Title: In Ruins

Summary: Post-Finale, Suliet/Skate/Jate; "Everything disappeared in a flash, much like those he felt as they skipped from time to time, past to present; bleeding noses, bleeding hearts."

Author's Note: This chapter is pretty short, and I really apologize for that. However, I have been pressed for time lately, but I really wanted to get things rolling on the next plot-line. I've found that cliff-hangers attract more reviews. Haha. So guess what you're getting at the end of this chapter! Don't scroll down and look, silly!

I love reviews, and I love you. ALL OF YOU. :)

Enjoy,

Sara

Did you stand too close to the fire?
Like a liar looking for forgiveness from a stone

[10]

He woke from a dreamless sleep with a silly smile still plastered on his face. He felt warm, warm all over, filled with a feeling that only she was able even to provoke from him. He turned to face her; sometime during his nap he'd turned away and lost the feeling of her in his arms.

When he turned over, she was gone.

It had been a dream, he mourned. The bed left no imprint of her but the comforter was thrown to one side. Kate had been there, the night before or maybe that night. He'd dreamed it all – going to jail, finding Juliet again – all of it.

An overwhelming feeling of loss swept over him, and it felt like he could cry, but he didn't. Calmly, he pulled back the sheets and pulled himself off the bed. The room was dark – it wasn't morning. Maybe it did happen.

He walked in a trance to the door, hoping and wishing that when he opened it, she would be out there, somewhere.

"So you would, if she came back," a voice said, distinctly feminine and distinctly Juliet. He smiled to himself and opened the door, wandering barefoot into the kitchen. Jack and Juliet were seated at the small kitchen table, leaned intently toward each other.

"I would. I can't—can't think of anything else. I can't think of telling her no, that I wouldn't do anything I could. For her," Jack said. The conversation was obviously about Kate.

"I understand," Juliet said, glancing back toward the bedroom where Sawyer now stood. "Hey there, sleepy head," she greeted.

He smiled widely. She was here. He thought of telling her that he'd thought it was all a dream, but the distraught look that had fallen upon Jack's face kept him from being too sappy. "Hey, beautiful," he said. She smiled, and she was beautiful – would always be, to him. Even with her hair carelessly tied at the nape of her neck, curls and clothes crumpled from sleep.

"Sawyer," Jack greeted awkwardly.

Juliet spoke again, "Jack and I were just talking about what is in store for us now. All of us."

Jack nodded, and Sawyer felt sad for him. Jack had sought reprieve from all that the island had brought, even love, and here he sat, alone and heartbroken once again. Honestly, Sawyer didn't know how Jack would cope when the drama settled – when Sawyer and Juliet were gone, and when he realized Kate was never coming back.

Juliet continued, "I have to go back to Miami. I have a life there, a job, family." Sawyer opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. "And I know that you will go with me. But right now, there are things I need to deal with that don't concern you. I mean, they do, but it's not something you need to get messed up in."

"The divorce," Sawyer said.

Juliet nodded. "I know you – and your temper. Whatever happened though, it's not Edmund's fault, per se, and he's no competition to you. However, if I bring you in, sparks will fly between the both of you. It'll look like I had an affair and – "

"Well, he did," Sawyer defended; hopelessly, he knew. Juliet had been fine without him, but now that she was back with him, he felt that he couldn't let her go again.

"I know, James, but I need to do this alone. Do you understand what I mean?"

Sawyer nodded. Jacks sighed and shuffled out of the room.

"I don't want to leave you either," Juliet admitted, "But this will be better, for both of us. When all this divorce stuff is finished, you can come with me. Until then, don't you have matters to attend to?"

He felt a stir in the pit of his stomach; he knew exactly what she was speaking of – Clementine. On the island, Sawyer had shared that he wanted to be part of his daughter's life, but he doubted Cassidy would ever let him near his daughter. He didn't know how he would be able to explain his change of heart – while it had been years for him, Cassidy would not be able to understand Sawyer's sudden want for involvement in their child's life. Less than a year earlier, Sawyer denied being the girl's father. As he had told Kate, he hadn't been fit to be anyone's father; now he had had time to grow up.

"Cassidy wouldn't understand," Sawyer said.

Juliet smiled. "You're a con-man. Make her understand."

"I'm done with that stuff."

"I know. But, James, be that little girl's father," she said.

After several minutes and phone calls, Juliet had managed to book her flight back to Miami and his flight to Albuquerque. The thought of leaving her scared him silly, but it was hard to go against what Juliet really wanted, and she really wanted to deal with things on her own. He had to understand her; after living with her for three years, he saw how independent she truly was.

"You sure you wanna do this?" He asked, looking at her wrinkled clothes and her wilted smile. The pair stood outside her gate; the plane was beginning to board.

"Yes, James, I do. But…I don't want to leave you."

"I'll be fine," he said with a dimpled smile. It was rather forced, although he was glad to know she wasn't just trying to get away from him again. After all this, they would have all the time in the world to be together.

"I'm not worried about your well-being," she laughed.

"We'll be fine," he promised, placing a soft kiss on her lips.

"I love you," she said. Her seat number was called, and she sighed deeply. "Jet lag," she murmured.

"I love you back," he said and winked. He was trying to be strong for her. He stood and watched as she boarded. Before she disappeared, she gave him a sad little wave. He waved back and was left alone with an hour to kill before his own flight.

*

Juliet swallowed and sat down in her seat. She felt unbelievably tired, though she had briefly napped, and uncomfortable. All she wanted was a shower, and for all of this to be over. She wanted her happy ending.

She sat through the entire flight in a half-daze, and when she arrived in Miami, she left the plane with a nervous flitter in the pit of her stomach. She didn't look forward to seeing Edmund, or seeing the state in which he'd left their home. Her home.

She drove all the way there rehearsing her lines. She could only hope that Edmund had carried out the divorce – had taken the papers. If not, she'd just draw up her own.

To top it all off, she was expected to show up for work tomorrow. She debated calling in sick; it was far too late to have all this to deal with.

When she pulled into the driveway, she wasn't surprised to see Edmund's car parked in the driveway. She took a deep breath, wondering how she would explain her appearance and her late arrival. Really, though, she no longer had to explain anything to him. Instead, he needed to answer to her – why was he in her house?

She smiled to herself, amused by her thoughts and her new resolve. It was as if simply knowing James was out there, and remembered her, and loved her, gave her strength. It brought back memories of the island, and while not all of them were good, she had developed a strength in her personality that would come in handy here.

She walked into the house with a stiff back. She was ready to deal with him, wherever he may be. Hell, maybe she'd even rouse him out of bed.

The TV flashed and yelled in the living room. Surely he wasn't still awake. She saw his head slumped on the cushions. Of course, he'd fallen asleep on the couch again.

"Edmund?" She called.

He didn't move. He was always a hard sleeper.

"Listen, Edmund," she said, leaning over the couch to nudge him, "You have to get out, this is my – " Her breath caught in her throat as her hand touched something sticky and familiar. Blood. "Edmund!" She crossed hurriedly in front of the couch. He was bleeding from the chest and stomach. Knife wounds. She knelt in front of him, checking first for his pulse. His skin was cold, and she felt no pulse beneath her fingers.

Sobs escaped her lips, but no tears fell. She felt numb. Who had done this? Why? She hadn't wanted him to die.

"Hello, Juliet," a familiar voice said. He stepped out from the kitchen, a smile sliding onto his thin lips. "I was wondering when you'd be home."

She felt panic rise in her throat, but she fought it back. She'd dealt with him before, could do it again. "Hello, Ben."

Ben smiled and looked down to where Edmund lay. "I thought I'd do you a favor." His beady eyes flashed back to her. "So now we can be together."