, it was going to be his own flesh and blood.

After the majority of the group started to get settled, Hal took a gulp of his egg nog and then set it aside. He wiped his mouth, then calmly stood up. “Can I have everybody’s attention?” he clapped his hands.

The group slowly became silent and looked at the cop. He casually stuck his hands in his pockets. He looked to Dutch who was barked on the floor with Karleigh, using the couch as a back rest. He looked to all his friends who stood by him, on the Island and here in the states. Hal smiled and then sighed, looking at them all. “I have an announcement to make,” he grinned, “My captain . . .Marco Ramos, has told us he is retiring from the force. He . .uh . . .he asked for successor and . . .he named me. After long consideration, I accepted.”

“Whoa,” Dutch stammered.

“Captain Hal Mancuso,” Chance laughed, “It’s got a nice ring too it.”

“Thanks, Chance,” he patted him on the shoulder, “It took me along time to think it over.”

“I should say so,” Ana-Lucia raised an eyebrow, “You’ve always been a street cop, Hal. Why would you want to be stuck behind a desk?”

“For many reasons, Ana,” he told her.

“I’ve got a question, Captain,” Libby said with a smirk, “Why didn’t you tell your live in girlfriend?”

Hal laughed at her comment, along with everybody else. The cop strode over to her and smiled down on her; love filling his heart. “I didn’t tell you because of my other reason,” he said with a grin, “I thought for a while that you might stop me.”

“Stop you?” she raised an eyebrow,” Hal, I’ve always supported your career, you know that.”

“I know,” he said, then getting on one knee in front of her, “Which is why I wanted to insure that I’d be able to watch every sunrise with you for a long time.”

The crowd started to cheer at the position he just took. Libby gasped at the stance and quickly placed her hand over her chest; feeling the rapid heart beat. “Hal . .why . .why are you standing like that?” she stammered.

Hal then reached into his side pocket and pulled out a small blue box. Dutch then cheered them on, laughing at it. Ana-Lucia started to clap heavily. Libby was drawn to tears at the sight of it. Hal opened it over, revealing the engagement ring. He removed it from it’s holder with in the box and placed it on her finger. Libby laughed as tears began to flow from her eyes. “Libby, will you ma-“ Hal tried to say.

The therapist interrupted him by grabbing him by the cheeks and planting a massive kiss on his lips. She held onto him, not caring who saw how much she loved him. Flower and Andra giggled but this time it was for different reasons. Ana-Lucia laughed and clapped at the display before them. “I’d say that was a Yes.” She laughed.

After their momentary make-out session, Hal joined her on the couch and Libby held onto him. She laughed as she slapped Flower’s hand away as they were pretending to console her for her upcoming marriage. Joscelyn tucked in her dress and stood up so the group could see her. She smiled as he pushed a strand of hair back from her head. “It would seem Hal has stolen the show,” she laughed, “But since he started it out, as hostess to the party, it’s my job to finish it. Is there any other guy here . . .who’s got something special to ask his lovely lady by his side?”

The group then started to look around. Jack pointed toward Sawyer who was sitting next to the fireplace and the redneck pointed right back at him. Everybody laughed at the humor that went with the question. Then Sayid sighed and slapped his knees as he got off his seat. “Sayid?” Shannon immediately asked.

The Iraqi just smiled as she stood before her, then slowly got down on one knee. “OH, MY GOD, OH, MY GOD!” the tall blonde stammered with her hands over her mouth.

Sayid then pulled out his own small black box and opened it up. “Shannon,” he smiled, “Five years ago, I was a lost man. On that island, we found each other. Now, I want everybody to know how much you mean to me. Shannon . . .will you marry me?”

“Yes,” she laughed as she embraced him with a kiss.

“These people need to stop this.” Marita said, wiping her tears as proposals always made her cry.

Shannon kissed Sayid and held onto him. He had made her a happy woman the past five years and was even more happy that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Andra smiled and wiped her own tears. Never had she seen two people who deserved each other. The group applauded for them and offer their congratulations.

After the display for Sayid and Shannon was over, the group began looking around for whoever was next. Then Charlie coughed as he got up and turned to face Claire. The blonde Australian was flabbergasted, feeling weak in the knees all of a sudden. The musician then calmly got on one knee and looked at her. “Claire, I don’t have any magic peanut butter to offer you this time,” he smiled, “But these past five years have been magic to me. Thank you . . for supporting me in my career. You’ve made me a happy man. I now want to be your happy husband.”

“Charlie,” she stumbled, wiping her tears, “But . .but . .but . . .your career . . .”

“My career is my life but it’s you, Claire. You’re the one that gives it meaning. Please . .tell me you’ll be my wife.”

Claire then placed both her hands on the box. She closed her eyes, trying to hold back her tears. She didn’t have the strength to say Yes; she merely shook her head in agreement. The group applauded their reaction to one another. She stood up and wrapped her arms around the singer’s neck. She kissed him passionately and then held onto him; not wanting to let him go. “I love you, Charlie Pace.” She whimpered.

“I love you, Claire Littleton.” He kissed her on the cheek.

“Mommy?” Aaron asked from the doorway.

Charlie and Claire parted from each other to see the boy that he helped raise standing next to the entrance of the living room. He had made a pit stop to the kitchen to get some desert and saw the whole display. “Mommy, what’s going on?” he asked.

Claire laughed, wiping her tears. “Charlie just ask me to marry him and I said yes.” She giggled.

“Marry you?” the little boy replied.

Charlie raised an eyebrow at the hesitation. Even Eddie was slightly concerned. The little boy then placed his small plate of cake on an nearby end table. He was staring at them both; tears streaming down his face. The singer took one step forward. “Aaron, are you . ..are you okay with this?” he asked.

The little boy whimpered, looking at the ground. He then looked back to the singer. “Does this mean . . . .does this mean I get to call you Daddy now?” he cried.

The singer’s heart nearly broke. He and Claire helped raised Aaron. He was always a smart boy and due to his upbringing, always called Charlie, by Charlie; nothing else. Charlie then wiped his own tears and smiled. “Yeah, that’s what it means, Aaron,” he grinned.

The little boy then ran the distance of the living room and embraced Charlie’s legs. The singer held onto him and seeing the whole display made Claire embrace them both. They were a family but now, they were a family in the true sense of the word. Seth clapped his hands and stood up. “That’s right,” he agreed, “That’s the way it should be.”

Everybody else applauded because they agreed. They couldn’t imagine not seeing Charlie without Claire or Aaron. As the new Pace family finally parted from one another, Joscelyn wiped her tears from all the joyous moments she was witnessing. Hurley teased a bit but she just mischievously slapped his hand away. “Anybody else?” she asked.

There was a moment’s silence that watched over the crowd. They were all eagerly awaiting the next couple to take the plunge. One or two people pointed toward Micheal and Yolanda but they just laughed it off. Then Dutch gently rested his head on Karleigh’s shoulder. The keyboardist looked at him briefly and just smiled. Then she looked back at him when she realized he was not removing his head from her shoulder and he was flashing his near famous “puppy dog” eyes. “Dutch?” Karleigh whispered.

“I got nothing I can give you, Karleigh,” he whispered, “I’m just a son of a fisherman who rose up from what he had to make something of himself. I don’t have anything to give but my undying love.”

A few of the other survivors heard their conversation and looked their way. The rich girl from New York looked at the surfer and laughed a little bit. She smiled as she gently touched his cheek. “That’s all I ever wanted, Dutch,” she told him.

The guitarist then pulled out a small violet box with a red ribbon wrapped around it. Karleigh took it and smiled; gently removing the bow and seeing the lovely engagement ring underneath. She could hear her friends cheering her on as she placed the ring on her finger. “No regrets, Karleigh?” the surfer asked.

“No regrets,” she agreed. She leaned over and kissed him.

The group then applauded them for their wonderful moment. They always knew that those two would wind up together; almost as if it was fate. Hal and Libby were the ones who were most proud because they viewed them as an adoptive son and daughter. The survivors applauded each other, and then were interrupted by a loud crying. The crying became to the point of almost wailing. They turned toward the sound of the distress and were surprised to see it was Eddie’s girlfriend Bonnie.

The redhead had buried her head in his shoulder and was crying profusely. Eddie held onto her, trying to comfort her best he could. He understood why she was so upset. She loved Eddie and that love was proven time and time again. She knew she had no chance with Dutch but to witness first hand, her fantasy being shattered was more than she could bare. “Is she . . .is she all right?” his mother asked him.

“She’s fine,” Eddie stroked her hair as she continued her wailing, “She’s just . . .overcome with joy.”