The Woman from the Plane [Lost Fanfiction]

Chapter 27: Where the Heart Is

A light was on in the window of Ben's house. Valerie slowly drew her gun. "Just in case," she murmured.

Desmond turned off the flashlight and handed it to Frank.

"Slowly and quietly," Ben instructed. "Sun, why don't you stay here with Frank."

Desmond unzipped the duffel bag, taking a rifle for himself. "Take your pick," he told Sun, gesturing at the open bag. She frowned at him and selected a small handgun.

"Just in case," she said, repeating Valerie's words.

Ben led the way across the green to his house, shotgun at the ready.

At the door, he hesitated.

"Should we knock?" Valerie mouthed.

Ben peered into the window but couldn't make anything out. He shrugged at Desmond.

"Fuck it," Desmond said and rapped decisively on the door.

They stood with their backs against the wall, weapons drawn.

"What the fuck was that?" a woman's voice asked from inside.

"Shit," another woman said.

"Who's there?" a man's voice asked through the door.

"I should be the one asking that," Ben replied, "since you're in my house."

"Dad?"

Alex burst through the door.

The shotgun fell from Ben's hands and he threw his arms around her.

"Alex," he croaked. He held her as close as he could.

"Sun, Frank, it's alright," Valerie shouted at the woods. "It's Alex!"

They trudged up the path, Frank carrying the flashlight and Sun toting the bag of guns.

Alex pulled away from the hug and looked at her father's face, only to draw him back into another.

"I missed you so much," she told him.

He felt the tears in his eyes. "Alex, you have no idea how happy I am to see you."

"Come inside," she said. "All of you, please."

She led them into the kitchen. Karl stood in the corner, a stunned expression on his face.

"Claire, is that you?" Sun asked, rushing over to the blonde woman sitting at the kitchen table.

"Sun? What are you doing here? You left—you were free!"

"I came back," she replied. "Is Jin here?"

Claire shook her head, pulling Sun into a hug. "They all disappeared—I'm the only one left."

"Aaron is with your mother," Sun told her hurriedly. "Kate took care of him."

"Oh," Claire cried, and fell back into Sun's arms. "Have you seen him?"

"He's perfect," Sun replied, nodding. "I hope he'll meet my daughter one day."

They continued talking rapidly about all that had happened off the Island—and everything that had happened to Claire.

Ben locked eyes with Val as Alex hugged her. The reunion seemed to make Valerie almost as emotional as it had made him.

"Where's your mother?" he asked Alex gently.

She shook her head sadly. "She disappeared with the rest of them."