Author's Note: For lack of a better word, I became frustrated with myself when I sat down the first time to write this chapter. I know that it's been a while, and I truly am sorry. I hate that I keep having gaps that are longer than necessary, but I'm a perfectionist when it comes to Jate. I started taking a look at this story, and thought about why the update I was going for just wasn't working. I wanted to make sure that my goal was the same, and that what I was planning would fit in with said goal.

It probably doesn't make sense, but I find that the ships I love the most are usually the hardest to write. Jate, to me, truly is OTP. What we've witnessed in the past three seasons-not to mention that beautiful flash forward in Eggtown-what we have here is love, folks. The kind of love that it would be an insult to post multiple filler chapters for. So, I hope that makes sense. I also hope that you understand, and take the time to review.

Thanks!

The week passed before either Kate or Jack had noticed. Their schedule remained somewhat similar; Jack would show up for breakfast, and then head out for the day. He'd return for dinner, and they would once again be met with his awkward decision about whether or not to stay. He was surprised when Kate suggested he take Matthew with him during his excursions, or at the least stay at the house with him. While he wasn't one to object, Jack had no clue about what to do with a baby.

His son, Jack had corrected himself. The sleeping form in his arms was his son. The one that Kate had carried for nine long months, that until recently knew nothing about. He swallowed the thought down as it struck him just how much he'd grown attached to the baby. Their baby. While Jack hadn't said anything, he realized full well that he'd soon have to leave. The realization hit him like a punch in the stomach, because he wanted nothing more than to stay with his son and with Kate.

She'd refuse, of that Jack was sure. She'd list a million reasons of why he had to go, or of why they couldn't go with him. The mere notion that she'd even turn him down sent a wave of helplessness through him, and he was at a loss to stop it.

Matthew shifted in his arms, and Jack caught himself smiling. There, in the midst of everything crazy, was the boy who had changed it all.

"Where's Matt?" Juliet asked as she and Kate settled in comfortably at a cafeteria table at the nearby hospital. While they'd typically meet at her house to eat, she'd gotten caught up in waiting for test results, and was therefore unable to leave.

"With Jack." Kate answered timidly before stabbing a piece of lettuce from her salad.

"Do you know how much longer he's staying?" Juliet asked, noting the way Kate almost imperceptibly flinched.

Kate shrugged, picking idly at the label on her water bottle. "No," she replied with a frown. "but I knew that he needed to spend time with him."

"You do understand that it's not going to always be like this, right?" Juliet asked, talking about the comfortable routine they had fallen into.

"Yes, I know." Kate said, not looking up from her plate. It was something that had been bothering her for several days, but she'd been trying to push the thoughts away. Time was what she needed to think things through, which was exactly why she'd carefully avoided the subject.

Juliet shrugged, studying the woman who sat across from her. It was by mere coincidence that their paths had crossed again in the first place. When she'd discovered that Kate had come to town, she'd at first felt a little uneasy. While people who had been rescued had kept in contact, she had hardly heard from anyone. It was only shortly after she discovered Kate was pregnant that she understood her need to flee.

"I don't know," Kate said, finally breaking the silence. "I guess I'm just hoping the subject won't come up."

"This is Jack." Juliet deadpanned, her fork hanging in midair.

"Yes," Kate agreed. "but I just...I'm thinking overall. But enough about me. I'm fine, really."

Juliet raised an eyebrow, but knew enough to not press an issue when it came to Kate. "A woman I've been working with is trying to have a baby. I can't share any actual information about the case, but I know even my best efforts could only give her a fifty percent chance."

Kate's face fell at her obvious sadness. She had been aware of her work on the island, and knew that the bad cases still affected her. "I'm sorry."

"It isn't your fault," Juliet replied as she took a look at her watch. "but I do have to go. Thanks for lunch."

Kate returned home that afternoon to find Jack standing by the window. She smiled a littled as she realized he was holding Matthew, and walked up beside them. "Hey."

"Hey." Jack replied with a nod.

"Thanks for watching him." Kate replied, noting the way Jack awkwardly held their son. "Is something wrong?"

"He's just...he's been fussy is all. I've got him." Jack assured her, feeling guilty, but at the same time not wanting to let him go.

"Does he need to be changed?" Kate asked, rubbing a hand against his shoulder.

"That was about ten minutes ago. But we worked through things, huh?" Jack laughed, smiling as Matthew settled against his chest. He sighed though, as he heard him emit a tiny cry.

"Oh, then I think I might know the problem." Kate replied before making her way into the kitchen.

Jack followed, studying her movements as she walked about gathering various ingredients. He was puzzled and amazed at the same time, thinking of how used to grabbing the things she needed to prepare a bottle. It was an odd role for her, Jack thought, but at the same time it fit her perfectly. Kate had always relied on herself whenever she needed anything, but the addition of a child made her think of other things, and Jack had a feeling that was part of what made her leave.

Kate quietly finished making Matthew's bottle before grabbing two cans of Coke from the refrigerator for Jack and herself. She settled on the couch, watching Jack as he reluctantly let go of Matthew. She bit back a small cry as she knew what he was thinking. There was no way that they could hold it off forever, though a part of her hoped that they could.

Watching Kate as shed fed their son, Jack was taken back a little. On the island, she'd always been so insistent, stating that she wasn't at all good with children. Of course, Jack had thought then it was personal preference, due to the fact that she'd delivered Aaron alive and well. He laughed a little, thinking of how much time had passed since then.

"What are you thinking?" Kate asked, adjusting the bottle as she held it.

"I guess...just how much things have changed, you know?" he asked, offering a soft smile. "It feels like ages since everyone was all together, saying goodbye and everything."

"We still try to keep in contact. Well, a few of us."

"I know," Jack agreed with a nod. "it just feels like so much time has passed. People are starting to forget the kind of family we kind of became."

"I didn't." Kate's voice came out soft but wary. Whatever it was Jack was trying to get at, she wasn't sure, but she knew she owed him enough to pay attention.

Jack bit his tongue defensively, unsure of why he had. He folded his hands and leaned on his knees before turning his attention back to her. "Kate-"

The bottle accidentally slipped from Matthew's mouth, and a tiny cry erupted. "Hey, I'm sorry. It's okay, huh? See, it's okay." Kate urged, her voice soothing as she quickly replaced the fallen bottle. She continued to feed him before remembering she and Jack had been in the middle of a conversation. "I'm sorry, you were saying?"

"Right." Jack replied, having lost the energy to even bring up the subject, though he knew it needed to be approached. He watched as Kate fitted a towel against her shoulder, and burped Matthew quietly. Though he knew it was strange, Jack swore he could have watched her do the same thing a hundred times over.

"Jack?" Kate called, breaking him from his quit reverie.

He spotted the hopeful look in Kate's eyes, and he knew better than to break it. "Never mind, I guess I forgot." He laughed it off, because at the moment it was the only thing that felt better.

Kate had apparently believed him, because she carried on her normal evening activities. Matthew was up a little while longer before she gave him a bath, and sat with him a while before putting him in bed. She stood watching his sleeping form, amazed with the ease that his little chest moved in and out. The simplest of movements, but one that amazed her every time she witnessed the action. Satisfied that he'd sleep for at least a few hours, Kate turned to head back to the living room, but was surprised to see Jack standing in the doorway. "Are you leaving?"

Jack felt somewhat reassured by the apparent disappointment in her voice, and was quick to shake his head. "No, not yet. Unless you're asking me to."

Kate could feel his breath, hot on her skin as his thumb brushed against her forearm. Any other time, it would have seemed to her like he was simply trying to watch for a response. Instead, she couldn't help but get the feeling that it was something altogether different. It scared her momentarily, but in the few seconds that they stood there, she began to think it was the suspected next step. The steps, Kate thought, that lead to an unknown destination. "No, you can stay for a while. What kind of host would I be if I didn't at least offer you something to eat?"

"I'm not hungry." Jack replied, allowing the cryptic sentence to dangle as he lead the way back into the living room.

"Can't say I didn't offer." Kate laughed, feeling the comfort zone in the room begin to shrink steadily.

"Kate, I've been meaning to tell you," Jack began, running a hand through his cropped hair. "but I guess I didn't know how." He straightened his posture, and knew there was no longer any use in avoiding the subject. "My plane leaves tomorrow night. I'd like to say I'll be here longer, but that just isn't the case."

"Oh." Kate replied, her voice sounding weak and defeated. She artfully managed to avoid his gaze until she felt his hand against her cheek, urging her to look at him.

"I'll find time. Somehow, I'll find time." Jack insisted, brushing away a stray eyelash that rested on her cheek. Slowly, he edged forward, and gingerly pressed his lips to hers. He let them linger just a second longer than he knew he should have, and pulled away. "I'll see you tomorrow morning. Bye, Kate."

She stood stunned as Jack made a move toward the door. Taking just a second to compose herself, she walked in the path he had taken to shut the door behind him. Kate stood there, offering a smile as a means of farewell, and shut the door quietly as he walked away.