Illusions of the island *A LOST fanfic*

Chapter 43: Quality Time

The next day Hayley was sitting down to a late breakfast with Cara while she looked through a magazine for different costume ideas. She was letting Juliet sleep since they'd both gone to bed very late. A bowl of cheerios sat in front of her and as she took another bite, she turned the page on a fashion magazine. Cara made faces and poked at the picture on the page Hayley was looking at.

"Ew! She wears her sunglasses all wrong! Who wears sunglasses upside down?"

Hayley rolled her eyes at Cara and turned the page.

"It's called a fashion statement genius."

Juliet wiped the sleep from her eyes as she came into the kitchen. Reaching for a coffee mug in the cupboard, she poured some coffee in it. A little milk, two creams and one sugar and she was set.

"Hey you two, I don't want to hear you talking like that. Play nice."

Cara threw a piece of bacon at her dog Sparky and he caught it from the edge of the table.

"Good catch boy!"

Juliet frowned at Cara.

"Cara, we talked about that, no feeding the dog from the table honey."

Cara looked up at Juliet and then her eyes landed on her mid-section.

"Mama, are you having a baby yet?"

Juliet shook her head no and pulled Cara into her lap, kissing her forehead.

"No not yet Cara-bean. Hayley told me you wanted a little sister. So, that you wouldn't be the baby anymore."

Cara smiled as James came up next to them and started tickling her.

"Daddy! Stop it!"

The doorbell rang and Juliet placed Cara back in her spot so she could finish her breakfast.

"Finish your breakfast sweet girl."

Cara giggled and began again with her battle of getting the spoon into her mouth. A minute later, a smile spread across Hayley's face.

"Uncle Jack!"

Jack smiled at Hayley and ruffled her hair.

"How's it going Hayley?"

Hayley proudly held up the magazine to show Jack what she had planned for the day.

"Mama and I are going to make my dance costume for my dance competition next weekend."

Jack nodded and spoke.

"That sounds like fun."

He then turned his attention to Cara who had just made a little mess of cheerios on the kitchen table. Sitting down in a chair next to her, he helped her put the spoon of cheerios in her mouth. He watched her for a moment as she chewed and swallowed. Furrowing his eyebrows, he saw her posture and frowned some more. Taking Juliet by the crook of her elbow, led her out into the hallway.

"Juliet, how long has Cara been hunched over like that?"

Juliet sighed and her gaze wandered back to the kitchen.

"A couple of days. What's going on Jack?"

Jack putting a hand on Juliet's shoulder, gave it a quick squeeze.

"I'd like you to bring her in so I can get some more x-rays. Her condition seems to be deteriorating very fast and her motor skills aren't so great."

A crashing noise came from the kitchen and the sound of glass breaking. Then James voice carried out into the hallway.

"Juliet!?"