Gwen Havers

[Gwen Havers]

Name: Gwendolyn “Gwen” Havers

Age: 28

Occupation back home: Flight Attendant for Oceanic Air

Appearance:





Nationality: British

Residence: Los Angeles, CA

Skills: people skills, diplomacy, adaptable, analytical, basic first aid, knowledge of airplane and passenger procedures

Weaknesses/bad habits: anxious, too trusting, lacking self-confidence, not physically strong or particularly agile (bit of a klutz), lives in the shadow of her more successful sister

Frequent moods/expressions: supportive, protective, optimistic, patient, calming

Reason for flight: was in Sydney attending the wedding of her sister; planned to stick around after the ceremony, but chose to take a shift on a flight to LA in order to escape her overbearing family

Item from wreckage: overnight bag with one change of clothes, make-up, sunscreen, reading glasses, crossword puzzle book and pencil

[Gwen Havers]

Flashback triggered from here:
abclost.proboards40.com/index.cgi?board=rpggame&action=display&thread=1156704114


***FLASHBACK***

New Year’s Eve, 2003 (soon to be 2004)
Somerset, England

Gwen closed the French doors behind her, welcoming the relative silence of the patio. The inside of her parents’ estate was still echoing with raucous laughter and celebration as everyone toasted the happy couple, Helena and Neil, on their impending nuptials. As her eyes adjusted to the dimming light, she saw her brother, Julian, reclining in one of the patio chairs, a glass in one hand and their father’s brandy decanter in another. He held the bottle up towards her with a questioning look, and she nodded emphatically.

She took the glass he offered and sat in a nearby chair.

“So…” he began, his hands forming the words in sign language. He’d been deaf since birth and even though the rest of the family had learned enough for basic communication, Gwen was the only one committed to having full conversations with him. It was like their own secret code. “Our sister’s getting married?”

“It would seem that way,” she signed in response.

“He’s kind of a jerk.”

“I totally agree.”

“Loads of money, though. He can keep Helena living in the manner to which she has become accustomed.”

“And God help him if he doesn’t,” she responded, sharing a laugh.

Julian leaned forward in his chair. “They’re all proud of you, too, Gwen.”

“Yeah, for about five seconds till Helena decided to deliver her good news.”

“Who cares? You have a nice house, nice friends, a job that you love with a promotion now, and that guy…what was his name?”

“Nathan. And no, that didn’t work out.”

“Gwen!”

“What? I tried. I really did try. But it didn’t work out.”

“You’re hopeless.”

“Not all of us can have stable relationships, baby brother,” she declared. “By the way, Sharon’s very nice.”

“She is, isn’t she? And she’s obviously got good taste in men. She did pick me, after all.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Are you sure she’s of sound mind?”

“Sod off.”

She giggled and took another drink of brandy.

“Gwen, I’m glad you came back for the holidays.”

“Me, too,” she replied. “Still don’t have anyone to kiss at midnight, though.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll kiss you.”

“Thanks, but that would be weird.”

“Yeah, I guess it would be weird. But the offer still stands.”

“Thanks, but no thanks.”

He held up his glass. “To 2004. May it be full of pleasant surprises.”

“I’ll drink to that,” she agreed, clinking glasses with him and smiling.

***END FLASHBACK***

[Gwen Havers]

The Havers Family photos...

Name: Julian Havers (younger brother)

Occupation: Photographer

Appearance:


Name: Helena Havers (younger sister)

Occupation: Lawyer

Appearance:


Name: Edward Havers (Dad)

Occupation: Real Estate Agent

Appearance:


Name: Carolyn (Mum)

Occupation: Housewife / Professional Hostess

Appearance:

[sugarplumfairy100]

Aww, nice idea that she knows Sign Language for Grace. Nice flashback aswell

[Gwen Havers]

Flashback triggered from here:
abclost.proboards40.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=rpggame&thread=1156704454&page=11


***FLASHBACK***

Cornwall, England
Summer 1992

The annual Havers Family holiday by the sea. This particular summer, Gwen was feeling all the awkwardness of being fifteen. Braces on her teeth, spots on her face, no natural grace or rhythm to any of her movements. She dreaded going back to school, but at least she could banish the thought for a few more days while they were here on the coast.

She looked out at the waves as a few surfers managed to stay upright, though most went flailing ungracefully into the water. The fishing boats moved slowly across the horizon, and every now and then a bird would dive down on its own fishing mission. She felt a tap on her shoulder and smiled up at her younger brother, Julian, as he sat down beside her on the sand.

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” he asked, in sign language.

She nodded and signed back. “Yes, it is.”

“Helena is already flirting with the concessions vendor,” he relayed.

“Well, you know what that means. Free Cornettos for the rest of the week.”

They both threw up their hands in mock celebration and laughed.

“What does it sound like?” he asked Gwen.

“What do you mean?”

“Tell me what it sounds like,” he insisted.

“The same as it does every year. There’s waves crashing, some splashing, people laughing, birds squawking, fishing boats…”

He considered her description. “It sounds terribly dull.”

“It really is. You’re not missing anything.”

He tried to get her attention away from the water again. “Mum and Dad were fighting the whole way here.”

“No, they weren’t,” she assured him.

“I’m deaf, Gwen, not blind,” he declared.

She shook her head. “They were just…having an animated discussion.”

“About me.”

“It wasn’t about you.”

He tilted his head at her. “You’re a very bad liar. With your hands, and with your eyes.”

“Okay. But it wasn’t all about you.”

“It’s the school, isn’t it? They think it’s too expensive?”

“They want you to have a good education, Jules. They’re just not sure if they want you to go all the way to Cambridge for it.”

“But it’s the best school for deaf children in the country. I’m tired of being the odd one out, of not fitting in. I’d be with other kids like me.”

“I know that’s what you want. And Mum and Dad will find the money if they think that it’s really the best thing for you…”

“Oh, yes, Heaven forbid Mum would have to actually put in an honest day’s work so that her hearing-impaired son could go to a school with teachers that actually know how to speak to him.”

“Julian, that’s unfair. Mum would gladly take a job if that’s what it would take to make you happy.”

He threw her an incredulous look.

“Okay, we both know Mum will never work another day in her life,” she agreed. “But they do want what’s best for you. You believe that, right?”

He nodded.

“Plus, I would miss you terribly if you went away.”

“I guess I would miss you, too.”

She gasped in mock offense and playfully punched him in the arm.

“Gwen, if I went to that school, I’d work really hard. And I’d do really well.”

“I know you would, sweetie. But look, we’re on holiday and we’re not allowed to talk about work or school or other boring things. We’re here to get sunburnt, and eat too many sweets, and spend money on rubbish that we don’t need, and annoy people by pretending to be aloof French tourists.”

“Very good plan.”

“I’m glad you agree.”

“Hey, let’s go see if Helena’s made any progress with the guy who runs the lemonade stand.”

“Oh, I hope so. I’m famished.”

***END FLASHBACK***

[Hollywood Heidi]

Another great flashback! I love your dialoguing and descriptions. Felt like I was watching it.

[Gwen Havers]

Well, that's the highest compliment a humble writer could hope for. Thank you, ma'am. ;D

[LostLuverJemmz]

I agree and Julian is so funny. I'm from Cambridge, or near it in a place called Ely.Very small town. Anyway Yeah sibling rivalry is always a pretty fun thing to do. Didn't mean to copy you. Didn't realise, sorry. Anyways nice flashbacks. Now I know more about Gwen. Yay!

[ana]

I love the relationship between Gwen and her brother. It seems so genuine, like Heidi says, I read it like i'm watching it. Nice work lady

[Gwen Havers]

Pearl and I discussed this flashback over MSN. We don't have a trigger point for it yet, so just enjoy some further insight into Gwen as she meets a relative of another Flight 815 survivor...

***FLASHBACK***

Oceanic Flight 416
NonStop LAX to Sydney
September 2004

The plane was a few hours out over the Pacific, and Gwen was patiently pushing the beverage service trolley through business class, stopping to ask everyone if and what they wanted to drink. She'd always noticed that the over-water flights made people more partial to alcohol, so she gladly obliged the more nervous-looking passengers their mini bottles.

Aaron Parker was sitting in the outer row of business class right on the seat towards the hallway. The window seat next to him was vacant, although he didn't want to change seats for anything in the world. He was quite comfortable where he was. Sweating just a little and moving at nearly normal speed. He never liked flying...even his first flight in anything but economy class didn't change that.

He pulled out his wallet to distract himself a little. He skipped through his credit cards, all of them expired, time to throw them in the small trash bin in his armrest. Then he came over a picture of his sister, looking at it for a moment, stopping to act crazy about this narrow cabin.

Gwen’s foot tapped the lever to stop the trolley beside a man with sandy blonde hair. "Can I get you anything, sir?" she asked, smiling pleasantly.

The guy looked up at her, surprised. He instantly packed the picture back in his wallet and squeezed it in the backpocket of his old jeans. Besides his good looks he did not look like the normal crowd around in business class.

"Well..." he hesitated. "I know this is kind of a lot to ask...but are those for your personal use?" He pointed towards the small bottle Gwen kept for special guests under a towel on the trolley. His forehead was lovely frowned and a boyish smile appeared on his lips.

She followed his gaze to the bottle and then observed the attempt at charm on his face. "Not my own personal use, sir. No," she replied. "But if you'd like a drink to settle your nerves, I can gladly accommodate you with something that doesn't break FAA rules."

"I don't do kerosene...sorry. But a whiskey would be fine. And a place where I can put those." Aaron smiled at her sorrily, holding the credit cards in his hand.

"Maxed them out on Rodeo Drive, did you?" she inquired, with a sly grin, taking the cards and putting them in the rubbish bin of the trolley. She got out a whiskey bottle and a plastic cup. "On the rocks or no?"

Aaron laughed silently about that shopping joke. Like he would have ever bought anything useless. "Actually I had been glad to get them back once they had been rejected in a gas station on Route 76. The owner wasn't pleased, I can tell you! So, just plain it is. No fancy ice to make it weak."

She nodded, reminded of her father for a moment. "Whiskey, straight up it is then." She poured the drink into the cup and began to hand it to him. "So did you have to wash dishes to pay for your gas, or were you able to charm your way out of having to pay?"

This lady was becoming likeable more and more. "You really think I'm charming?" Aaron tried his brightest smile.

Gwen laughed slightly and looked away. He certainly had a confident air, but it wouldn't be the first time a passenger had tried to sweet-talk her into giving them preferential treatment. "I think that you think you're charming. And that's the important thing, isn't it?"

"Very wisely chosen words I have to admit." Aaron nodded. His hand reached out for the drink. Right at that moment, the plane made a slight bump...a really slight bump. But just enough to let Aaron twitch just as much as he certainly didn't want to in front of that nice lady. Unfortunately, the drink went down just like Aaron thought the plane would. His lap was suddenly cooled off.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" she said quickly, as the drink spilled in a sudden bout of turbulence. "Totally my fault!" She handed him a towel. So much for the steady hands she tried to maintain even on the bumpiest flights. She moved the trolley out of the way in case he wanted to get up.

"Sweet mother of crap!" Aaron cursed slightly, instantly realizing that she must have heard it. Well, he was hanging out with truckers and construction workers lately. He had jumped up only to bang his head against the ceiling. "What the fu--..."

This time he had it barely under control. "Look, it's my fault." he sighed deeply. His pulse getting down again. "I was the shaky one." He was now eye to eye with her because he had to bend down a little for the ceiling over the seats being so low.
And she had amazing eyes...

She winced as he hit his head on the cabin's roof. She'd done it enough times herself to know how it hurt. "I think you'll be needing an icepack now," she remarked, still using her most apologetic tone. "Come on, follow me."

She rolled the trolley the rest of the way back to the crew galley behind business class and locked it in position, then grabbed some club soda and another towel.

Aaron looked after her; he was hesitating, why was he?! He shook his head and moved out of the row down the hallway. It seemed like some of the other passengers gave him a strange look. Like they didn't approve him as one of them.

He moved slowly into the galley, that was a place he certainly didn't belong. But as he saw Gwen, he lightened up a bit. "I apologize for spoiling your virgin mind with my stupidity! I'm Aaron...anyway it's on the flight record, right?"

"Oh, trust me, I've heard worse," she said. "And I apologize for spoiling your jeans, Aaron. I'm Gwen, as you can tell from the nametag. And do feel free to complain to Oceanic Headquarters about me." She handed him the club soda and towel, and then retrieved an icepack from the cooler. "Head trauma...never a good thing."

"My head has gone through worse too, but thanks." He pointed with the towel and the soda against her then looking down at his jeans. "And if you would finally stop telling me that I am wrong and that it is your fault but mine because FAA or some other dumb assh--...organization says that you have to..."

He looked up at her again sighing deeply after that long sentence. "Then you could tell me what the hell the soda is for!"

“It’s club soda, for removing stains,” she explained. “Unless you prefer to have whiskey-stained trousers. Perhaps they’re a badge of honour where you come from,” she suggested, quirking an eyebrow.

"Well, where I come from every spilled drink is a bad drink!" Aaron replied. He looked around to make sure Gwen was the only crewman in the galley. Then he quickly closed the curtain next to him and nodded at her with his hands on his belt. "Would you turn around for a few seconds?" He had already opened the belt with a pleasant smile.

"Oh, of course," she agreed, turning to look out the galley window. Hannah or Megan would do so much better in this sort of situation; as it was, she just wanted the man to not be cross with her for the rest of the trip. The sun was still brightly shining over a vast expanse of blue. "And for the record, I still owe you a whiskey," she said over her shoulder.

"Oh I would never forget that. And if it makes your never-ending guilt a little more bearable, you can pay it out of your income," he suggested. Gwen heard the noise of trousers being taken off and then the anxious sound of someone scrubbing very hard with the towel.

She stifled a laugh. "In that case, it'll have to be the cheap kind then," she replied. "I don't make very much."

"Just as cheap as the gasoline the airline sells to these yuppies out there to make them overlook the ripped leather chairs and the walked down carpet with spots all over it. If I would have paid for that sh--...I would run for the door!"

Gwen furrowed her brow and felt a pang of defensiveness. Okay, maybe it wasn't the finest airline in the sky, but it was hers. "Well, I don't really do it for the pay," she retorted. "I do it for the travel and the challenge and the opportunity to meet lovely people like you."

"Was that sarcasm, ma’am?” he chided. “Finally showing your real feeling 'bout me ... I like that!"

Gwen heard the sound of trousers being put on again. She sighed, assuming it was alright to turn back around to face him. "Sorry, I just get a bit defensive when someone criticizes my employer," she explained. "I mean, you did choose to fly Oceanic and you're stuck with us for several more hours, so...why not be optimistic about it?"

Aaron smiled nicely, that kind of smile that should blast away every bad feeling of the person on the other side...so was the plan. "Actually I didn't choose...but I think patriotism is a honorable feature. I just never had anything so enlightening that it would have been worth being patriotic about it. I'm glad for you. And I have been to worse places than this with way worse people!" Aaron had his trousers back on but they were just twice as wet as before.

She merely shook her head at his bright smile and snatched back the club soda. The nerve of him, to be glad for her. Like she was looking for his approval. "Worse places with worse people--Is that a fact that you're proud of?" she remarked. "What is it that takes you to Australia then? If you didn't choose..."

"A job...maybe something I finally can be proud of. Maybe something anyone can be finally proud of when it comes to me." He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. "Why do you do this job?” he finally asked. “I mean other than traveling and the money and the people you come in contact. Why for you personally?"

She smirked and leaned against the counter. "Because my parents greatly disapprove of it," she said, "and the uniforms are quite stylish." She tilted her head at him and adopted a serious look. "Good luck...with the job then. I mean, your luck can only improve from this point, right? And you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. I'm sure there's someone who's proud of you."

Aaron laughed ironically. "Well that would be a first. So you don't have a Seventh Heaven kind of family back home either. We should drink on that!"

"Oh, the Havers put the fun in dysfunctional. I'm actually heading to Australia for my sister's wedding. And a lot of alcohol will be necessary to deal with all my relatives in one room," she groaned.

"So we have a sister in common. And actually I was lying about that relatives thing...I do have a Seventh Heaven family back home. It's just that the bad twin doesn't fit in. After all, you can leave and go home if it gets to be too much. And on the wedding day...all eyes are on the bride, right?"

She nodded. "Which is exactly what she wants. And has wanted since she was...like, two." She let a smile play across her face; she didn't usually get chatty with passengers. She was just so angry with Helena. And he had that mysterious talent of putting strangers at ease. A talent which he had no doubt used and abused on many occasions, she thought inwardly. "Anyway, I don't want to bore you with my miseries. You say you have a twin sister?"

"Well...it was like you were talking about her right now." Aaron looked at Gwen a little dreamy.

"So sisters can be similarly annoying anywhere in the world then?" she observed. "It's okay. Builds character and gives us something to talk to our therapists about."

"Yeah it kind of comes in handy when you have someone to blame." Aaron sighed deeply, his eyes wandering to the floor.

She shrugged. "I dunno, I think blame usually falls on fate. Or luck. Life is what you make of it. And if you do happen to succeed, you can take a great deal of pleasure in throwing it in your superior sibling's face," she grinned, leaning forward slightly and searching for his eyes. "Besides, you seem like the sort of man who makes his own fate. For better or worse."

Aaron looked up at her again. "Thanks...you say it like it’s something good. If you get something said quite often enough, you come to a point where you simply believe it." He didn't mean actually what she said but hoped that it would make sense to her anyhow.

"Then you're letting others determine who you are," she sighed. "And that doesn't seem like you, either. I mean...in the five minutes that I've known you. Look, I'm just saying that we all have value and worth, to ourselves and to others. Sometimes it just takes a little longer to find it and recognize it."

"At least I agree with you on that ourselves thing. What is there in the end but ourselves?!" Aaron began to laugh a little crazy. "What are we doing here anyway. You’re a lovely flight attendant and I'm the shaky passenger desperate for everything that keeps him from the thought about water crossing 30,000 feet under his own."

"Oh, I'm hardly 'lovely'," she scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "Anyway, this was all part of a cunning plan to distract you from the whole 'ocean crossing' fear. Sometimes the drinks, radio and TV aren't enough, and we have to resort to motivational speeches."

"I was always a hard patient. So...I don't wanna’ hold you back. There are probably a few more scared wetpants out there. Was nice meeting you then, ma’am." Aaron suddenly seemed to pull back. Actually he hadn't had the impression of being just a regular scared passenger to her. Well...he had always been bad in understanding women.

"Right. You, too," she said automatically. As he started to leave, she spoke up again. "Hey, I meant it when I said good luck in Australia. I have a feeling you'll do fine." She smiled sincerely. "And y'know, it's a long flight so...if you need any further encouragement, you know where to find me."

Aaron raised his hand for goodbye so far smiling back at her. "Thank you...and that whiskey offer still stands...right? Tell your sister she is with the wrong guy 'cause mister boomfunk masterblaster womenspleaza is on that plane!" Aaron kind of sang loudly once he slipped through the curtain back into the cabin.

"Duly noted," she called after him. She laughed to herself, dismissing any silly thoughts about this handsome and self-assured stranger whom she would never see again after landing, and focused on the next item on the to-do list. Right…dinner service.

***END FLASHBACK***

[Hollywood Heidi]

And yet another great flashback! Lol, had me laughing a lot.

[Gwen Havers]

Because I'm nothing if not a trend-follower...

Relationship to other people on the island:

BRITTANY - treated her ankle after the crash with Ethan's help

CHARLIE - also on the hike to the Cockpit, but didn't really get a chance to converse with her fellow Brit

ETHAN - helped her with the wounded after the crash; retrieved the food trolleys from the fuselage; helped in search for Sarah Jessica the night after the crash; witnessed her emotional breakdown after the death of the pilot. Yes, she seems to trust him more than anyone else; go figure.

GRACE - treated her shoulder wound after the crash; spoke to her in sign language and will try to be there for her

JACK - also on the hike to the Cockpit; witnessed his fight with ex-wife Sarah on the plane

JINX - clashed with the "pop princess" on the plane because she wanted to buy a drink for everyone in economy; they have since come to a truce after what happened at the Cockpit

KATE - also on the hike to the Cockpit; comforted her after pilot's death

SARAH JESSICA - tried to comfort the little girl after the crash as she hid in the fuselage

SAYID - helped with the wounded after the crash; also looked for Sarah Jessica the night after the crash. Yes, she fancies him; go figure.

[pearl]

So you kind of know Sarah too And Aaron 'cause he might be on the island. Otherwise it made no sense throwing him in *g*

[ana]

That was a super shiny flashback ;D You write Gwen/Rachel Weisz really true to character.... ...look, I know what I mean.....

And Aaron.....? The guys a charmer and that's for sure. If he's on the island with the other man candy, I'm not sure I wanna get off it

[Gwen Havers]

I know! Silly us, wanting to be rescued. We should just enjoy our mysteriously good fortune. And lucky for me, Rachel has a very distinctive voice; I hope I've been able to capture it accurately.

Okay, I did say I'd wait to post this flashback, but it kinda' leads up to the one I have planned for later on Day 2, so I'm posting it now. And I needed a Grunberg fix since he won't be on Heroes till next week so...Enjoy!


***FLASHBACK***

Los Angeles International Airport
January 2004

Gwen sat at one of the tables in the flight crew lounge at LAX Airport, nursing a rum and Coke and staring out the window. The runway lights and incoming planes lit up the night sky, the roaring engines making the glass windows shudder slightly. She didn’t want to leave this. It was the only place she felt at home, like she had some control. And now because of that stupid man and his stubborn unwillingness to see reason, she might lose everything.

All the other occupants of the lounge were avoiding her, no one was even making eye contact with her; she felt like she had a huge scarlet “A” emblazoned on her chest. The waiting was the hardest part. Her mind ran wild with worst-case scenarios of the punishment that management would hand down for her actions earlier that day.

“Well, well, if it ain’t Calamity Jane,” a voice interrupted.

She looked up to see Eric, a smirk lighting up his rose-hued cheeks and brown eyes as he approached her table. Of all the pilots on all the Oceanic Airlines on the entire west coast, why did he have to be the one in the lounge at this hour? The one the girls made such fun of her for fancying, even though she didn’t understand why. Most pilots were arrogant and self-absorbed, thinking that the uniform and a set of wings were all they needed to get a woman’s attention. But at least Eric had a personality, and she always went for the unconventionally handsome ones that could make her laugh.

“I brought you some ice,” he said, handing her a plastic bag filled with ice cubes, probably from the bar.

“Oh, thank you. That’s very kind.” She winced a bit as the chill of the ice came in contact with her throbbing knuckles.

He placed his gin and tonic on the table and relaxed into the chair. “So…little Gwendolyn Havers gave a guy a black eye? I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.”

“It was uncalled for.”

“You kidding? It was totally called for,” he countered.

“There are other ways of dealing with belligerent and unreasonable passengers. I should have exhausted every other option before…before…”

“Before socking the guy in the jaw? Yeah, maybe,” he shrugged. “But the option you chose was definitely the most effective. And entertaining.”

She stared into her drink, still mentally cataloguing every punishment the airline might recommend for her actions. “I’m in for a serious reprimand, aren’t I? Probation, demotion. I’ll be working the red eye from Denver to Cleveland. If I’m lucky.”

“Hey, Gwen, listen to me,” he said, leaning forward. “Everybody that was there knows that you did everything you could to calm that guy down. He was pushing you, yelling at you. Hell, I woulda’ decked him, but…y’know…you happened to be closer.”

The smile faded and he adopted a serious expression. “Look, there’ll be a review, lots of official hemming and hawing, they’ll come to the conclusion that you weren’t at fault, and at worst they’ll dock your pay. Seriously, don’t sweat this.”

She studied his face and saw that he was being sincere. Finally, she nodded. “Okay.”

“So…what’s the problem?” he inquired.

She threw him a look.

“I mean, other than the obvious?” he added quickly.

“What makes you think I have a problem? Other than the obvious?”

“Oh, it’s just that when you’re on cockpit duty, I usually get four sugars with my coffee, instead of the regulation two. Today, it was the regulation two,” he explained.

“Really?”

He gave her an exaggeratedly wounded look, puppy dog eyes included. “Was it something I said?”

“No, no,” she said quickly. “I just…I have things on my mind.”

“Like…?” he prompted.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Stupid, trivial things.”

“Well, clearly, it’s not nothing. Or I would have had my four sugars today, and you wouldn’t be wearing that ‘something’ face.”

Something face? She laughed inwardly. Always priding herself on maintaining a stoic and professional exterior, but even Eric (who hardly knew her) could see through it at the moment.

She inhaled before revealing her concerns, which she had yet to say out loud to anyone. “My sister just announced that she’s getting married. To some Australian wine baron named Neil. And because I work for the airline, surely I’ll be able to get everyone discount fares to Sydney,” she related, imitating her sister’s voice. She sighed and collapsed resignedly against the back of her chair. “Yet one more thing she’s managed to accomplish before me.”

“Eh, marriage is overrated,” he said with a shrug and another sip of his drink.

“You’ve been married?”

“Yeah. Didn’t last long.”

“Any kids?” she asked hesitantly. Sharing personal info like this…it was new and different. But not entirely unpleasant. Of course, she didn’t want to seem like she was prying.

“No, no kids,” he answered. “Had a dog, though. She kept the dog. She didn’t even like the dog.”

Gwen pondered whether to keep prying. “You just…drifted apart?”

“Well, that’s a nice way of putting it,” he mused. “Apparently, I was traveling too much. I was away too long. In fact, I was away so long that she had to start sleeping with my best friend to alleviate her soul-crushing loneliness. Her words.”

“Oh,” she said softly. “Oh, Eric, I’m so sorry.” Her hand instinctively reached out to his, but she caught herself and pulled it back.

He shrugged casually. “I’m over it now. Alimony still puts a sizeable dent in my paycheck every month, hence my taking every available shift on the slate. I’m flying so much I should be reclassified as an albatross.”

“I know that feeling,” she laughed. “Though maybe albatross isn’t the best avian comparison. Not exactly associated with happy endings. Perhaps an osprey or a peregrine falcon.”

“No, albatross seems pretty appropriate,” he asserted with a short nod, turning his focus back to his drink. Then he quirked an eyebrow and looked at her. “You called me ‘Eric’.”

She swallowed hard. “Did I?”

“Yeah.”

“When?”

“Just now.”

“Oh. Well…I’m sorry about that, Captain,” she corrected.

“No. No, it’s okay,” he asserted with a chuckle. “We’re off the clock, Gwen. And since I am a first-hand witness to your recent assault of a passenger, maybe we should be on first-name terms.”

“I’ll hardly call it an assault,” she weakly protested.

“I dunno. That’s one hell of a right hook ya’ got there, little lady. I’m certainly not gonna’ complain about the in-flight service ever again.”

“I wouldn’t hit you,” she declared, with a slight smile.

“Good to know.” He smiled in return.

An awkward silence settled between them as they attempted to finish their overpriced drinks, stared at the marble surface of the table, scanned the faces of the other airline employees milling around the lounge. Anything that avoided eye contact.

“Do you maybe wanna’ share a cab back into the city?” he finally suggested. “It’s just…y’know, they’ve raised cab fares again and I got those alimony payments to worry about and frankly I don’t want you to go out and start a bar-room brawl without me.”

She would have accepted the offer right away, maybe even have made it herself given a few more shots of liquid courage, if not for the black cloud of judgment hanging over her. “You don’t mind being seen with the town pariah?”

“Are you kidding? Making friends with you might make the other pilots stop kicking sand in my face and taking my lunch money. So whaddaya’ say?”

“Um, yeah. Yes, that would be nice.”

He stood up from the table and reached for the handle of her bag sitting beside her chair, wheeling it with him toward the door. “Whereabouts do you live anyway?”

“Hermosa Beach.”

“Okay, only a half-hour or so out of my way,” he huffed with mock frustration.

“There’s still time to rescind the offer, Captain.”

“No, no. I’m a gentleman of my word. No matter what those ticketing agents in Singapore might say.” He held the lounge door open for her. “Ladies first.”

“Oh, no, I insist. Age before beauty.”

“Whoa, she can land the low blows, too,” he gasped. “Members of the flying populace better look out.” They shared a laugh as they exited the lounge and headed downstairs to the cab stand.


***END FLASHBACK***

[pearl]

I love that flashback it's so sweet ... Gwen and the Pilot ... it's so cliche but this time it works
He semes to be a nice guy ... a little too pushy for my taste. Well sometimes a woman simply don't wants to open up ... but I think Gwen was really relieved that he kept on asking her what's wrong.
Anyway he probably didn't got divorced in Hollywood. I mean his wife cheating on him and still getting alimony? What a bitch!

[Hollywood Heidi]

Aw, another great flashback! If it weren't for that tragedy in the jungle, I'd be a total Eric/Gwen shipper.

Gwenybear, stop being such a damn good writer. You're making me look bad.

[Gwen Havers]

Hey, I'm just trying to give Jack a run for his money when it comes to flashbacks. I will be queen, gorammit.

But the real question is, did I make him sound Weiss-y enough? Or does it need more yo-yo?

[ana]

~puts on most regal voice she can muster...hard to do with my accent...~

I dub thee Queen of flashbacks.

That was another stunner. I think Ana-Lucia's got competition for island scrapper, though.

And at some point today i'm gonna get my ass in gear and write an Ana flashback.

[Gwen Havers]

Woohoo! I mean, that's very kind of you, Senorita Cortez. I shall do my best to live up to the title.

I was waiting to see if anyone was surprised that sweet, posh Gwen could throw a punch. Only in extreme situations, though. I'm sure she's never had a run-in with the LAPD before. Or has she?