Quickie:

Hmm.Where did everyone go? I only see 4 loyal reviewers here. Guess I know now who the real ones are. -sniffles-
Ahm just kidding. :o) Enjoy!

Chapter 4

Eventually, Sawyer and Kate made it back to the truck and drove back home. Kate grabbed the mail from the mailbox on her way in and thumbed through it, knowing it was all Sawyer's anyway. But then she saw a small thick envelope with a gold rim, written out to both James "Sawyer" Ford & Kate Austen. She picked it out of the bunch in her hand and placed the rest on the mantle. She sat on the couch, staring at it cautiously. Sawyer glanced over her shoulder.

"Whatcha got there, Freckles?"

"I'm not sure. It's addressed to both of us. And…it's gold," she said with a hint of disgust.

"You gonna stare at it or you gonna open it and find out what it is?"

She knew he was right. She turned the envelope over and carefully slid her finger through the triangular flap. Her heart pounded with anticipation and fear. She pulled out a card, let out a breath of relief, and smiled. It was a wedding invitation. She and Sawyer exchanged glances and read.

"The hobbit's gettin' hitched?" he said in surprise.

"You're cordially invited to the wedding and reception of Miss Claire Littleton and Mr. Charlie Pace," she read aloud. She shook her head, confused. "It's for next month."

"Claire?" Sawyer asked, unfamiliar with the name.

"The one with the baby," Kate said as she continued to read.

He sat next to her. "Ooh. So it's the cute little Aussie gal, huh?" he dimpled.

"Cute little Aussie girl?" Kate looked at him accusingly, grinning.

He shrugged. "For a pregnant girl, I mean," he said, trying to save himself.

"Uh-huh…" Kate said, grinning at his expression. "Says we're supposed to RSVP within two weeks."

"We ain't goin'…" he said, with a feeling of dread creeping up on him.

"Why not?" she frowned.

"Cause it's a damn wedding! I ain't goin'. What for?"

"Because they're our friends."

"No. They're your friends."

"Sawyer, everyone loves you now, since you helped get us rescued on the raft."

"Not everyone. Doc's still got it out for me," he pointed out.

"They're your friends too, now, whether you like it or not," she said, rolling her eyes and ignoring the comment.

"I don't," he said.

"Why? Is there some reason you need to have everyone hate you?"

"Just 'cause I ain't on the outs with everyone anymore, doesn't mean I wanna be all chummy with them."

"You could at least try. I'm sure they'll all want to see you," she said, as she distractedly read a note that fell out from the card.

"Yeah right," he said, leaning back folding his arms behind his head.

"Come on, Sawyer. Look," she said, showing him the note. "Claire wants me to be her maid of honor. I can't say no."

"Then you go," he said, taking the note from her.

She sat back, quieted.

"Maid of honor..." he scoffed, reading.

Kate sat up again, getting an idea. She grinned and glanced sideways at him.

"What if Jack's there alone too?" she teased, knowingly. "I might be tempted to dance with him."

She saw him grow suddenly uncomfortable and knew she'd hit a spot with the mentioning of Jack. It always set him off.

"And no one will be there to stop me," she egged on.

He shook his head, knowing exactly what she was trying to do. And he wasn't going to let her get away with it. She wouldn't break him.

"Go ahead and dance with him!" He leaned toward her and spoke softly, "Dance your heart out. I could care less."

He leaned back and she watched him closely. Then she got another idea that would guarantee his change of heart.

"Well, you know, the wedding is all the way in LA. And I can't fly there and back in one day. I would have to stay there at least one night…"

He gritted his teeth. And of course Jack lived in LA, he remembered. She still knew exactly which buttons to push. He sighed.

"Fine, all right? We'll go!" he said, irritatingly.

She grinned, satisfactorily and leaned back into the couch.

"Fine."

He sighed. "You get a kick outta this, don't you?"

She only smiled. Suddenly she had a thought and couldn't stifle her laughter.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing," she grinned.

"Don't lie," he smirked, tickling her.

She laughed harder and pushed him away. "Okay." She paused to take a breath.

He stared at her, impatiently.

"I was just picturing you in a tux," she grinned.

He rolled his eyes, looking away, and gritted his teeth. "You expect me to wear a tux?"

"Well what else would you wear? Your jeans and a ratty old t-shirt?"

"I happen to like my ratty old t-shirts, thank you."

"So I've noticed," she said, tugging at his grey t-shirt.

"Yeah, yeah," he said, brushing her hand off him. "Can't I just wear a suit?"

"Fine. And I'll just wear a shirt and pants," she said sardonically.

He licked his lips, and grinned. "Baby, you don't have to wear anything at all."

"All right," she sighed, getting up to leave him.

"Where you goin'?" he pulled her back down on the couch.

He dipped her for a long, loving kiss, making her forget all about the argument…