Author's Note: I know that the conversation dropped off at an awkward end, but they'll work through things more in this chapter. You'll see, it makes sense. Anyway, please leave me a review...you have no idea of how much it helps me. Anyway, enjoy!

Eleven days later

The sun was setting over Los Angeles, and as Jack stared lazily out the window of the bar, he heard someone sit in the booth across from him. Wrapping his fingers tightly on his glass, Jack gulped.

"Is something wrong?"Sayid asked, his accent still coming through. "The way you sounded over your message worried me a bit."

"We meet here all the time. It's like some sort of celebration or something. A way to forget..remember. Whichever."Jack replied, staring down into his drink. "So I heard from Kate."

Sayid sensed something wrong in his words, and sighed heavily. "I suppose she told you something you did not like?"He asked. "How long are you two going to continue this ruse of sending letters back and forth before you go and find her?"

"I don't know."Jack replied, shaking his head. He thought of her letter, of what Kate had said. He's your kid. "I don't know if I should. But if I am, Sayid...I'll need your help."

"To find her?"The man asked, an amused smile crossing his features. "I cannot promise you anything, but I know that I can try."

Jack,

I'm sorry about before. Something happened that took my attention away from you, but it shouldn't have. It was good talking to you, though. I miss that-being able to talk to you whenever I had the chance to. We fought at times, but somehow we always managed to get through it together.

There's something I need to tell you, Jack. You said that you wouldn't hate me, you said there was nothing I could tell you that would make you feel that way. While I want so badly to believe that, it's hard. The truth-I should start there, right? You need to know that I love you. That I have never stopped, as hard as that might be to believe. You matter to me, Jack. You saw me as more that a product of my past, and loved me in spite of it. But as usual, I come in ripping through things and screwing them up again just when they get perfect.

I can't stand staying still. You were one who knew that best. Even on the island, I always had to be doing something, which is why I chose to follow you whenever you'd go anywhere. I didn't go just because I had to move, I went because I liked being near you. There was something about you Jack that made me feel...well, safe, I guess. I know that my moving across the country doesn't exactly prove that very well but I hope that you understand.

This...this is hard to say. I know that I never explained to you why I left, and in truth it's hard to explain. We were so close, we'd talked about so many things and gotten on another level that we'd never been to before. That night after I was released, I was scared. I was afraid that things would never be the same, that maybe life had changed. Little did I know then, it did. When we talked that night, and what happened afterward...I could never thank you enough. You were there for me in a way that noone else was.

Even after everything. Finding out I was a fugitive, the kiss in the jungle...what happened with Saywer, you still loved me. You kissed me, healed me...I don't know, Jack. I don't know why I left. But I know my excuse. It's the same reason I had to hang up on you the other night.

Matthew Jackson Austen, my son. He's my life now, really. Brown hair, brown eyes. And before you even ask Jack, yes. He's your kid. When I found out I was pregnant, I went into a panic. I had barely been out of prison, I was in no place to be a mother. I know that I had you, you've told me that before. I know that, Jack. But I didn't have a job, I didn't have a life outside of us. You were just getting back into the swing of things at the hospital, you had the life you wanted. How could I ruin that with telling you the news that you'd be a father?

I clean houses. You know, for a living. It's what I do, I'm sort of part of a business. Mostly larger houses, so it takes me all day. I bring Matt with me, so I'm hardly without him. I love him, Jack. I know that he may only be a few months old, but he already looks like you. That doesn't matter, right? You probably aren't even reading anymore. By now you've probably torn this apart, or thrown it across the room.

You have every right to hate me now, Jack. But that's not why I told you. I want him to know you one day, if you're interested, that is. With or without me. I love you, Jack. I still do.

Kate

It had been nearly four weeks since she'd sent the letter to Jack, and as each day passed, she grew more anxious. She'd go to the post office, constantly checking for any sign. She called him twice, but got his answering machine. Too nervous to leave a message, Kate hung up.

Kate kept up her job, even took Matt to a checkup. Nothing changed much, and Kate tried to tell herself that it would be okay, that Jack would call or write.

Dialing his number again, Kate balanced Matt on her lap, getting a clear view of the ocean as she sat on her back porch. Again, she got his answering machine, but worked up the courage to leave a message.

"Jack...it's Kate. By now, I know you've got my letter. What you decided to do with, I don't know."Kate said, looking at Matt on her lap. "I'm sorry-"She sniffled, tears spilling into her eyelids, daring to fall. "-I shouldn't have, I know. I didn't have a right. But please, I can't take not talking to you. Silence is worse than you yelling at me so please...talk to me. Goodbye, Jack."

She hung up the phone, setting it carefully on the table next to her. She smiled softly at Matt who wiggled in her arms. "You're such a sweet boy, you know that? I love you."She whispered softly, bringing him up to cuddle him against her shoulder. "I love you."