I will admit a sequel was always in the works with James and Kate's story, Never an Absolution laid the foundations of their relationship. If you've read the story then you know that it ended with rescue coming for the Losties.

I've tried to take reviews of NAA into consideration as I write the sequel so if there's something that you think works particularly well or doesn't REVIEW!

Warning: Short chapter.

Chapter 1

February 14 2005

Kate studied her face in the mirror, for all intents and purposes she figured she looked presentable.

It was Valentine's Day and he was taking her on a genuine Southern Riverboat/Hotel experience for dinner, dance and romance. She smiled to herself ruefully, it was amazing how much had changed since the Rangers had rescued them off the Island two months ago.

Travis had connections high up in the US Government higher up than her father, seeing as he had the money and the resources to launch a full scale Ranger covert mission without needing to get clearance from anyone.

Then he also turned out to be a lawyer of some kind because he'd brokered her a deal with the US government. In exchange for her silence about the US government's involvement in the Dharma Initiative and various other State secrets Travis had alleged she knew, she'd received a Presidential Pardon and the charges against her for Wayne's death had been dropped; seeing as their only good witness was her dead mother.

Now here she was, healthy, clean, with a future to look forward to, she had been offered and accepted a government scholarship to go to university and she couldn't wait until the fall when she would begin attending UCLA. Kate glanced down at the engagement ring on her finger, glowing in the well lit room.

'And I have a man who loves me and would do anything to make me happy.' She thought to herself proudly. The only thing wrong with her life right now was the stomach bug that was going around the city. She still felt weak and was throwing up every now and again, but it didn't bother her too much so was almost everyone she knew.

Rising in front of the mirror to check her back, Kate nodded in satisfaction; the purple silk fit in all the right places and the way it flowed down to her ankles and swirled when she moved was exactly how she wanted the dress to behave.

She'd swept her dark waves high above the nape of her neck and had lined her eyes with dark kohl, going for a temptress look. Dusting her cheekbones with some shimmer and applying some purple eyeshadow sparingly on her eyelids. She applied some lipstick then dabbed lipgloss on top to give them a shine.

Her cellphone started to ring, slipping on her purple diamanté sandals, she pulled on her long black coat as she hurried out of the room; without picking up the phone.

He was looking at his watch impatiently, 'Where is she?' We're going to miss the flight to Memphis if she's any later! I really want this to be perfect.' Suddenly she appeared looking gorgeous as usual, he could see purple silk poking out of the tail of the coat she was buttoning up. The little glimpse of silk thrilled him, as did the apologetic smile on her face as she walked up to him and kissed him.

"Sorry I'm late." She spoke softly and was a little out of breath.

"Not a problem." He replied, smiling down at her as he led her to the waiting limousine.

They got in the car and he instructed the driver to take them to the airport as he put his arm around her and drew her in close.

'At last I really know what it means to love a woman.' He thought to himself, happily.