Charlie laughed a little. "Sawyer's not nearly as thin as me. He hoarded supplies, the wanker." Sawyer laughed, mentioning something about trying to share, but that Charlie wouldn't always eat. Charlie glared at him, turning around. "Let me go ask Karen if she wants to come, I'd love to go." A few minutes later, he returned, saying that she wanted to spend tonight with Meghan, and that the three of them should go. "That ok?"

"Well I'm okay with it." Liam answered turning towards Sawyer. "You're okay with it too?" Sawyer replied something about Mr Protective suggesting it and him not wanting to hurt anyone's feeling by turning down the invitation. You could hear the sarcasm and Liam did his best not to get angry. He wanted to get to know Sawyer, even if it only was for Charlie. And maybe that sarcasm was just something he had to accept about him.

"Fuck, Sawyer, I thought once we got off the island you'd have no reason to be just an asswipe." Charlie said with a hint of joking. Sawyer laughed, kissing him on the cheek, immediately apologizing for his attitude, saying that Liam could blame the American in him. Charlie smiled, trying to tell Liam that it really was ok, that Sawyer really was a good guy, just... strange. He really wanted this to work out.

"If it only is the American in him, I can live with that. He'd only have to live with me being a Brit. But he made it through more than a year with you, so I'm pretty sure he can." he said smiling. "Can't you?" he added looking at Sawyer. "And aren't we all strange in some way?" he added with a wink.

Charlie smiled, glad that they were getting along finally. He walked to his room to get a jacket, an old, worn band jacket he hadn't seen in almost two years, and slipped it on. It still fit. He walked back into the room, smiling, saying "where we gonna eat?"

"There's that new Asia place downtown, they've got everything, Sushi, Thai, all that stuff you loved." Liam said, not yet looking at his brother but getting his wallet. 'When you were eating at all.' he added in his thoughts. As he looked at Charlie finally Liam starred in near disbelief and swallowed. "Fuck Charlie, I last saw you wearing that jacket the day I left for Australia."

Charlie turned, looking at the back of the jacket. "Yeah, its been such a long time. I loved this jacket, remember? Always made me feel better." He hugged himself in it. This was so strange. It was like remembering a past life. Charlie smiled. It felt strange, but it was almost a good strange. Haunting, yes, but good. It felt so odd to be in his old clothes again, talking to Liam, going to a restaurant to eat, everything was so odd...

"Yeah, bloody long time." Liam agreed. He felt bad remembering those days. He knew he had done an awesome lot of shit he regret now. He regret almost everything. apart from the actual singing and the good days they spent all together as a band - and shagging his brother.

Charlie's stomach growled and he shifted his eyes. "Can we go by any chance? I haven't had Asian food in a long time. Or well... anything other than fish and fruit." He laughed, taking Liam and Sawyers hands, reaching up to whisper something in Sawyers ear, about more energy for more exciting activities that night.

"Have I ever seen you that willing to eat, Charlie?" Liam laughed. Heading out he shouted they were going so Karen would know and took the car keys. "How hungry are you? Would you rather walk for about half an hour or go there by car in five?"

Charlie shook his head. "Either way. The walk would be nice. I'm still feeling a little claustrophobic about cars. That ok Sawyer?" Sawyer nodded, bringing him close. "Yeah, I dunno, I have a whole new impression about food now. Its rare and wonderful."

"'Kay, that way." Liam said pointing to the left. It still felt awkward to see Charlie and Sawyer together, but Charlie was not his possession or something, and on the other hand he really felt happy for Charlie and hoped Sawyer really kept his word about not hurting him.

Sawyer never really hurt Charlie, at least, not in an 'I'm an abusive lover' way. He was an aggressive lover, and he seemed to enjoy giving pain during sex as much as Charlie liked receiving it. It felt good to be dominated. So yes, there were bruises and marks on his body from Sawyer, but he didn't mind them. He looked over at Liam. Hopefully, Liam would be interested in joining once and a while.

Walking downtown actually made Liam like Sawyer more than back in the house. Maybe it was because it was his house, his family and his brother he felt the need to protect. But getting to know Sawyer in another situation might help him a lot to warm up and when they'd be back later it would be just fine.

Sawyer smiled, saying that they didn't usually talk about their pasts. He laughed about how Charlie had always tried to see who were Driveshaft fans in the beginning, but that had faded off after two weeks or so. Charlie blushed. Sawyer then mentioned how he had first really grown to like Charlie after the hanging, and instinctively, Charlie's hand moved to his throat.

"So no prejudices." Liam said with a smile and a wink. "But - I know you were mentioning hanging before Charlie - but why? You really seem to have survived Hell."

Charlie zoned out as Sawyer held his hand and described the event the best he could. After all, it was a really complicated and confusing story. Charlie relived it though, as Sawyer spoke. He felt the rope being put around his neck, even though he couldn't see anything. He heard Claire. He tried to struggle. But he was trapped.

"You shot a man?" Liam starred at Charlie - shocked and surprised, but yet relieved his brother was still alive - after Sawyer told him about how they wanted to trap that guy who'd done that to Charlie.

Charlie brought himself back to the surface when he heard his brother’s voice. He was shaking a little. "Yeah, yeah, I shot a guy. A couple guys actually..." He said, staring off into the distance. He couldn't seem to focus his eyes. He still had a bit of post dramatic stress in him.

"Any 'nice' things been happening there? Or was it just killing, getting killed and trying to survive? I mean it was a fucking long time you were lost." Liam said, trying to avoid the memories it caused as he could see that it wasn't really doing Charlie any good.

Charlie smiled. "There were good times. Like the golf course we built, and the poker matches and such. Those were fun. But it was definitely worse than it was better... there was so much weird shit there. Bizarre really." He was rambling, he knew it. Whatever, it was ok. He could maybe get something sensible out of it.

"A golf course? How would you play? Did you build the clubs and take a coconut for a ball?" Liam asked and earned hard laughing from Sawyer and Charlie. Then Sawyer explained that they found the clubs and balls in the wreckage.

"We had lots of shit. Not all of it useful, but it worked out ok. I got really good at shelling coconuts though. Like, really good. That’s all I did for practically a week. We all learned really weird shit. Survival shit." Charlie smiled, thinking of the funny things they picked up. It was all so strange. The rescuers that had picked them up had been so amazed at how much everything had been developed, and people were filming with cameras all that the survivors had built.

Liam laughed. "Maybe you can even use some of that survival shit back in civilisation." Then he stopped. "We're here by the way." he said. With talking all the way they were so fixed on walking they nearly would have passed the restaurant.

"Got any coconuts?" Charlie asked, pushing open the door, holding it for Sawyer and Liam. After going in after them, he breathed in the smell of Asian food. God, He'd missed this. He smiled warmly at Liam, wanting to hug him just a little bit, before shrugging off the thoughts and following the waiter to a comfy booth.

"So how does it feel to smell actual Asian food again?" Liam asked his brother without actually excluding Sawyer from the question. It was hard to imagine how it would feel like after one and a half year without restaurants or stuff, without supermarkets, microwaves, without nearly anything at all.

Charlie smiled. "It feels really good. It smells so good. God, I can't believe I'm back." He said, breathing deeply. He looked around, picking up a menu. "Oh shit, do they have my favorite? I don't know how the Aussies do Asian food."

Liam laughed. "I think I saw it..." Liam said leaning over looking into Charlie's menu. "Here." He pointed at Charlie's favourite. "And they do it quite good." He added with a smile. "Didn't know my after shave smelled that nice." he whispered into Charlie's ear.

Charlie smiled, blushing. "I only used a little." It felt so weird to be clean shaven again. He'd always felt nervous, shaving with knives, especially after his masochistic days. He knew he'd grow the beard back, but for now, this felt really good and clean. The waiter came over, and Charlie let Liam order for him, and listened as Sawyer gave his own order. He sat back, viewing the table. Life felt surprisingly decent right now. He was clean, he was eating good food, and he felt cared about. Life felt good.

Life felt good, Liam thought. His brother was back, was alive, even kind of more alive than before, he was willing to eat without complaining. Although he was bone thin he made a better appearance than in their really bad days. Liam knew he'd fall for Charlie again, but how would Charlie react? And how Sawyer when he would know what had been going on between the brothers in the past.

Charlie met Liam’s gaze across the table, warm and friendly. Resting his head on Sawyer's shoulder just briefly, Charlie cracked a funny face, touching his tongue to his nose and spreading his eyes, a trick he hadn't done for years, since he was a teen. He started giggling to himself after, and Sawyer looked down only to look at him in bewilderment.

Liam chuckled. He hadn't seen Charlie doing that in ages and Sawyer's bewildered look was making it even funnier. "Be careful not to scare Sawyer away Charlie; He's too damn hot." Liam bit his lip. Did he just say that out loud? Well, fuck!

Charlie laughed loudly. Sawyer looked baffled, questioning Liam with his eyes. Charlie smiled, pulling sawyer's ear close to his mouth, whispering "He's ok, he's Bi. And a very good shag." Charlie winked, as Sawyer registered what he'd said. Sawyer gestured across the table at Liam, saying something inviting to Liam, and Charlie waited to see how his brother would react.

Liam swallowed and tried to get his thoughts straight. Then he decided to react with as cool as possible, saying: "Well, you can't have me at once. The girls mustn't know everything."

Charlie got up to use the restroom, leaving the two of them to sort out the details. He wasn't going to hide the fact that he had missed Liam, everything about him. He didn't miss the old Liam, the one that got him into the drugs and shite, but that Liam seemed to be no where in sight. He really wanted to be held by him, he'd missed that.

After they had had sort out details - such as when Karen was at work and Meghan in kindergarten - Charlie still wasn't back. Sawyer wanted to go look for him but Liam held him back. "I'll go, I haven't seen him in ages, thought he was dead, let me go." Sawyer didn't contradict on that. When Liam got into the restroom Charlie was standing at the sink looking into the mirror. Liam stepped behind him and wrapped his arms around him. "You okay Charlie?" He asked resting his chin on his brother's shoulder.

The restroom was empty, so Charlie turned around and let his lips slide over his brothers slowly, wrapping his arms around his neck. His tongue slipped through his brothers lips, and he pulled him as close as could be. "I missed you so fucking much, Liam." He sobbed, kissing him harder.

Liam's heart jolted. It felt so strange to be kissed by/kiss Charlie again. And still it felt so familiar. What was making it weird too was the fact that it was the first time since he had been clean. Held Charlie by the cheeks, wiping some dampness from Charlie's eyes with his thumb.

Charlie sat on the counter, pulling Liam to him. "This ok?" He whispered, kissing Liam's chin. "We won’t go any farther." He mumbled, pressing his face to Liam's hard chest. "I'm so sorry brother. I'm so sorry."

"For what? There's nothing you have done to be sorry for." Liam said. He stroke Charlie's hair and placed a soft kiss on his head. "Let's go back, shall we? Sawyer's waiting. And your meal might be as well."

"I should have been stronger. I should have quit when you had. I should have been able to fix myself, like you did." He slipped off the counter, holding on to Liam tightly before finally letting him go.

"You've always been stronger. I was just lucky to have had the chance for the big change. And you made it too. Just later than me." Liam squeezed Charlie's hand for a second. "You're fine and there's nothing to be sorry about. Everything happens when it's supposed to happen, it’s just fate."

Charlie smiled. Fate. Fate. So much came down to fate these days. He let Liam lead him back ot the table, smiling a little. When he got next to Sawyer in the booth, he immediately just jumped on him, like a little kid. Sawyer laughed and grumbled sarcastically as he caught him, telling him that he should stop sneaking drinks into the bathroom, which Charlie smacked him on the back of the head for suggesting.

They laughed a lot during their meal and Liam was happy he and Sawyer made it to get along. It was strange, he first met him just about hours ago and already Sawyer was the only person who "officially" knew about the special bond between Charlie and Liam. It slightly scared Liam, but he was sure Sawyer wouldn't tell, and more important, he didn't mind. At all.

Charlie turned to Sawyer. "We need to get you some work! You can't go on with your... 'old profession.' Charlie leaned in to Liam, saying softly so that the other tables couldn't hear. "Sawyer was a conman... we need to find him some decent work. Can you help him?" He sat back. "Fuck, I need to either get writing again, or find work too!"

"You could do both for the beginning, Charlie. I'm sure you will make it. You'll be great." Liam said with a smile proving he meant it. "As for both of you. You going to stay here? Australia I mean. We can start looking up the papers for work tomorrow."

Charlie sat back. "Yeah, I don't know. Since your not really doing the whole band thing anymore, Liam, I was thinking of going solo... would that be ok? I've been trying out new styles since we crashed and stuff... I don’t really know yet, I've just been thinking about it..." He said, sipping his beer.

"That's exactly what I meant. You going solo that is. And hell yes, it is okay! You're going to be great. I'm already your biggest fan." Liam laughed. "Well, you know, I've always been." He added with a wink. "Have you had a chance to hear him?" He asked Sawyer.

Charlie shook his head. "Only acoustic, and I usually only played when I was by myself. Easier to concentrate. Its not really the same either, as playing like I'd really be playing. Does that make any sense???" He said, laughing, knocking his head against the table. "Shit, I'm tired."

"It makes sense I guess. But yeah, we should finish and go so you can get sleep. Or whatever. You had a hard day I take it." He took some last bites of his dish. "Would you mind if I let Sawyer listen to some of our rehearsal tapes?"

Charlie took a few more bites of his food. It tasted so good, but he kinda lost a little satisfaction from not making it himself. He was so used to putting in all the work of making meals, that having it made for him was a bit strange. "No, yeah, you can let him listen. If he wants."

"So, Would you?" He asked Sawyer. "I won't let you hear me though. No need for that." He added rolling his eyes. Sawyer laughed saying something about displeasedness and no need to be shy but that he would like to hear what Charlie used to do before the crash.

Charlie smiled. What he did before the crash was all behind him. This was his own fresh start. He was going to break free from who he used to be, in every way but one. The one thing that would stay would be the music. He leaned his head back, watching his brother and lover talk. This was going to be so cool. He got a second chance at life.

Liam and Sawyer talked some more and Liam had to stop himself before he would have been fan-"girling" his own brother. It was some good time later when Liam paid and the three of them left, walking home again.

Charlie sagged and swayed as they walked. He was completely drained. Sawyer kindly helped him walk, asking if he wanted to be carried, but Charlie refused. He may have been tired, but he had pride still. He looked over at Liam, smiling stupidly. "Hey Liam." He said randomly. He felt drunk, after only one beer. This was madness.

"Love, you're drunk! You shouldn't have started with beer after a year of drinking nothing but water." It felt so weird for Liam. Before he had left for Sidney they were both drinking very much and when they were together they always had at least one beer. So know Charlie was drunk from one beer and he had been dry for years now and it just felt weird.

Charlie shook him off. "I'm not drunk, I swear. I think I'm just really tired, and really overwhelmed." He flopped against Sawyer. "I'm really not drunk. I promise. This doesn't feel like drunk drunk. It just feels weird."

"Shouldn't we better get a taxi?" Liam suggested. "You need to sleep! Like NOW! And get an aspirin before you sleep. Just in case!" Liam helped Sawyer steady Charlie.

Charlie shook them off angrily. "I'm fine Liam. Really. I'm just fine. Let’s keep walking." He walked ahead a few paces leaving them baffled in his footsteps, before he started to waver again. The world spun, and he felt it falling away. "Shit"

Liam and Sawyer looked at each other shocked before they ran over to Charlie. Sawyer asked if they shouldn't get an ambulance but Liam told him: "No, he'll be fine, just let's get him home." Sawyer agreed mentioning they went through a lot more without ambulances. So Liam got them a taxi and they both carried Charlie up to the guestroom when they were at home.

Charlie felt like the plane was crashing all over again before waking up to see his family and Sawyer pouring over him. Meghan sat at his side, holding his hand, asking if he was ok. Charlie tried to sit up, looking around. "What happened?"

"You passed out, stubborn!" Liam told him. Sawyer handed Charlie a glass of water with aspirin and Meghan told Charlie that he should rather go to bed if he was tired than trying to walk home, or let someone carry him like she did all the time. Liam laughed at Meghan's comment. "See Charlie, the girl's wiser than you are."

Charlie moaned and rolled over, blushing. Dammit. "Sorry Liam. I guess I just... didn't realize." He reached for Sawyers hand, pulling him down next to him. "Did I scare you?" He said. "I'm sorry if I did." He flashed a wary look at Meghan and Karen, still not sure if they knew he was gay. How to explain that to a child? He snuggled under the blankets. "Sorry Li."

"It's okay. Just go to sleep now. I'll see you in the morning." Liam told Charlie. "I was hoping you left the stubbornness on the island. Sawyer I'll get you the other blanket from the other room. "He said, walking out of the room taking Karen and Meghan with him. Looking at Karen he knew he had something to explain tonight. And tomorrow to his daughter what might be more complicated but he hoped for Charlie and Sawyer to help him then.

Sawyer wrapped his arms tightly around Charlie, and Charlie buried his head against his lover’s chest. "I never really explained to them that I'm gay. Its not exactly something you bring up at family reunions, even though we never had those. Maybe I waited too long." Sawyer shushed him, kissing his nose and chin, trying to comfort him, telling him to sleep. He felt warm and cozy against Sawyer, and he felt himself dozing off.

After he had brought Sawyer the blankets Liam made ready for bed himself. As soon as Karen returned from bringing Meghan to bed he was asked if he had known about Charlie's preference in males and for how long. He told her truthfully he had known since Charlie was about 18 and talked to her about it some more and was glad when he recognized she was really okay with it, only sad no one told her before. So they went to sleep themselves soon too.

Charlie awoke in the middle of the night to feel lips on the back of his neck. He moaned at the soft sensation, curling back into Sawyer. Feeling the bulge in the man's boxers, he sighed. Turning around, he kissed Sawyer full on the lips, letting their tongues tangle momentarily. He pulled away only long enough to remove his shirt, nudging Sawyer to do the same. Rolling on top of Sawyer, he kissed him, drawing a soft moan from him.

Liam woke up from a strong urge to go to the toilet. He snuck out of the bedroom and went the few doors down to the loo. Going back to his bedroom he stopped as he thought he heard something. And after listening for some seconds he knew what he had heard. But despite his better knowledge he stayed, listening for more.

Charlie busied himself with Sawyer's neck, nipping gently, before Sawyer took control, flipping him over with such force that Charlie cried out a little. Sawyer proceeded to bite hard on various parts of Charlie's body, making him whimper and squeal in pain and enjoyment. It probably sounded really harsh, but as Sawyer grabbed his wrists, he found he didn't really care all that much.

As Liam heard Charlie cry out and whimper his first thoughts were that Sawyer was hurting Charlie too much for Liam's taste. But then again he remembered Charlie telling him he liked it like that. And listening to it, Liam came to think that maybe Charlie was right, it might be really good actually. Liam came to think of how he might want Sawyer to do him.

Sawyer bit down on the chords of Charlie's neck. Hard. Charlie couldn't help it, he yelled. Not loud enough to wake anyone, but definitely loud enough to be noticed. Shit, that actually hurt. He panted hard, wheezing. "Shit Sawyer." He said, clawing at the man's back. He was a little disturbed by the intensity of his lover, but something told him that hearing about Liam and Charlie may have sparked a kind of jealous desire inside Sawyer.

Liam was having a hard time keeping himself from bursting into the room see what was happening to his brother. It started to bother him, but he couldn't, for the hell of it, go in there. But still he somehow wanted to make himself noticed. And something else started to bother him as well; the building up bulge in his boxers. Adding all this, he got an idea of what to do. He went back into the bathroom and slammed the door. He knew it could be heard in the guestroom.

Charlie sat up suddenly, causing Sawyer to move to the side to avoid a head butt. Charlie ushered his lover off of him, standing up quickly. "Shit..." He whispered, sticking his head out the door. "Liam?" He whispered again, surprised at seeing his brother standing in the hallway. He made sure it wasn't completely obvious that he had just been about to have sex (and hopefully still would) before coming into the hallway, a little embarrassed at his hard on, but hoping it may encourage Liam to join. The bite on his neck was bright red and noticeable, and really very painful.

Liam breathed in deeply, deciding to pretend that he knew nothing. "I... I'm sorry, didn't wake you, did I? Just been... er... bathroom." He stammered, pointing behind himself at the door he had slammed just seconds before. It felt weird to lie at Charlie - well, not actually lying, but not telling the whole truth - and excusing himself for doing things in his own house. "Er... what the...?" He said, pointing at the bright red spot on Charlie's neck.

Charlie ran his fingers over the bite and hissed. "Yeah, like I said... possessive." Charlie mumbled, stepping closer to Liam. "Look, don't pretend you didn't know what was happening. You’re a shit liar." He grabbed Liam's hand, nudging him closer to him. "Do you want to see what we were doing, Li?"

"Charlie, please, don't." Liam began. He was dangerously close to Charlie. He was feeling his breath on his neck. "I... I can't." His greatest fear was that he would endanger his life, his job his marriage if Karen found out. And she was only some meters away. But on the other side his resistance for his brother was very little. "That's madness." he stated before his lips touched Charlie's.

Charlie smiled against Liam's lips. He pulled his brother into the bedroom with him. Sawyer looked up smiling, with only a small look of surprise on his face. Charlie smirked jokingly at him, saying "got him." before walking over to Sawyer, kissing him hard. "Just be quiet..." he mumbled, holding a hand out to Liam.

Liam felt definitely out of place, awkward. He took Charlie's hand, entwining their fingers, so he felt at least a bit more comfortable.

Charlie moved to allow Liam to sit on the bed, sitting across from him. "you don't have to do this." He said softly, kissing his brother softly on the lips. "You can go back to your room and pretend you never saw us, you didn't want this, and continue being the fantastic Dad you've always been." He kissed him lightly again. "Or, you can spend this time with us, and go back to your bed afterwards, and still be the fantastic Dad you've always been." He moved back to Sawyer, kissing his thoughtful lips, giving Liam time to think it through.

It was mad, having to think that through. If he would be really reasonable he wouldn't think for long but just leave at once. But he wasn't very reasonable when it came to Charlie, was he? He ran his hand over Charlie’s chest. Why did Charlie have to be his brother? And why did he have to be that sexy? "Why?" he whispered against Charlie's neck.

Charlie moaned. He leaned back against his brother. "Because fate hates us." He said mid-shiver. Sawyer moved towards Charlie too, running his hands over the youngest man's chest before offering his lips to Liam, giving him the choice to further this more.

Liam accepted Sawyer's lips with only little hesitation. He was in this now so why hesitate for longer? Sawyer felt rough. But it felt good. It felt really good. He ran his other hand over Sawyer's side. He was shuddering from sensation.

Charlie watched as Sawyer and Liam kissed, heat building in his stomach. Sawyer played with his nipples roughly, tweaking them in painful ways and making Charlie arch back into Liam's lap. He shuddered, whimpered, and began to kiss Sawyer's neck softly. He worked himself loose from the tangle, lying back on the pillows, watching with content eyes.