Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated in two months. I couldn't think of a good way to start the chapter and I was busy with school and vacation. Haha. Anyways, here is the next chapter.

Later that night Jack and Kate were sitting at the kitchen table. The kids had been put to bed only twenty minutes before. Silence filled the room. Finally, Kate said, "Jack, what are we going to do?"

He looked at her. "What do you mean, Kate?" Jack asked.

"With James. The whole ordeal with Isabella. What are we going to do?"

Dr. Shephard shook his head. "I dunno, Kate. I told him to stay away from her," he said.

"I know. I heard. But, Jack, he won't listen to you. Hell, he barely listens to me."

"Oh, you watch. I'll make sure he listens to me. I'm not gonna let that damn bastard anywhere near my house or my family."

"He told her she was beautiful," she whispered. "He called her Freckles. Jack, he thinks that Isabella is me. What if he takes her after school one day and…" Kate trailed off , tears racing down her cheeks.

Dr. Shephard sighed and brushed away his wife's tears. "Shh, Kate. Shh. It's okay. It's okay," he soothed, squeezing her hand.

Mrs. Shephard wiped her eyes and sighed. "I'm overreacting, aren't I?" she said, smiling weakly.

Jack shook his head. "No, Kate. You aren't overreacting. You should be worried," he said.

Kate nodded. She squeezed Jack's hand and said, "So what are we going to do? We can't possibly watch her all day at school to make sure he doesn't hurt her."

Dr. Shephard closed his large brown eyes and sighed. "She just needs to be careful around Adam. Adam is Sawyer when he's at school. Adam will tell Sawyer anything and everything that happened at school," he said slowly.

"Although when his divorce with Sarah is finalized, I highly doubt he'll get custody of Adam."

Jack shrugged. "I dunno, Kate. He could get custody," Dr. Shephard said.

Kate rolled her eyes. "C'mon, Jack. He won't get custody. An ex-con getting custody of his kid? Nah, that'll never happen."

Jack thought about it for a moment and nodded. "Yeah, you're right. He did too much shit before. He's a horrible person," he said.

Kate coughed and Jack looked at her. "Excuse me," she said.

"What?"

"I did sleep with him before."

"I know, Kate."

"So, a horrible person?"

"Huh?"

"You called him a horrible person."

"You're actually defending him?"

"No, but if he's a horrible person then I must be a horrible person for sleeping with him three times."

"Three times?"

"Shit. I didn't tell you that before. Did I?"

"No. Three times, Kate?"

"First time was pity sex."

"And the other two times?"

Kate didn't say anything.

"And the other two times, Kate?"' Jack urged.

"Jealousy."

"Jealousy? What the hell were you jealous for?"

"I was jealous of you and Juliet."

"What the hell? Why?"

"Because…" Kate paused, thinking back to the island. "I was jealous because the whole time I was stuck in that damned cage I was worried sick about you. But then when we got back to our island you ignored me and hung out with her. It felt like you didn't worry about me at all. When you told me to run, and leave you, I thought it was because of her. Because you wanted to stay with her. And the two times I saw you two together I ran to Sawyer. The second time I went to him was when you and Juliet ate dinner together one night. When I went to him I was crying. I loved you so much, I love you so much, and you hurt me. You hurt me when you spent time with her. That's why the last two times were jealousy sex," she explained, tears obscuring her vision.

Jack sighed and took her hand. "Kate," he said softly.

"What?" she said.

"I made you leave me so you'd be safe. I didn't want you to get hurt. I did worry about you. Even after you left without me. I worried the whole time, Kate."

Mrs. Shephard wiped her eyes. "You really did?" she asked.

"Yeah, I did."

"But then why did you hang out with Juliet after we got back?"

"Because, I was the only person that trusted her. Everyone else hated her, remember?"

Mrs. Shephard nodded. "Oh, yeah. But then why did you avoid me?"

Dr. Shephard sighed. "When we got back, when Sawyer hugged you, I thought you had moved on for good."

"Then the whole thing was a complete misunderstanding?" Kate softly asked.

Jack nodded. "I guess it was," he said, leaning over and kissing Kate's forehead.

She sighed and closed her eyes. "Good. I'm glad it was a misunderstanding," Kate said. Then she got up from the table and yawned. "I'm gonna go upstairs," Mrs. Shephard said.

Jack nodded and stood up. "I'm coming too," he said, walking over to Kate. "We both deserve sleep." Then Jack set his hand on his wife's lower back and they both headed upstairs.

The next morning Kate woke up to someone poking her. Mrs. Shephard rolled on her side and groaned.

"Mom, wake up," the young girl's voice whined. "Mom, Daddy told me to wake you up. He left for work," she continued.

Kate moaned and opened her eyes. Kayley was sitting on the king-size bed poking her mom still.

"Dad already left?" Kate asked, sitting up in bed.

Kayley nodded slowly. "Yeah. He left ten minutes ago. Mom, I'm hungry," she said with a frown.

Kate sighed and got out of bed. "What do you want for breakfast, sweetie?" she called from the master bathroom.

"Uh," Kayley said, thinking.

Kate came out of the bathroom, her curly brown hair in a ponytail. She walked over to the bed and looked down at her daughter. "What do you want, Kayley?" she asked.

"Uh, pancakes!" Kayley exclaimed, jumping off the bed.

Kate laughed and started to go downstairs. "Pancakes it is then," she said, completely forgetting about Jack and Tom.

Two hours later Kate was sitting on the couch feeding Riley his breakfast. "You won't leave Mommy, right?" she said, looking down into his large brown orbs.

He blinked and stared right back up into his mom's hazel eyes.

"That's right. I'm just gonna keep you here forever."

Riley clapped, looking at Kate once more. Then he pulled away from the bottle.

"What? You don't want anymore?"

He cooed and grinned.

"That means yes," she said, setting the bottle on the coffee table. Then Kate burped her son and held him close to her body.

Riley cooed and reached for Kate's curly brown locks. Mrs. Shephard smiled and laughed.

"There's my happy boy," she said, moving her hair from side to side. Riley cooed and giggled. Mrs. Shephard looked down and smiled. "Do you know how to laugh now?" she said.

He smiled and grabbed a strand of Kate's hair. Mrs. Shephard returned the smile and rocked him gently.

A half an hour later Riley was taking a nap and Kate was on the phone.

"Yes, this weekend," she said, pacing in the kitchen.

"Why, Kate? Why so soon?"

"I really want to see you, Dad."

"Uh, okay. Are Jack and the kids coming?"

"No. Jack has to work," Kate said, lying slightly. True, Jack did have to go to work, but she didn't tell him that she had gotten in contact with her father.

"Do you need money for your ticket here?"

"No, I'm gonna fly Oceanic."

Sam was silent.

"Dad, are you afraid that the plane will crash again?"

"I don't trust Oceanic," he said quietly.

Kate laughed. "So you do think it's gonna crash. Dad, where do you think it's gonna crash? Kansas?"

Sam laughed slightly. "Katie, you never know," he said.

"Well if it does crash then you don't have to worry about me in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I'll be on land."

"Right. But I'm still going to worry."

Kate rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Daddy. I have a Golden Pass anyway so the ticket is free."

"Oh. Is anyone else coming with you? One of your friends? Anyone?"

Kate was silent. She held her breath as she said, "Tom's coming with me."

"Katie, you better not do anything with him that could hurt your marriage with Jack."

Don't worry, Dad. I've already slept with him once. Kate shook her head and said, "Don't worry, Dad. I know my limits."

"Does Jack know Tom is coming with you?"

"No, Dad. Not yet. Can we stay at your place though when we come?"

"Sure."

"Thanks, Dad."

"Anything for my little girl."

"Dad, I'm not your little girl anymore."

"Whatever you say."

"I'll talk to you later. Love you."

"Love you too."

Then Kate hung and got the plane tickets and rental car. She and Tom were going home.