A/N: This is a sequel to "Raised by Another". Very Kate/Aaron centric, obviously, but other Losties might drop in occasionally. This is going to be a longer fic, too.

As usual: Don't Own, Don't Sue.

Please review when you're done reading!

Aaron Charlie Austen

When the Oceanic Six returned to America, they were all given generous compensation packages. Kate used part of hers to buy a house and hire a nanny to look after Aaron. After the trial finished, and the media found someone more interesting to hound, she started to relax into her new life. She saw Jack fairly regularly, and Hurley came to see Aaron a few times.

She kept her promise to Claire, and told the baby as much as she could about Charlie. She didn't know who Aaron's biological father was, but that didn't matter. Charlie was the only real father he'd ever had. She tried to find a photo of Charlie – and eventually found a picture on a DriveShaft internet site. She printed it and had it framed, and hung it in Aaron's room.

As the months, then years passed, they settled into a sort of routine. Kate kept to the rules of her probation, saw her parole officer regularly – she even got a job. Each day she would come home and Aaron's face would light up when he saw her. At first, she had felt uncomfortable, but she was starting to get used to it. One afternoon, when Aaron was still a baby, she was in his room playing with him when he suddenly said "dada".

"Aaron? What did you say, hun?"

The baby waved a tiny fist in the direction of the framed picture of Charlie, and said it again. "Dada."

"Oh, Aaron, your first word… yes, that's Charlie. Your dada."

When he was having his nap, Kate went into the sitting room, sat down on the floor and burst into tears. Claire should have been the one looking after him, Claire should have been the one to hear his first word.

When Aaron was five, Kate found a good preschool for him. He called her "Mommy" now – and she was getting used to that. Sometimes it still hurt, but she was getting used to it. She walked him to his preschool classroom on his first day, and watched him as he immediately found another little boy to play with. Another mother was standing nearby.

"It's tough, isn't it?"

Kate turned. "I'm sorry?"

"Their first day. Reminds you that one day they're going to grow up."

"Oh, yes. Yeah, I suppose so."

"So… which one's yours?"

Kate pointed out Aaron, happily playing with his new friend. "There."

"He's lovely. What's his name?"

"Aaron."

"That's a nice name. I'm Amanda Harris, by the way."
"Kate." She hesitated for a moment. "Kate Austen."

"Nice to meet you…. Wait a minute… Austen… I've seen you somewhere before…"

Kate flushed. She knew what was coming next.

Amanda looked thoughtful. "Yes, I know where I've seen you… you're one of the Oceanic Six. You were on that plane."

Kate looked at her, surprised that Amanda hadn't mentioned the highly-publicised trial. "Er, yes. I was."

"Your boy's five, right?"
"Yes."

"He was born on that island, wasn't he?"

Kate was now feeling distinctly uncomfortable. "Er, yes."

"Is his father still around?"

"No. No, his father hasn't been around for a long time."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"It's all right."

"Um… Miss Austen… could I get your autograph? I wouldn't ask, but my daughter would love to know that I met one of the Oceanic Six."

"Sure. Do you have a pen?"Amanda handed her a small notebook and a biro. "What's your daughter's name?"

"Claire. With an 'i'."

Kate quickly wrote "Dear Claire, Best Wishes, from Kate Austen" then handed the pad back to Amanda. "There. Uh, I have to go now. It was good to meet you, though."

Kate hurried back to her car, moving as fast as she could without attracting attention. When she got to the car she sat in the driver's seat and burst into tears.