Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk - Claire/Hurley - PG
Title: Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk
Rating: PG
Pairing: Claire/Hurley
Warning: None
Note: Also written for belladonnaluna at lost_hohoho and cult_ships.
“All done,” Rose announced cheerfully, packing away the last of the laundry that she, Claire and Hurley had been folding. Hurley slumped back against a tree, huffing out his relief and Claire let out a small chuckle at him. “Well, I’ll just pack this away. I’ll see you two later.”
“Bye,” Claire called after the older woman, taking a seat beside Hurley.
“If I never see laundry again, it’ll be too soon,” Hurley grumbled, a small pout forming on his lips. Claire laughed again, and soon a comfortable silence fell over them.
“Oh,” Claire piped up after a minute, “I forgot to say thank you for the peanut butter. It’s been so long, it was really nice of you to give it to me.” Claire was smiling when Hurley looked down at her and that made him smile at the blonde Australian.
“It was really no big deal,” he said casually. Claire seemed to pick up on his anxious need to change the subject and she nodded thoughtfully.
“So, uh, what did you get? You know, I got peanut butter, and Shannon got those yummy biscuits. And Rose got a chocolate bar. So what did you give yourself?” Claire asked curiously. Hurley squirmed, remembering what he had horded for himself in the hatch.
“Uh, well, back home my mom, she made the best chocolate milk. Like seriously dude, it was the best. She put in just the right amount of chocolate, and the milk was always the exact right temperature. Her chocolate milk is probably one of the things I miss most, after mom of course,” Hurley rambled. Claire nodded again, a small grin forming on her face.
“And, what exactly has that got to do with what you gave yourself?” Claire teased, causing Hurley to blush slightly and duck his head.
“Well, there was milk in the cupboard, as well as chocolate flavouring, but I’m not sure what to do with it. ‘Cause, I want it and all, but I don’t think I can make it like her’s,” Hurley explained. A knowing glint lit up Claire’s eyes and she pushed herself to her feet, offering her hand to a confused Hurley.
“Come on,” she urged.
“Dude, what the hell?” Hurley mumbled as Claire dragged him through the jungle. By the time they reached the hatch, sweat dampened their shirts and hair and Hurley was even huffing heavily. “Claire, what’s going on?” Claire shrugged and led him into the kitchen where Locke was sitting and working on a find-a-word.
“Claire, Hugo, what are you both doing here?” Locke asked curiously, sparing a short glance at them.
“We’re just using the kitchen John, we’ll only be a few minutes,” she assured, smiling shortly at him. “Hurley, can you go fetch the milk and chocolate flavour please?” Hurley shot her a fleeting look before wandering off to the cupboard. Locke looked up at Claire again, a small grin gracing his usually deadpan features.
“You’re making chocolate milk?” he asked delightfully, a spark of excitement in his eye.
“Yeah, for Hurley,” she said. Locke nodded knowingly and gathered up his books, saying he’d be in the lab. Hurley returned a moment later with the milk and chocolate flavour and Claire immediately set about making the chocolate milk.
“Look, I know I’m not your mum, but I am a mum, so maybe my chocolate milk will be good enough,” Claire explained nonchalantly, pushing back some blonde tresses that had fallen loose from her braid. Hurley’s face softened as he watched Claire measure and pour.
“Thanks,” he whispered. Claire stopped and stared up at him for a long moment, before leaning up and pecking him on the cheek.
“No problem,” she breathed against his cheek.
Silence blanketed them again while Claire finished making the chocolate milk. Three cups sat on the counter, looking delicious.
“God, that looks so good,” Hurley moaned, reaching out to grab his cup. As he gulped it down, Claire picked up the other two cups and wandered out to the lab. Locke looked up again as Claire placed the milk in front of the older man before heading back out to the kitchen where Hurley held his half-empty cup in one hand, the other hand clasped around the counter edge. He looked about ready to collapse with pleasure, and Claire giggled at the sight before her. “Dude, this is a million times better then my mom’s milk.” Claire sipped her own milk and nodded her agreement.
“Yeah, this is really good,” she agreed as the couple sat at the table. After a moment, Hurley looked up at his companion curiously.
“So, what do you miss? Y’know, from the real world?” he asked sipping his milk again. Claire pondered the question for a couple of moments, before her lips twisted in a teasing smile.
“Cigarettes,” she responded simply. Hurley gaped at her, causing her to laugh aloud at him. “Yeah, I know, it’s not very smart. I only smoked a couple of times, when I was much younger. But I guess being on a deserted island brings back old habits.” Hurley seemed to understand what she was saying, and he smiled slightly.
“Well, if Sawyer were here, I’d say we could ask him. Maybe Kate can help use raid his stash,” Hurley teased. Claire laugh again and reached over for his cup to take it to the sink. As she got up, she leant across and kissed Hurley smack on the lips, just a small peck, but enough to make Hurley’s rather large crush on her grow just that little bit more.
“Thanks,” she whispered, staring him in the eye for a long moment, before dipping down and kissing him again, this time a longer, sweeter kiss.
When Hurley pulled away, his eyes lingered on Claire’s soft lips. “You taste like chocolate milk,” he sighed blissfully. With a chuckle, Claire moved in for a third kiss, before moving over to the counter.
“And you taste like cigarettes.”