Author's Note: Okay, I finally decided to do a sequel to A Mother's Love. In this fic Isabella is twelve. She has a younger sister Kayley who is nine, and a brother named Riley who is just six-months-old. In this fic also, Kate's childhood boyfriend Tom is still alive. You will see why in a few chapters. Claire and Charlie didn't have any other children. There will also be a surprise character in the first chapter. Hehe. Anyways, I don't own LOST although I do own Isabella, Kayley, and Riley. Hehe. Enjoy! Read and review!


"Mom, I'm home!" Bella yelled, throwing her book bag on the couch.

Mrs. Shephard walked into the living room, holding her six-month-old son Riley in her arms. "Hi, Izzy. How was your day?"

Ella flopped onto the couch and sighed. "Okay, I guess. I was called into the office though," the twelve-year-old said.

"Oh my God. Why?" Kate asked, worried. She looked at her daughter. "You didn't do something, did you?"

Bella shook her head quickly. "No, Mom. Aaron got in trouble and they called me down too."

Kate sighed and shifted Riley in her arms. Then she sat on the couch. "What did Aaron do?" Kate asked.

"Picked a fight with Adam," Bella replied.

Kate groaned. "He knows not to mess with Adam. Why did he do it?"

"Because Adam said that Uncle Charlie was a nobody. And you know Aaron. Beats the shit outta anybody if they say anything bad about Uncle Charlie."

"Isabella Hayden Shephard! Watch your language!" Kate scolded, glaring at her daughter.

"Sorry, Mom. Slipped."

"It better've slipped," Kate warned.

Ellie nodded quickly. "It did. I swear. Won't happen again," she rushed.

Kate nodded and glanced at her son. Riley was sleeping peacefully in her arms. She sighed. He looked so much like her husband. The same chocolate brown eyes, the same nose, the same hair.

"Mom," Ella whined.

Mrs. Shephard blinked and looked up. "What, sweetie?" she asked.

"When will Dad be home?"

Kate sighed. "I don't know, Belle. Dad had to go into the ER. It could be hours before he comes home."

Isabella pouted. She looked exactly like her mother when she pouted, even though she looked like Kate all the time. "Mom, how come Dad works all the time?"

"Because, Isabella, your father has to work whenever there is an emergency. You know that, dear."

Izzy groaned. "But I hate it. And Kayley hates it too," she whined.


The front door opened and a nine-year-old girl bounced into the living room, shutting the door behind her. "Hi, Mom. Hey, Iz," the girl said.

Kate looked at her other daughter and smiled. "Hey, Kayley. How was your day, sweetheart?"

Kayley sighed and sat in the recliner. She kicked off her shoes and sighed once more. "It was okay," she replied, looking at her mother.

"That's good," Kate said with a nod. Then she looked at her eldest daughter. "How much trouble did Aaron get in?" she questioned.

Bella shrugged. "I dunno. I was only in there for a few minutes. I just told the principal what I saw. It happened during lunch. Me and Aaron were eating and then Adam came by. He said all that stuff about Uncle Charlie. Then Aaron snapped. Anyways, I had to go in and tell the principal what happened. But I bet Aaron got in a ton of trouble. This was his third fight with Adam in a week. Aunt Claire is probably pissed-I mean mad-at him. He's such a trouble maker," Izzy explained.

Kate sighed. "Why he messes with Adam, I have no clue. No matter how much your father, Uncle Charlie, Aunt Claire, and I tell him, him always picks a fight with Adam," Kate said.

"Yeah, but Adam's a bully," Bella added.

"Just like his father. James Ford," Kate mumbled under her breath.

"Wait. Aaron got in a fight with Adam?" Kayley asked.

Isabella looked at her sister. "Yeah. It was awesome," she replied.

"Isabella!" Kate scolded.

The twelve-year-old looked at her mom. "What?" Iz asked.

"Your cousin got in trouble! It is not awesome!"

"Aw, but Adam deserved it."

"He probably did deserve it, but that doesn't mean it's awesome," Kate replied.

Kayley groaned. "Mom, I wish I was in middle school," she whined.

Mrs. Shephard looked at her other daughter as Riley stirred in her arms. "Just one more year after this year," Kate assured.

Riley opened his dark chocolate brown eyes and started to cry softly. Kate looked at her son and started to soothe him.

"Shh, baby. Shh. It's okay. Mommy's here. Mommy's not going anywhere."

Riley looked at his mom and stopped crying.

"That's right. Mommy's got you. It's okay," she cooed.

The young boy grabbed Kate's finger and put it in his mouth. He began to suck on his mom's finger.

Kate giggled. "Are you hungry?" she asked, rocking him.

Isabella and Kayley got up and began to head towards the stairs. "Mom, are you gonna make dinner now?" Izzy asked.

Kate looked at her daughters. "Yeah. You two go do your homework. If you need me, yell. I'll get you when dinner's ready, okay?"

The sisters nodded and ran up the stairs. Then Kate stood up and carried Riley to his Pack and Play. Then she set him down and went through the fridge, looking for some food to make.


As Kate was cooking dinner the phone rang. Mrs. Shephard hurried to grab the cordless. "Hello?" she asked.

"Hey, sweetheart," Jack said.

Kate smiled as she stirred the sauce. "Hey, Jack," she replied.

"Sorry," Jack started.

"Sorry?" Kate repeated. "For what, sexy?" she asked seductively.

"I won't be home until late tonight. One of the doctors called in sick and I have to cover for them."

Kate frowned slightly. Right as Kate frowned, Riley began to cry. Kate walked over and picked him up.

Jack heard his son crying and he sighed. "I'm sorry, Kate. I will be home for dinner tomorrow. I promise."

Kate sighed and rocked her son. "Okay. But, Jack, can you try to do something for me?" she asked.

"Yeah, sweetie. What do you want?"

"Can you try to get home before Kayley goes to bed at 8:30? Or before Iz goes to bed at 9:00? Please?"

Jack sighed. "I don't know if I'll be able to do that, Kate. If there's an emergency-"

"Well, if there isn't an emergency can you please come home before your oldest child goes to bed?" Kate asked, setting Riley back in his Pack and Play. The young boy cooed and grabbed one of his many toys.

"I'll try, Kate. I'll try," Jack assured.

Mrs. Shephard sighed. "Okay," she said.

"I have to go now. I'll see you tonight. I love you," Jack replied.

"Okay. Bye. Love you too," Kate said. Then she hung up and frowned.

Mrs. Shephard glanced at her son. "Riley, do you think Daddy should come home early tonight?" she asked.

The young boy clapped his hands. Kate took that as a yes.


Later that night the family, minus Jack, was eating dinner.

"Belle, Kayley, Daddy probably won't be home to tuck you in tonight," Kate said, eating her pasta. Isabella and Kayley looked at their mom, shocked.

"Again?" Bella exclaimed.

"That's the fourth time this week," Kayley complained.

"Why does he work all the time?"

"Yeah! How come he's always at work, Mom? He didn't go to work that much, like, last year!"

"It's not fair!"

"It's because Juliet's working there, isn't it?"

"Oh my God! Mom, is Dad cheating on you with Juliet?"

"Or, maybe it's that Sarah girl he hates!"

"Kayley, Daddy wouldn't be cheating on Mom with a girl he hates!"

"You never know! We, like, never see him! He could be putting on an act. He could pretend that he hates the Sarah girl to make it less suspicious! I mean, c'mon, Elle! If Daddy was cheating on Mommy, don't ya think he would pretend to hate the lady so we wouldn't suspect he was cheating on Mom?"

"I still doubt it."

"Then who could he be having an affair with?"

Bella was about to reply when Kate snapped, "Isabella Hayden Shephard! Kayley Marie Shephard! How dare you take about your father like that! You should never talk about him like that!"

Izzy and Kayley became silent as Mrs. Shephard glared at her daughters. "Let me set the record straight," Kate started, looking at both of her daughters.

Isabella and Kayley looked at each other with nervous glances. It was very rare for their mother to raise her voice.

"Your father is not cheating on me. We've been married for almost nine years and your father has never cheated on me. And I have never cheated on him. Bad accidents have been happening lately and your father, since he is the Chief Surgeon, gets called to the hospital every time there is an ER case. So he has to be at the hospital, even if he isn't doing surgery. And I know you too hate it because I hate it also. Dad hates it also. We all hate it. And it's hard on everyone, especially your father. It kills him to go into work each day and miss you two, and your brother, grow up. And this Sarah girl that your father's been talking to lately is his ex-wife. Dad was married once already before we met and his ex-wife Sarah cheated on him. So they got a divorce and your father and I met. And recently Sarah has decided to get back in touch with Dad to see if he is still single. Apparently Sarah's husband, the guy that she cheated on Dad with, has filed for divorce. So they're going through a divorce and they have a kid. Sarah is calling a lot to try and convince your father that she has never stopped loving him. Your father doesn't believe it, obviously, so that's why she's calling. She's trying to convince him to leave us and go back to her. But Dad and I have already discussed this, and he promised me that he'll never leave us. Never. So, if you think that Dad's cheating on me, you're wrong. Got it?" Kate explained.

Izzy and Kayley were silent. Then, slowly they nodded.

Kate added, "And about Julie. She's just a family friend. Okay?"

The girls nodded once more. Then the rest of dinner was eaten in silence.