I haven't seen another post regarding this, my apologies if this needs to be rerouted!

"Claire and baby get onto helicopter." (Or something to that extent.) Is what Desmond "saw", correct?

Well after what we know now, I think what Des will now see is Aaron leave alive and
Claire leave on a stretcher, dead! (similarily the way they escorted Naomi's body off the island.)

Just a thought, totally MO, what do you think?

That would be so sad! It's possible though.

I think Claire actually may get on the helicopter like Desmond said. I think this because Desmond said he saw "Claire and her baby" getting on the helicopter. In the FF Aaron is pretty old and I dont think this is more than a year after they've got off the island, wouldnt Desmond mention how Aaron is like a year or two old in his vision?

Anyways I dont think this reveal means Desmond's vision was wrong or that Claire is for sure dead, I think a lot has yet to go down and at some point Claire and *baby* Aaron will get on a helicopter.

Maybe Claire is alive and had to give the baby to Aaron. When she saw the psychic back in Australia she was told that the baby had to be raised by another. Miles has some sort of psychic activity maybe he will reinforce the idea, although it seems as though he's only good with events that have happened in the past.

Maybe Claire is alive and had to give the baby to Aaron. When she saw the psychic back in Australia she was told that the baby had to be raised by another. Miles has some sort of psychic activity maybe he will reinforce the idea, although it seems as though he's only good with events that have happened in the past.

the psychic told claire that the baby could NOT be raised by another... then all of a sudden he "changed his mind" and got her a ticket for flight 815...

the psychic told claire that the baby could NOT be raised by another... then all of a sudden he "changed his mind" and got her a ticket for flight 815...

Sorry ..its been ages since I've seen that epi!

Okay, I need to preface this by saying that 1) we don't know FOR SURE that the baby is Claire's Aaron, but we are being led to think so; and 2) I have ALWAYS been Team Desmond.

So, here goes: do you think Desmond lied to Charlie when he said that he saw Claire & Aaron getting onto a helicopter, and in reality saw his own self getting into a helicopter and flying off the island?

We know that he lied to Charlie once already, being willing to sacrifice Charlie for what he thought was Penny. Do you think Desmond realized that Charlie was going to die anyway, so might as well do it when he *knew* he (Desmond) would have chance of rescue?

Thoughts, please....

NOTE: Sorry, I misspelled Desmond's name in the title - fingers too quick!

It's possible that he lied, but I also wonder about the accuracy of the flashes. He did see a few flashes in which Charlie actually did die but he was able to intervene and stop it from happening. Therefore we know that free will can alter the outcome. At the point that he had the flash, the factor of "not Penny's boat" and Claire's own free will to go with Locke hadn't yet occurred.

good point. i think Desmond lied..

That thought did cross my mind. Especially with how adamantly he was with Lapidus about getting honest answers, and getting a seat on the chopper. At this point I wouldn't put it past anyone to have their own agenda and use devious means to accomplish said agenda. Look how Kate was trying to manipulate Sawyer for her own ends. Sawyer just happened to be a fairly good con-artist and saw through her ruse.

You have to remember though, that the choices people make CHANGE the outcome of Desmond's flashes. There is also the possibility that the Island was manipulating Desmond - just like when Locke & Boone found the plane - Locke lost the ability to walk so that Boone would be the one to climb up, use the radio & then die.

It does appear at this point that EVERYONE is looking out for their own precious selves. Except maybe Jack, who doesn't have a clue about what looking out for his own self means...... Nevermind,I take that back - the whole I'll fix Ben if you get me and me alone off this island...

I guess that is the survival instinct coming out, just more pronounced with rescue in sight.

I'm sad to think that not everyone will make it off and am anxious to know what happens to our Losties that don't leave? Or at least that aren't part of the Oceanic 6.

It does appear at this point that EVERYONE is looking out for their own precious selves.

Yup. But Charlie proved that selflessness gets you nowhere but an early grave. I'm reserving judgement on Desmond until we see his perspective in his next episode. Either he lied or he was misled by the visions because clearly Claire and Aaron don't get rescued together. Sucks.

Well, here's the thing. Desmond said he had a vision of Claire and Aaron getting on the helicopter. This is not the same thing as seeing them getting rescued. Maybe they both make it off the island, only to have something happen to Claire on the freighter. Maybe the helicopter takes off, only to have Claire fall (or get pushed) out over the water.

Well, here's the thing. Desmond said he had a vision of Claire and Aaron getting on the helicopter. This is not the same thing as seeing them getting rescued. Maybe they both make it off the island, only to have something happen to Claire on the freighter. Maybe the helicopter takes off, only to have Claire fall (or get pushed) out over the water.

This is making me so sad. I don't want anything to happen to Claire, she seems like the one normal person on the island. It does SEEM obvious that SOMETHING does happen to Claire, though. But what? Is it merely that she realizes that she won't get off the island (or wherever the other Losties are (being held prisoner or being tortured or something - This is my own imagination running away with me, it is NOT based on anything I have seen or heard), so she asks Kate to take Aaron and keep him safe, or is it something more sinister?

I don't really want anything bad to happen to Claire, either. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll get that wish. After what they did to poor Charlie, all bets are off. The only two scenarios I can envision are either:

A. Claire dies.
B. Aaron is forcibly taken from her.

I'm hoping it is B. This would help explain Jack's reluctance to see him in the FF, while still keeping hope alive that they (Claire and Aaron) might get reunited.

I believe he lied, but not because he is "Bad." Remember, Charlie was going to die! Mrs. Hawking let the man with the red shoes die because he had to die. If you're Desmond, and you see a vision of you getting off the island , but Charlie has to die, you'd tell Charlie ok , now you REALLY have to die. So he lied about the outcome, but Charlie was dying anyway.

He may have lied, but I think he just handled the flashes the wrong way and he really just doesn't know what he's talking about...

I believe he lied, but not because he is "Bad." Remember, Charlie was going to die! Mrs. Hawking let the man with the red shoes die because he had to die. If you're Desmond, and you see a vision of you getting off the island , but Charlie has to die, you'd tell Charlie ok , now you REALLY have to die. So he lied about the outcome, but Charlie was dying anyway.


Desmond intervened several times to save Charlie from certain death...so when he had a vision of Charlies death resulting in his own rescue...he let it play out. He made a choice that a lot of people wouldn't consider a "Good" person would make.

Is it possible that Claire and Aaron get on the helicopter and Claire suffers a fate on the freighter that results in her death?!
I don't think Desmond is lying about his vision. I think he may be misinterpreting his visions if anything.

Desmond didn't lie...he says he saw Claire getting on a helicopter with Aaron. Who knows what happens, maybe she gets on, maybe she dies, maybe....who knows, but to say Desmond lies is a leap. He has been the one person that has been good to his word as evidenced by letting Mikhail go in the jungle.

Lying jerk? Them's fightin' words!
I don't know if he told the truth and the truth changed or he fibbed and finally let Charlie meet that fate that he was supposed to meet no matter what. Claire could still get on a helicopter, the season isn't over yet. Either way, Charlie was going to die and this way he had a much more noble death than just taking an arrow to the neck.
Desmond is a good man!

I dont think he lied. He volunteered to go instead of Charlie, but Charlie whacked him across the face. I dont think Desmond is the kind of character who could watch someone die for their own gain, but then again love makes us do strange things so maybe he did lie.

I for one think at some point before the end of the series we will see Claire and baby Aaron get on a helicopter. Whether that helicopter actually goes anywhere or if Claire dies when she gets on it I dont know, but I do think Desmond's vision will happen.

I think Desmond DID see Claire getting on the chopper. He just didn't mention to Charlie that she was a mutilated corpse at the time.

I think Desmond DID see Claire getting on the chopper. He just didn't mention to Charlie that she was a mutilated corpse at the time.

HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!

I would like to add that I didn't say that Desmond definitely WAS a lying jerk, I was just asking for follow up on a thought that I'd had. I am still Team Desmond for the time being. Now I'm thinking we might get to see both Claire & Aaron in the chopper, before whatever happens happens to cause Kate to get Aaron. Oh, who knows??????

Nice. (in response to mutilate corpse joke)

I was joking with my 'fightin words' comment, though seeing him called a jerk did sting just a bit. I don't think Des lied but I don't think he interprets his flashes correctly every time. They could have changed.

I felt a little guilty writing the words, too. But hey, this is LOST, you just never know!

As for Desi's flashes, I agree w/ you Madge. Also, that people's decisions play a part in what actually occurs, right?

Yeah, apparently the choices they make effect the whole shebang. Maybe in Des' flash, Charlie never warned them about the boat. And there's still time for Claire to get on a helicopter.

Hey there,

I often read how people persist that Desmond saw Claire and Aaron get in a helicopter.
However, we never saw this vision! He only told Charlie about it, but unlike his other visions, the audience never got to see it.

My guess is that Desmond saw himself and Sayid get on a helicopter, not Claire and her baby. He only said that to Charlie to convince him to go to the Looking Glass.

This may sound evil, but remember: Desmond knew that Charlie was going to die, no matter how often he'd try saving him. Also, he had second thoughts when he and Charlie were on the boat and wanted to swim down to the Looking Glass himself.

Desmond's visions have never been wrong, and the events always took place shortly after he had the vision. It doesn't look like there's another helicopter coming anytime soon, so I think he lied to Charlie.

That's a great idea! I have been wondering about the fact that we never see Des' vision of Claire getting on the helicopter, we only have his word. But it is pretty clear now that Claire does NOT, in fact, get on a helicopter. It hadn't occurred to me that Des might have seen himself in the vision instead of Claire.

However, they haven't shown us that vision either, and I think they would have. Like, when Des got on the helicopter, he might have done some sort of double take, realizing he was living the vision. In fact, it is strange that they have sort of dropped the whole story line of the "flashes before his eyes". Like they only concerned Charlie's death? That seems lame. There has to be more to that story, and I hope we see more of it soon.

Hey there,

I often read how people persist that Desmond saw Claire and Aaron get in a helicopter.
However, we never saw this vision! He only told Charlie about it, but unlike his other visions, the audience never got to see it.

My guess is that Desmond saw himself and Sayid get on a helicopter, not Claire and her baby. He only said that to Charlie to convince him to go to the Looking Glass.

This may sound evil, but remember: Desmond knew that Charlie was going to die, no matter how often he'd try saving him. Also, he had second thoughts when he and Charlie were on the boat and wanted to swim down to the Looking Glass himself.

Desmond's visions have never been wrong, and the events always took place shortly after he had the vision. It doesn't look like there's another helicopter coming anytime soon, so I think he lied to Charlie.

Excellent point. This doesn't have anything to do with Desmond's visions, but I can't help but remember how he ran off (long ago) and left everybody in the hatch only to return on drunk on his boat. He didn't give a crap about the Losties, but was only out to save himself. Is he doing the same thing now ..... just doing what ever he can to get back to Penny?

Hey there,

I often read how people persist that Desmond saw Claire and Aaron get in a helicopter.
However, we never saw this vision! He only told Charlie about it, but unlike his other visions, the audience never got to see it.

My guess is that Desmond saw himself and Sayid get on a helicopter, not Claire and her baby. He only said that to Charlie to convince him to go to the Looking Glass.

This may sound evil, but remember: Desmond knew that Charlie was going to die, no matter how often he'd try saving him. Also, he had second thoughts when he and Charlie were on the boat and wanted to swim down to the Looking Glass himself.

Desmond's visions have never been wrong, and the events always took place shortly after he had the vision. It doesn't look like there's another helicopter coming anytime soon, so I think he lied to Charlie.

I have a hard time believing this theory. First of all, Naomi had a picture of Desmond and Penny and said that she was there looking for him. Desmond, thinking Penny is looking for him, is hell bent on getting to the freighter to find out the truth(he says this to Frank before the chopper lifts off.) Now, Desmond told Charlie that he saw Charlie in a room full of equipment with a blinking yellow light, that's exactly what was in the Looking Glass. There's no way Desmond could have known that unless he did see Charlie in that room. As for Desmond offering to take Charlie's place and swim down to the Looking Glass, he could see how upsetting this was for Charlie and how much he cared for Claire so he more or less offered to take the bullet for him.

Two final points, first, I just don't think Desmond is twisted enough to have let Charlie die for his own ends. He had a chance to let that happen when he saw Charlie shot in the neck with one of Danielle's arrows, but he ended up saving Charlie. And two, if your theory ended up being true, then Charlie really did die for no reason. And it would be an outrage for such a popular character to be killed off that way.

There's no way Desmond could have known that unless he did see Charlie in that room.
Of course he saw Charlie in that room. He also saw the helicopter. The idea is that he only lied about who he saw get on the helicopter.

Two final points, first, I just don't think Desmond is twisted enough to have let Charlie die for his own ends. He had a chance to let that happen when he saw Charlie shot in the neck with one of Danielle's arrows, but he ended up saving Charlie.
He ended up saving Charlie several times. But he already learned in Flashes Before Your Eyes that he can't change the outcome, no matter how often he saves him. Eventually, Charlie will die, and there's nothing he can do about it.
So Desmond decided it was time to let fate have its way.

And two, if your theory ended up being true, then Charlie really did die for no reason. And it would be an outrage for such a popular character to be killed off that way.
No, he didn't die for no reason. Without Charlie, contact with the freighter would have been made. And I think its safe to say that the freighter will play a major role in the eventual rescue.

Ah, but see, this is where the writers' love to catch us, with their 'literal' phrasing of things. It is possible that in his vision Desmond saw Claire and baby Aaron get on the helicopter. We might even get to see it, too. But that doesn't necessarily mean that they will both leave the freighter. For some reason, Claire stays and Aaron goes.

Could be Desmond doesn't see Claire ans Aaron get on. Maybe he just said it so Charlie would unjam the signal, knowing it was the only way he could get off the island.

Hate to say it but given what we have seen of Kate in flashforwards I would prefer it if Claire were dead.
Harsh maybe, but at the end of Season Three Kate says to Jack they don't need to go back to the island. IF she has Aaron and Claire is still alive on the island Kate would want to go back. That's her way. She would also be telling Aaron about mom and not allowing him to call her mommy.
No I think Claire will die. Considering last nights episode it was indicated only eight people ever reached the island part of lie could be Claire died in the crash it was Kate who gave birth on island. Therefore Aaron's true identity is hidden, there is no need for adoptions or anything like and this is why Kate refuses to have him brough up in court.
Has it also crossed anyone else's mind that it isn't that Desmond made an inaccurate prediction but that maybe he was lying?
Maybe Desmond isn't all he appears to be.

I doubt Des is lying. That would be a narrative cheat. Prophesies in literature are often literally correct, even if the results are unexpected.

Des saw Charlie die several times but Charlie lived. You can change the future. Something happened along the way (Charlie telling him: Not Penny's Boat!, for example) that changed the outcome.

And the psychic told Claire that the baby couldn't be raised by another - he never changed his mind, he just foresaw the plane crashing and thought they would die. So he thought the problem was solved. That's my take on it anyway.

Of course he saw Charlie in that room. He also saw the helicopter. The idea is that he only lied about who he saw get on the helicopter.

Okay, I think it's very likely that Desmond had both visions. But I still take Desmond at his word that the vision of Claire and Aaron leaving the island was truthful. I think Desmond knows how much Charlie loves Claire(it's the equivalent of his feelings for Penny) and I don't think Des would lie to Charlie about Claire's and Aaron's possible rescue. And as seen in The Beginning of the End, Desmond was gonna tell Claire what had happened, but Hurley stopped him so he could tell her. And when Hurley and Claire were grieving together, Desmond was as upset by that as everyone else was.

He ended up saving Charlie several times. But he already learned in Flashes Before Your Eyes that he can't change the outcome, no matter how often he saves him. Eventually, Charlie will die, and there's nothing he can do about it.
So Desmond decided it was time to let fate have its way.True, he couldn't change the outcome, but I think it's much more than Des just throwing in the towel and letting Charlie die. Fate told him that Claire and Aaron would leave the island in a helicopter if Charlie gave his life by flipping the switch. And if they left, then everyone else may be able to also.

No, he didn't die for no reason. Without Charlie, contact with the freighter would have been made. And I think its safe to say that the freighter will play a major role in the eventual rescue.I definitely agree that the freighter will be the key in The Oceanic Six's rescue. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

Has it also crossed anyone else's mind that it isn't that Desmond made an inaccurate prediction but that maybe he was lying?
Maybe Desmond isn't all he appears to be.Frecks, I think you are right. Consider that we never actually saw Desmond's flash of Claire and Aaron getting on a helicopter and leaving the island. We have, however, seen Desmond get on a helicopter and leave. That's Desmond's vision -- him leaving, not Claire and Aaron, thanks to Charlie's self-sacrifice.

Desmond knew Charlie was a goner. It was just a matter of how and when. Remember that Des is sure that the parachutist in "Catch-22" is Penny coming for him. But then Des saves Charlie from getting shot with an arrow in the throat rather than let his flash unfold in real life -- and things change. Instead it's Naomi under that helmet, not Penny.

Desmond loses his chance to be with Penny because he saved Charlie who ultimately is unsavable. Maybe he figures a little lie to Charlie about Clarie and Aaron won't be so bad in the grand scheme of things.

We'll see next week, I suspect . . .

The actual conversation:
DESMOND: What I saw, Charlie, was Claire and her baby getting into a helicopter. A helicopter that lifts off--leaves this Island.
CHARLIE: Are you sure?
DESMOND: Aye.
CHARLIE: A rescue helicopter on this beach?
[Desmond nods]
CHARLIE: This Island--that's what you saw?
[Desmond nods again]
CHARLIE: We're getting bloody rescued! I thought you were gonna tell me I was gonna die again!
DESMOND: You are, Charlie.
CHARLIE: Wait, what?
DESMOND: If you don't, none of it will happen. There won't be any rescue. I'm sorry, brother, but this time--this time you have to die.

He's lying.

To be fair, we only really saw one set of his visions, we weren't clued into every vision he had except this one. I can't see him lying this way but I guess the only thing to do is watch and find out. Again, Claire and the baby could still get on the helicopter. Just because Des did doesn't mean they won't.

I had a flash of inspiration about this after re-watching Eggtown. What if Desmond made a fatal assumption? What if he saw a woman carrying a baby getting on the helicopter, and assumed it must be Claire? It could have been Kate, but maybe his view of her face was obscured.

Remember when we saw the flashes he had when they rescued Naomi, Desmond himself said the flashes happen out of order, and you couldn't see Charlie's face, only his shirt, in the flash where they are holding open the parachute to break Naomi's fall.

I firmly believe that Desmond is a good person; no matter how badly he wants to see Penny, I just cannot believe he would knowingly send a friend to his death. When he asked Penny why she loves him, she said, "Because you're a good man."

Then again, in Locke's sweat lodge vision, when he and Boone see Desmond, Boone says Desmond's just looking out for himself.

So I don't know, but I think it's possible that Desmond misinterpreted what he thought he saw regarding Claire and Aaron getting rescued by helicopter....

i had dreams of desmond last night! and not sure why, but it was like he was the true key.. on the issue of his vision.. the future can change, and maybe his vision was of claire. but something changed that after the fact. up to the vision point, the future had been set.

Him saving charlie changed the out come of each vision.
if charlie had been allowed to die the first time, maybe the underwater hatch
would not have been entered.. events would have changed.

my dream kept telling me it was desmond who was the key all the changes at hand.
so considering our brains like computers and work while dont realize it.. maybe all the clues are coming together... just my IMO..

the future can change, and maybe his vision was of claire. but something changed that after the fact.

That's exactly what I was thinking. He was so adamant about having exactly the same people come with him to find Naomi; all the minute details had to be as close to what he saw in the vision, or he was afraid that something would change. Desmond's flashes can't be taken as script, because they are so subject to change.

So good guy Desmond brings Charlie on a trip through the jungle so that he can get shot in the neck with an arrow, but has an attack of conscience at the last moment.

he saved him from the chase of the seagulls, he saved him from the strike of the lightening, and then finally figured out...he can't save him always.

He was a step away from letting him die before. He did let him die this time.

Because at the time he thought Penny was on the boat. Ooops, blub blub..dead Charlie, no Penny. Bummer x2.

He's lying.

Any explanation other than Claire being killed will be ok with me!

as for Des, he also has said his visions aren't always right. Or, he lied to Charlie. Though, remember, he did offer to go down to the Looking Glass to spare Charlie....aaaarrrrrggggghhhhh....this show!!!

Though, remember, he (Desmond) did offer to go down to the Looking Glass to spare Charlie....aaaarrrrrggggghhhhh....this show!!!

Yeah, only after thouroughly convincing Charlie that the only way to get Claire off the island was for Charlie to do it. Guilty conscience, just like the arrow, only this time it was too late...(thwack) upside the head and Charlie's off to be the hero.

But it is pretty clear now that Claire does NOT, in fact, get on a helicopter.

No, that's not clear at all.

As long as Claire is alive, it is still possible that she will get on a helicopter. When you take in to account that we just recently saw a working helicopter leave the island in addition to the fact that we know Jack, Kate, and Hugo get off the island, it still seems quite possible that Claire could still get on that same helicopter... now that doesn't mean that something can't still go wrong from that point on.

That's only the first helicopter and the people who sent the helicopter are rather suspect. With the confusion as to who they are, she's probably smarter not putting herself and the baby on the helicopter and flying off with complete strangers really. At least she's listening to what Charlie was trying to say. I'd let two dudes go first as well.

I love how some post spoilers as their predictions...Nice!

To whom are you referring?

I don't think Desmond lied, I just think there's another explanation. I think Claire and Aaron do indeed get on a helicopter but then when they make it to the freighter something happens where they are separated - either something bad happens to Claire (please NO!) or Aaron is taken from her for some reason.... Anyway, it's possible for both to be true - Claire and Aaron get on a helicopter validating Desmond's vision AND Aaron is with Kate in the future (as seen in Eggtown).

To whom are you referring?

I do not want to ruin it for anyone. The same info was posted on a sports forum (under the OT:Lost category). The guy didn't bother to write "spoiler" or anything: on the other forum. Check back on here during the break and re-read some of the "predictions" and see if any are dead on.

It really ruins the fun when you see stuff like that....

Got it. Sucks to get spoiled that way but that's people for ya. :)

The actual conversation, from Greatest Hits

DESMOND: What I saw Charlie was, Claire and her baby getting into a helicopter. A helicopter that, lifts off, leaves this Island.
CHARLIE: Are you sure?
DESMOND: Aye.
CHARLIE: A rescue helicopter, on this beach?
[Desmond nods]
CHARLIE: This Island, that's what you saw?
[Desmond nods again]
CHARLIE: We're getting bloody rescued! I thought you were gonna tell me I was gonna die again!
DESMOND: You are, Charlie.
CHARLIE: Wait, what?
DESMOND: If you don't, none of it will happen. There won't be any rescue. I'm sorry, brother, but this time, this time you have to die And the follow up conversation in the same episode:
DESMOND: You're inside a hatch. It's er, a room, full of equipment. There's a blinking yellow light. And a switch. You flick the switch. Light goes off. And then you drown.
CHARLIE: [Pauses] When?
DESMOND: I don't know.
CHARLIE: You sure you saw Claire and Aaron get on that helicopter?
DESMOND: Aye.
I don't think the writers would have Desmond lie to Charlie in order to convince Charlie to sacrifice his life. For one thing, Des already had the opportunity to sacrifice Charlie in order to see Penny (or so Des thought from his parachuter vision) and Desmond couldn't do it! Why would that have changed from one vision to the next?

So assuming Desmond didn't lie, two outcomes are possible:
Desmond is mistaken about some elements of his vision
Desmond's vision is completely trueOutcome 1) Desmond could be mistaken about some elements of his vision:
There are only three elements to the vision.
A helicopter lands on the beach, picks up some people, and flies away
Claire
AaronPotential mistake 1) The helicopter:
I don't think it would be possible for Desmond to make a mistake about a helicopter. It is a pretty distinct looking piece of equipment. It might not be FRANK'S helicopter, but I do think Desmond had a vision of a helicopter landing on the beach.

Potential mistake 2) Claire:
Someone already suggested that Desmond's vision was of a woman holding Aaron, and that Desmond mistook the woman for Claire. This is entirely possible. But I think Desmond knows Claire well enough that he wouldn't mistake her for another woman.

Potential mistake 3) Aaron:
While Claire is an adult with distinctive features, one baby looks a lot like another. What if the vision was of Claire holding a baby and Desmond thought that baby was Aaron? Since it seems that Claire doesn't make it off island as one of the O6 (I'm theorizing that Claire is not one of the O6 because I see no reason for Kate to have Aaron if Claire was off island), then I have two possible theories:
Some other woman gets pregnant and gives birth while the O6 are off island.
Claire has another baby while the O6 are off island.Assumption 1) When the O6 leave, some Losties are left behind, alive and well:
I think this is part of FutureJack's guilt about leaving - that HE got away while others had to stay behind. Plus, for Desmond's vision to be true, at least ONE woman, Claire or a woman who looks a lot like her, must be alive at the time the helicopter lands. And this woman must have a child.

Assumption 2) The left-behind Losties solve the pregnancy=death problem:
Eggtown indicated that some length of time passed before Kate's trial commenced, and Aaron was at least a year older in Kate's FF. That means the O6 are off-island for a least a year, and ANYTHING could happen in that period of time. As if There's No Place Like Home, Part 2 & 3, we know that Juliet was one of those on the island when it disappeared. She could be working on the pregnancy problem in the intervening three or more years until (hopefully) Jack and rescue arrive.

Theory 1) Some other woman becomes pregnant and gives birth:
Now, not to sound racist, but it would need to be a white woman, or Des wouldn't confuse this baby with Aaron. Maybe Juliet? Maybe Charlotte (I'm theorizing that the team of 4 will be left behind because of Abaddon's question - "Are they alive?" - to Hurley)? Maybe Danielle? Some character we haven't met yet? Doesn't matter. SOMEONE gives birth, and for some reason Claire is holding this baby when she gets on the chopper.

Theory 2) Claire has another baby:
Claire loved Charlie very much. But, again, some substantial length of time will pass between when the O6 get off island and when, as I *HOPE* will happen, Jack manages to find his way back with a rescue chopper. Claire could have another relationship and another baby in that time. Heck, Claire could be pregnant with Charlie's baby right now, and we just don't know it yet.

Outcome 2) The vision is completely true:
There are two ways for Desmond's vision to be completely true:
Desmond sees events that are about to happen in the near future of island time
Desmond sees events that happen after the O6 leave and somehow return.Theory 1) Desmond sees evens that will happen in the near future of island time.
Frank's helicopter is the one in Desmond's vision. Recovered from wherever it disappeared to, the helicopter lands on the beach; Claire, holding Aaron, gets on the helicopter, and the helicopter leaves the island. Jump forward a year or two, and Kate is now Aaron's mother. This implies that Claire has either died in the interim, or that Claire is, for some other reason, out of the picture. This would fulfill the letter of Desmond's vision, if not the spirit that Charlie hoped for - that Claire and Aaron would be away from the island, alive and happy, together. This, in my opinion, would be the downer ending.

Theory 2) Desmond sees events that happen after the O6 leave and somehow return
Desmond had a vision of Claire with a grown-up Aaron. This is supported by the fact that Desmond said he didn't know WHEN rescue would come, only that it would.

Assumption 1) Desmond would recognize the child as Aaron, despite the age difference suggested in Eggtown
Though we haven't seen any evidence to prove it, maybe Desmond's visions also give him certainty. He just *knows* the child is Aaron, regardless of age.

Assumption 2.1) Claire remains on-island, and that whomever comes to rescue her brings Aaron back with them.
Personally, I have trouble with this outcome, because I have no idea why an island rescue party would bring young Aaron with them - that seems like reckless endangerment of a child. I'm sure the writers could find a reason (destiny, or some special power that Aaron might possess, or a tie to the island created by Aaron's birth). I have to admit, though, it would be a nice reunion scene for one of the final episodes.

Assumption 2.2) Claire remains on-island with Aaron, and the baby in Eggtown is Kate's natural born son.
We had a bunch of hints last season that Kate would become pregnant with Sawyer's baby. Ben inexplicably made Kate put on a really nice sundress before caging her in view of Sawyer, like animals in a breeding program. Ben tricks Sawyer into believing he cannot escape, but leaves Kate unrestrained in a cage that she can climb out of anytime she chooses. Juliet needs more test case mothers to figure out why women can't give birth on the island. Sawyer's flashback reveals that he is fertile enough to father children. Kate's flashback reveals her fear of being a mother. Kate and Sawyer have sex, and Kate is worried later that she might be pregnant.

Kate says in Eggtown, pretty emphatically, that she is NOT pregnant. We still don't know if she was telling the truth. All told, Aaron could have remained behind on the island with Claire, and Kate could have given birth to a child of her own, named for Aaron, in the time she was off-island.

Note: As of Something Nice Back Home, Assumption 2.2 has been disproven. Jack yelled at Kate "You're not even related to him!" Him, in this case, being Aaron. The implications are definitely that Aaron is actually Claire's son. Aaron confirmed to be Claire's son in There's No Place Like Home, Part 1.

But what if Des is lying?

If Des was a true friend of Charlie he would have given Claire the "Greatest Hits List" as soon as he got the chance.