A/N: This story is a sequel to "Choice". I'd recommend to read it before starting this one, but I leave it to your choice. Hope you'll engoy the strory.

In your reviews you gave me a few interesting ideas about sequel's plot. I'll try to use all of them but for now there will be answers about the near future of them.


Light. He felt like he was in a cocoon. It was safe there, but at the same time it paralyzed, suppressed and didn't not allow him to escape.

Flash of darkness in this realm of eternal and all-consuming light. A tear appeared in the cocoon. It spread, wider and wider, as if it was absorbing the light, dragging in all that was within its reach.

Eventually it got to him. He felt like he was being pulled into a black hole. He was dragged away from the comfort and safety of his cocoon. It scared him, but at the same time he wanted it to happen. He was ready to do anything to get out of there wherever "there" was.

He was almost at the edge. Freedom! New world!

The blackness swallowed him. It was cool and indifferent. There was nothing in that darkness, so nothing could pressure him, but it was also a cocoon as the light was. There was no way to escape it.

No! No! No!

James regained consciousness, due to something wet and cold sticking to his body.

-Son of a bitch -

He looked around, trying to understand where he could be and how the hell he got there. He lay on a pile of dirty, wet leaves and he was holding somebody's hand.

Juliet!

Richard! Their move!

He remembered everything.

Juliet began to stir beside him.

-Welcome back to the world, sweetheart .-

-James- She smiled blissfully still not quite waking, but after looking around her expression became more alarmed.-Where are we? -

-As said Mr "Know-it-all", we are somewhere near civilization- he said sarcastically.

-James- Now she was looking at him with disapproval.

-What? -

She did not answer and just gave him her «Other» look.

-Oh hell. I have no idea where we are.- He said with irritation- But I know that I'll strangle Alpert with my bare hands for waking up like this.-

-Are you sure that it's worth spending our time searching for him? - She asked calmly, but he could see a mischievous twinkle in the depths of her eyes.

-I ... - he began, but stopped, when he understood what she wanted to say.

They got off the Island, and there was no way they would return there, even to kill Richard.

-I'm absolutely sure it isn't worth that - He smiled at her – With the beginning of our new life, baby. And I don't care if the Island and Richard on it goes to ruin.-

She smiled back, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. He replied immediately, by pulling her closer and deepening the kiss. It was a moment of passion, love, tenderness, and peace.

The outside world reminded them about itself immediately by pouring cold wateron them.

-Great!- Juliet grumbled.

-Look at it from the positive point of view, Blondie. At least now we are clean .- He winked at her.

Juliet just rolled her eyes and rushed to the nearest tree, hoping it would protect her from the rain. James followed her.

-We can continue here, if you wish - he said playfully, putting his hands on both sides of her, and pinning her to the tree.

He was so close. She felt the warmth of his body. She felt the light touch of his hair on her cheek. And he did nothing, only smiled at her. She was drowning in his eyes; she wanted him to kiss her, to feel his hands caress her body. She wanted to be with him, yield to him. She was sure that he felt same way. But ...

-Not here, James. I'm not going to start a new life with sex in the dirt - She said.

He moved away and looked at her, trying to figure out whether she had in mind only what she said or it was an allusion to his past. Would Kate always be between them?

His expression changed and Juliet felt it. She did not want to hurt him. She just spent too much time on the Island and she wanted this new life to be absolutely different. There were too many things in her past, she didn't want to remember.

-Let 's try look for the civilization that should be nearby, and then ... – She smiled mischievously.

-An excellent plan - He nodded, but his thoughts were far away.

What did she say that upset him so much? She recalled her words. Shit! Now she understood his reaction. She wasn't going to mention Kate.

-I didn't mean what you thought - she said.

-How do you know what I thought?-

-It is written with large letters on your forehead, James. So again, I just meant that I didn't want any more hikes, nothing even remotely resembling the Island .-

Looks like she managed to convince him, because he relaxed and smiled.

-I got it. No jungle and no sea. We'll move to the North. - He said with mock seriousness.

-What? No! I didn't mean it that way! -She exclaimed.

-Really? Guess, you have problems with expressing your thoughts, Sweetheart - he laughed.

- I think you just have problems with understanding- She snorted. - So I'll try to speak as clearly for you as possible. We choose a direction and move on. And during our walk you make up the story we'll tell. Do you have any questions?-

-No, sir. All clear, sir. Can I begin, sir? – He saluted.

-Yes, soldier Ford, you are allowed to start your duties-she graciously nodded.