Without thinking twice, his lips are on hers and one arm is around her waist, the other around finds its way up her back as he winds his fingers gently into her tangled curls.

Kate sniffles and kisses him back, salty tears and saliva mixing between their locked lips. She gives a soft hiccupping sob and pulls away slowly. She rests her face against his stubbly cheek for a moment before hugging him tightly once again. After this brief embrace she sinks back onto the couch, wiping her eyes.

Sawyer shifts from foot to foot for a moment, then takes a seat next to her. "You're a damn mess, Freckles." he mutters, ruffling her hair slightly.

She leans over and puts her face in her hands. "I know," she groans.

James timidly rubs her back for a second, feeling as if he could wake up from this utterly strange dream at any minute.

After a few deep breaths, Kate sits up and gives a watery smile and chuckle. "Ya know, I never really felt it kick that much before. It must like you."

He manages a slight grunt of recognition and a nod. Obviously she doesn't know the baby's sex yet. Has she even been to see a doctor? He knows she can be stupidly stubborn sometimes, but –

"I didn't tell Jack you know." She gives him a direct look, her green eyes still rimmed with red.

"Why didn't cha? he asks warily.

Kate shakes her head and he knows he shouldn't push it. "He's messed up enough already." she murmurs vaguely.

They sit in tense silence again, both pondering what the future holds for them.

Kate heaves another sigh, trying to regain complete composure. "Can I use your shower?" she asks after a moment.

James nods, "It's down the hall. Towels are in the laundry basket."

She gets up, giving him a sweet half-smile. "Thanks." She says, letting her hand trail along his should before leaving him to his thoughts.

He reclines on the couch with anxiety lining his face. He can hear the water running now. He could stand to shower off too at this point, he realizes, chancing a sniff at his underarm and wrinkling his nose.

Reality stabs him in the stomach like a pang of hunger. What the hell is he thinking? What the hell is she thinking? How in the world are they going to pull this off? It's never going to –

THUMP.

Sawyer jumps up from his spot on the couch, startled by the loud noise from the bathroom. It's silent now. Did she fall? Is she alright? He almost sprints to the bathroom door at this thought and knocks urgently.

"Y'okay in there?" he says it loudly, but he doesn't shout, trying to remain calm. Surely she'd be able to hear him over the water, but there's no reply.

Taking this as a bad sign, he goes in, heart pounding.

Kate peeks around the semi-clear plastic shower curtain, raising a quizzical brow. "Need something?"

He awkwardly puts his hands on his hips and shrugs, trying not to stare at her blurred nude outline through the curtain. Damn, even if she is pregnant…

He shakes his head to keep his mind on the situation. "I heard a thump." he explains lamely, vaguely motioning toward her.

"I dropped the shampoo." she replies with a nod.

"Oh." He runs a hand through his hair. "Sorry."

Kate gives a wry little laugh. "It's okay James. Anything else?"

He shakes his head, "Nah." He exits the bathroom, feeling stupid, but relieved that he wasn't dealing with an emergency situation. As he walks away he can hear her humming a little bit. This makes him feel better, though he doesn't know why. Maybe it's because it's a sign that she's happy. If she's happy, maybe he can find a way to be happy too.

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A/N: Shorter chapter this time, but cut-off points are very important to me to have a certain impact. Soo, yeah, the purpose of this chapter is Sawyer's reassurance that maybe this could all work. I hope you liked it. More is coming soon