A/N: Hey guys, thanks for all the reviews from last chapter, I really appreciate them. Sorry for the longish update time, it's been (yet another) work week from hell. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and please drop a review on the way out- even if it's only 1-2 words, they are all appreciated! Enjoy.

Chapter 4: Surprise Appearance

Jack finished tying his tie about an hour before he was due at the hotel for the ceremony. He gave himself a quick look over to make sure he was presentable, and was reasonably satisfied. The check wasn't for him, as he wasn't out to impress anyone, but more for his mother and father who would be expecting he look his best.

Passing his own quick test, Jack grabbed his keys before glancing back over his apartment to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. His eyes roamed over the modest room, eventually landing on his phone. He picked it up, taking a one last moment to debate whether to call Kate and apologize about his behavior last night.

Having had an entire night to think about it, he really felt horrible about the entire thing and he didn't want Kate to spend the entire summer not knowing he was sorry. If he was being completely honest with himself, he didn't want to spend the entire summer with Kate not knowing he was sorry either.

Convincing himself, he dialed Kate's home number for what felt like the millionth time and waited patiently for an answer. An answer that never came.

Not to be dismayed, he tried her cell phone, and again was met with an answering machine. "Hi, it's Kate. Leave me a message and I'll call you back. Thanks."

Jack was still deciding what to say when he heard the beep to begin recording. Caught by surprise, he stuttered for few seconds getting his thoughts in order. "Uhh. Hey, Kate. It's me. Look, can we talk? I really want to apologize about last night. I uhh…well, just call me back." Jack finished, and hung up the phone, dragging himself out of his apartment.

Not a long time after that, Jack arrived at the hotel where his parent's vow renewal was taking place. A lot of the other couples that he knew participated in this picked a tropical spot every year, using the ceremony almost as an excuse to get away. But not the Shephard's, for them it was all about the ceremony and what it meant. But after the marital problems they'd been through, Jack couldn't really blame them.

The hospital and Christian's attachment to it had almost killed their marriage numerous times. The problems had been at their peak during Jack's pre-teen years, but they'd continued since then. It wasn't until Jack graduated from Columbia that Christian turned over a new leaf.

Walking into the hall, Jack looked around, faintly hoping for any sign of Kate. But, as he expected, she wasn't present. He'd basically told her he didn't want her to come, so he understood why she hadn't come. He just wished he could go back in time and change the way he reacted to her news. He wished he could go back in time and un-uninvite her.

He spotted his mom talking to some friends from her Book club, but he couldn't see his father. He knew better than to interrupt his mother when she was with her friends as it always ended in some embarrassing story about his childhood, so Jack headed over to the bar to grab a drink.

He'd already downed a beer when he saw his father enter the room talking to a short blonde woman holding a baby. A short blonde woman? No. It couldn't be. Could it?

Interest peaked, Jack left the bar and headed over to his father, as he got closer to the pair, the woman's identity was confirmed.

It was his sister, Claire.

"Claire? Is it really you?" Jack asked in disbelief.

"Jack!" Claire screamed, hugging her brother, taking care not to get her child caught between them. Jack looked over her shoulder, and nodded softly, greeting his father who returned the gesture before heading off to mingle with the guests.

"What are you doing here? I haven't seen you in ages." Jack asked.

"Well, let's just say I could've thought through my life plan a little more." Claire replied, still touchy about the subject.

"Oh? So Sydney didn't work out?" Jack asked, treading ground carefully.

"Not so much Sydney, but Thomas." Claire remarked sadly.

"Claire, I'm sorry." Jack consoled.

"Don't be. I'm over it. Actually, that's why I'm here. To start over." Claire said.

"I know I'm not exactly one to give advice on this subject, but a vow renewal not exactly the place to come to get over a breakup is it?" Jack joked.

Claire hit him playfully on the arm. "Shut up Jack, and no you aren't. I'm not here to start again. I'm moving back to California." Claire explained.

"That's great, have you found a place to stay?"

"Not yet, but Dad said I could stay with them until I got back on my feet." Claire said, causing Jack to shake his head.

"You sure you wanna do that? Stay with mom and dad? Wasn't the first time enough fun?" Jack said.

"Yea, well I don't exactly have that many options do I, Jack? Beggars can't be choosers." Claire remarked.

"You can stay with me if you want." Jack blurted out.

"What?" Claire asked.

"Yea. I've got a decent sized apartment, I'd like to think I'm slightly more fun than mom and dad, and I'd love to have you stay with me." Jack explained.

"I don't know Jack, I'd probably just get in the way."

"I don't think that's possible, Claire."

"Well, aren't you seeing someone? That's what Dad said." Claire asked.

"No, I don't know what made him say that. The hospital doesn't really make for a huge social life. I consider myself lucky to have the friends I do." Jack said.

"I'm not sure, Jack. Let me think about it?" Claire reasoned.

"Yea, no problem. Just let me know when you make your decision. I'll be in that area all night if you need me." Jack said, pointing towards the bar.

"Ok, thanks a lot Jack. It was nice to see you again. I'm going to see if I know anyone here, so I'll see you around."

"Yep, have fun." Jack almost chided, believing it impossible, before making his way back to the bar.

Two drinks later, Jack was still thinking about Claire's sudden return. What exactly had gone wrong with Thomas? She wasn't very specific, but Jack swore if Thomas had hurt her, he'd be on the next available plane to Australia to make him wish he hadn't.

"I was surprised too, son." Jack's thoughts were interrupted by his father's voice from behind him.

"Hmm?" Jack said, turning his attentions to his father.

"Claire. I was surprised when she called us. I didn't think she was coming back." Christian explained.

"Yea, I didn't think I'd see her again for a long time. But I'm really happy she's back. It's nice to see her." Jack agreed.

"Yes, it is. You seem to pick up right where you left off." Christian noted.

"Yea, I guess we were always kinda close."

"Well, that's definitely true. So how are you doing, Jack? We haven't spoken in a while." Christian asked.

"Not bad, got a surgical offer at the hospital, but I don't think I'm going to take it." Jack answered, bracing himself for an onslaught of his father's advice.

But instead, his father just nodded. "Well, it's your decision, Jack. Whatever you think is best for you. I'm not going to push you in to anything." Christian said, surprising Jack. Where was the yelling, the 'I know what's best for you' speech? What was going on?

"Speaking of you, Jack. Where's your girlfriend? I thought you said she was going to be coming with you?" Christian asked, truly interested.

"My girlfriend?" Jack repeated questioningly, "Claire said you mentioned I was seeing someone, who are you talking about?"

"That brunette woman. The one you're always hanging out with, you're practically inseparable." Christian stated.

"Kate? No, Dad, she's not my girlfriend. We're just friends- good friends- but just friends." Jack assured him.

"Damn. That's to bad son." Christian quipped, not looking at Jack, but over his left shoulder at the door.

"What are you looking—" Jack said as he turned around, but he was unable to finish the thought.

Kate had just walked in wearing a thigh-length green dress, almost the very same color as her Emerald eyes. She looked absolutely gorgeous. Jack's jaw visibly dropped.

Christian had noticed Jack's reaction as well, muttering "Friends my ass." before taking another sip of his drink and turning back to the bar.

Jack ignored his father, immediately getting up and walking over to Kate.

"Kate? What are you doing here?" Jack asked, still in awe of her beauty.

"It's nice to see you too, Jack." Kate joked, smiling at him.

"Sorry, I know that came out wrong. I mean I'm really glad you're here, I just didn't think you would after how I acted last night." Jack returned the smile shyly.

"Look Jack. Last night wasn't your finest hour, but I have to admit that I didn't help things either. It's going to take more than one night to tear us apart." Kate explained.

"What made you come? Did you get my message?" Jack asked.

"I saw I had one from you, but I deleted it." Kate said softly.

"Why?" Jack asked in bewilderment.

"Because. I already knew what you were going to say, and I was always coming anyway. I figured I'd save you the embarrassment of an awkward message." Kate joked with a glint in her eyes.

"You could have told me that last night, Kate. That would've been better."

"Yea, well, at the time I was still mad at you for what you said."

"I guess I deserved that." Jack admitted, shrugging. "Do you want to go get a drink? This time I have big news."

"What, are you coming with me?" Kate asked mockingly as they walked towards the bar.

"What? No—do you want me to?" Jack ventured curiously.

"Of course I do Jack, it's just—" Kate answered.

"You know what. It doesn't matter. This is your trip; this is your summer. We'll have some fun tonight and then you head east. What happens after that, well we'll cross that bridge when we get to it." Jack interrupted her, apprehensive of rejection.

"Sounds like a plan." Kate said, sitting down as they arrived at the bar. "So what's this big news?"

"Claire's back." Jack stated simply.

"What!? Claire!? Where is she!?" Kate almost shrieked, turning heads in almost a quarter of the hall. Unfortunately, it wasn't the quarter that Claire was currently occupying. "I've missed her so much. She was like my little sister." Kate said, much more quietly.

Jack turned his head, surveying the room for any sign of his sister with no luck. Instead, he found a different blonde head. Slightly taller and slightly older he recognized the face immediately.

"There she is. I'll be right back Jack." Kate said, taking off towards Claire. Momentarily glancing at Kate as she walked towards Claire he checked back to see the blonde heading straight for him. He took a long drink from his beer and prepared for the worst.

"Jack? Fancy seeing you here. What are you doing here?" Jack's ex-girlfriend, Sarah, greeted him.

Sarah was the epitome of everything Jack hated in a woman. She was born into wealth, and flaunted it incessantly, as well being uncaring and inconsiderate to anyone outside of her self-proclaimed class. She hadn't taken it well when Jack had broken up with her, and it had only made matters worse when he told her the reason.

If it weren't for the fact that Sarah already despised Kate before the break-up, Jack would've have been somewhat worried Sarah would let slip to Kate. Thankfully, she had not.

"You know Christian? And Margot? They're my parents." Jack said sarcastically, causing Sarah to emit the pretentious laugh he had come to hate so much.

"So, Jack." Sarah continued, ignoring his previous remark. "Are you seeing anyone at the moment?" Straight and to the point, Jack thought. Why'd she have to be the clingy, pining type?

"Actually, I am." Jack stated bluntly, no further elaboration needed.

"Oh, who?" Sarah asked, faking innocence. Luckily, Jack had figured she'd play this card, and had a plan formulated in his mind.

"Why don't you find a seat around here, I'll go get her and we can talk. I've told her so much about you." Jack said. It wasn't a lie, Kate already knew a lot about Sarah. They just weren't nice things.

"Ok." Sarah replied dryly, suddenly less interested, and Jack walked off to find Kate.

It wasn't long before he found her talking to his sister. They seemed to really be enjoying each other's company, but Jack's safety was at stake here.

Both women saw him approaching and momentarily stopped their conversation to greet him.

"Hey, Jack." They said almost simultaneously.

"Hey, Claire? Can I talk to Kate a moment?" Jack asked, and Claire nodded, not moving from her spot. "In private?" Jack added, causing Claire to smile and turn away.

"Look, I need your help, Kate. Sarah's here. I don't know who invited her, but she is." Jack spoke almost desperately.

"Wait. Sarah…stuck up Sarah?" Kate asked.

"That's the one. Look, she's still in to me and I kinda said something to get her to back off." Jack began to explain, and Kate's eyebrows raised slightly.

"What did you say?" Kate asked.

"I kinda told her I was seeing someone. Do you see where I'm going with this?" Jack asked hopefully.

"Yea." Kate said through a grin. She had always loathed Sarah. Suffice it to say, they did not get along. "So what do we need to do?"

"It's pretty easy, really. I told her to grab a table we just have to—shit." Jack said, seeing Sarah staring at them from behind Kate. The look on her face told him exactly what he'd feared.

Sarah knew all about Jack and Kate's friendship, and all the baggage that came with that revelation. She knew they had basically promised each other they would never become anything more than friends; a fact which made Sarah all the more angrier when she learned Kate was the woman she was dumped for.

"Kate."

"Jack?" Kate replied, looking up at him.

"Please don't hate me for doing this." Jack said, and brought his lips quickly down to hers.

The moment he did so, all kinds of thoughts were running through Jack's head. Was it the right thing to do? Would Kate kiss him back? Did he just jeopardize their entire friendship? Curiously, the last thing on his mind was Sarah's acceptance of the 'ruse'.

For a few seconds, Kate stood motionless, unable to respond through shock. When she realized what was happening though, and who was kissing her, she responded immediately, wrapping her arms slowly around Jack's neck.

It was just the relief that Jack needed, and, empowered by the fact that Kate was kissing him back, intensified the kiss. Tongue met tongue, and electricity shot through Jack like a lightning bolt. His hands encircled Kate's waist, pulling her even closer to him.

All to soon, Kate pulled back from the kiss. Jack looked first to her, then around the room. As far as he could tell, only one person had seen their moment of intimacy- and she was storming out the front door.

Relieved, Jack looked back to Kate to attempt to explain what he'd just done, but he couldn't. She was gone.

Across the room, the one other person who had seen the kiss, muttered to herself, "Friends my ass, Kate."

A/N: That's it for now. Hope you enjoyed it, and please REVIEW and tell you what you did/didn't like. Even 1-2 words is greatly appreciated.

Coming Up: The direct aftermath of the kiss.