You guys are the best! Thank you all sooo much for all of the reviews, I really appreciate everything you have to say! And I'm so sorry this has taken way longer for me to upload than I would have liked but due to millions of tests, I couldn't find the time. But now it's summer and I have all day, every day to write. Anyways, thanks again and I hope you enjoy this chapter :)
"How did he get it here?" Jack questioned as he stood beside Juliet and looked out at the small boat ready to set sail.
"It's Ben." She replied simply, "He's capable of anything."
He nodded and let out a small laugh, "I guess I should've realized that by now."
She kept her eyes fixated in front of her as he spoke, but suddenly turned her head towards him and stated, "I'm not going alone, you know."
"Of course not." He assured her, squinting out at the ocean, "Desmond will be with you. He knows how to sail."
She was quiet for a moment before turning around and saying softly, "You're coming with me."
He didn't respond so she continued, "There's no reason for you to stay. Whatever you came to the island to do is done - we're saved. Now everything you want is out there." She motioned beyond the ocean, "Kate's out there."
He stood motionless for a moment, watching the waves come crashing down in an almost rhythmic way. It was then when he realized he had never taken a second to stop and enjoy all the beauty the island had to offer - there was always some burden on his mind, some mission that had to be taken care of. He thought of all the time he had wasted by hating the island and cursing every aspect of it, and in the process overlooked all of the things it had brought him - purpose, friendship, responsibility, Kate.
"Jack?" Juliet's soft voice spoke, breaking up his thoughts.
He turned his head towards her before stating, "I'll see if Ben can get us some sandwiches for the ride home - return the favor."
She smiled slightly, and Jack was unsure if it was at his quip or the mention of his intended departure.
Then, after swiftly returning the smile, he started towards Linus and heard Juliet call over his shoulder, "Don't forget the toothpicks."
Every other step, he found he had to remind himself to breath. He couldn't shake the thought that it should be Juliet in his place - strolling up the walkway leading to Rachel's new home and meeting her beloved nephew - and he should be the one buried on that goddamn island.
As he reached the front steps and knocked on the ivory front door, he glanced around at the numerous flowers scattered in a nearby garden. The splashes of color from the various plants were the focal point of the yard and he couldn't help but stare. But it wasn't until the exact second he caught sight of a single row of sunflowers, that Rachel decided to swing open the door.
"Are you okay, sir?" She asked, carefully eying the depressed southerner slouching in front of her.
He quickly whipped his head around at the sound of her voice, and at long last laid eyes on the woman he's heard so much about, one hand hovering over her stomach and a concerned look plastered on her face.
He took a moment to examine her as he synchronously found the will to speak. Her hair was darker but she stood the same way and her eyes had the same shine and son of a bitch, she looked just like her.
"Are you alright?" Rachel repeated, causing him to clear his throat and force a smile.
"The name's James." He began, reaching out a hand for her to shake, "I ain't sure how ta' tell ya' this. But t'was sorta datin' yer sister-"
"Juliet?" She asked, eerily calm, "She's been in Portland for years now."
"She ain't never been to Portland. She ended up...somewhere else." He explained as simply as he knew how, "But trust me, she was fightin' tooth an' nail to get back ta' ya an' Julian fer years. She really cared 'bout ya'."
Her face immediately tensed, "How do you know my son's name?"
"Jules told me. Said she was honored ya' named the kid after her." He explained, and off her look, added, "I know ya' got no reason ta' believe me but if ya' care 'bout Jules even half as much as I know she cares 'bout you, then you'll wanna hear what I gotta say."
She eyed the man carefully before deciding to push the door open further and motion for him to step inside. Relieved at her willingness to trust a total stranger, he did as told and as he followed her into the kitchen, she asked, "How did you say you knew her again?"
"S'complicated." He answered, "But we were together."
"How serious were you?"
How serious were they? What the hell kinda question was that? How could he possibly begin to explain how totally and completely in love they were? How what started out as board-game night and flirty banter soon turned into sunflowers and love making on the beach? How snuggling on the sofa and drinking champagne swiped from Horace became a daily ritual in both their lives?
"T'was gonna propose." Was the simple answer he decided on, "We talked 'bout it an' she liked the idea, but I never got 'round ta' give her the ring."
Rachel shook her head in protest, "She always said she'd never get married again - not after what happened with that asshole Edmund." She paused, "For her to want to marry you...she must really love you."
He found himself smiling at her comment and she soon questioned, "I hate to be blunt but what is it you came here to tell me, James?"
He inhaled deeply and prepared himself for what he was about to do. After taking a seat in a nearby chair, he began to explain, in as much detail as possible, what her sister had been going through for the past six years. He told her about the pregnancies, Ben, the plane crash, the three years she spent living in a yellow house with him. Of course he left out some of the more grusome, unbelievable details, excluding anything involving guns, tasers, or time travel.
By the time he got up to the day of Juliet's death, they were both in tears.
He thought reliving the days events would give him some sense of closure, but he was wrong - it just made the pain of losing her one million times worse.
"I see you've been admiring my handiwork." Benjamin spoke as Jack approached him, referring to the nearby boat.
"What's the catch?" The doctor asked, scrunching his forehead in confusion., "What's in it for you?"
"The road to redemption isn't easy, Jack. But being of assistance in your journey home is certainly a start." He licked his lips before explaining, "And I'm sure you'll be glad to hear transmission is up and running once again so you can contact the outside world if you'd so wish."
"That's great news, brother." Desmond chirped up from beside them, "Maybe I can give Penn a call?"
"Do as you so please." He replied dryly, "Just be careful not to run out the battery."
"Aye, of course not." Desmond grinned before dashing towards the boat to locate the telephone.
Jack couldn't help but smile as he watched the man run off to speak with the love of his life, and admitted, "After everything you've put me through, I never thought I'd be saying this, but..." He began, "Thank you, Ben."
She didn't know how she did it - It nearly killed her. To have Aaron run up to her, smiling and squealing with joy. To wrap her arms around the young boy, tears spilling down her cheeks, and ruffle his hair. Then, to allow Claire to step into the room to reunite with her formally coma-stricken mother and son. To try to explain to goober how Claire was his mommy now, how he would still see her all the time but would have to start calling her Auntie Kate.
And now here she was, only a few days later, standing alone in the corner of her own home, watching in pain as Aaron clung onto Claire's hand and led her around the room, showing off his array of toys. It was amazing how fast he took to her, like he knew exactly who she was and how much she loved him.
Kate watched the two of them, both beaming with joy, and tried her damnest to be happy for them, but all she felt was emptiness. She was losing Aaron and she had already lost Jack and without them to guide her she knew she'd soon lose herself to the overwhelming grief.
Ring ring ring
"Kate, aren't you going to get that?"
"I don't think so. I'm not in the mood for small talk."
Ring ring ring
"Are you sure?" Claire urged, "What if it's important?"
Kate sighed before giving in and slowly making her way over to the phone. She didn't feel like arguing with the woman and it could do her some good to speak with someone besides Claire for a change, even if it was a telemarketer.
"Hello?" She spoke into the receiver and when no one responded, she tried again, "Hello?"
The other end was quiet for a moment before she heard a voice breath out, "Kate."
Her eyes mechanically widened and she lost her grip on the phone as she took in the sound she had just heard. It couldn't be, could it?
Her heart felt as if it stopped beating and she fell to the floor to swoop the phone back up into her hands. Shaking, she blinked a number of times before her dry mouth could rasp out, "Jack?"
"Kate." He repeated, a smile forming on his lips as he uttered her name, "How are you? Is everything okay? Are you alright?"
"Me?" She asked, tears already spilling down her cheeks, "I..I'm fine. But how - how are you...are you -" She swallowed hard before asking, her voice a mere whisper, "Is that really you?"
He let out a single laugh and said softly, "It's really me."
"I don't get it - I thought you were...I mean I'm glad you're not." She let out a sob, "I'm so glad you're not." She paused to try to still her shaking hands and thumping heart, but failed.
"I don't get it either." He admitted, and before he could get another word out, she spoke up.
"You know I meant it - I love you." Another sob escaped her, "I love you, Jack."
He smiled into the receiver, "I love you, Kate. And I - I'm on my way home."
"You're what?" She gasped, trying to grasp the words before they dissipated into the air. She waited for his response, and when she heard only silence, she asked, "Jack? Jack? Jack, are you there?"
Suddenly she heard the dial tone and had to force herself to keep from crumbling. What had happened was real, wasn't it? She didn't just imagine the sound of his breathing, the gentle rasp of his voice?
No, no it was all real, she assured herself - Jack was alive, he was safe, he was coming home.
"Kate?" She heard Claire call as she strolled into the room, Aaron's hand held in her own, "Who was it on the phone?"