Chapter 25

"Daddy, is Mommy okay?" Aaron looked up at Jack, his little face worried, as Jack weaved them down the busy hallways of St. Sebastian. The smile on Jack's face should have been enough of an answer for the child, but being so young, he only knew hospitals were where the sick and hurt went to get better. Margo followed behind, grinning from ear to ear as she watched her son lead his son by his hand to the room where his wife and new son were waiting.

"Mommy's just fine. She has a surprise for you." Jack grinned down at Aaron, excited for him to meet his new sibling. Margo readied her camera as they turned the corner, making their way into her room. In the hospital bed was a fresh-faced Kate, holding an infant in her arms, her hair cascading down her shoulders, a delighted look upon her pretty face. Her eyes sparkled as Jack and Aaron entered the room. Jack paused to observe her for a moment as Aaron let go of his hand and bounded to the bed. He couldn't believe how lucky he was.

"Mommy! Mommy! Who's that?" Aaron climbed onto a chair next to her bed and then onto the bed, peering down at the baby. The baby blinked his eyes at Aaron, as Aaron stared quizically down at the child. Kate felt like she would explode with pride and happiness.

"This is Adam, Aaron. Your baby brother." She introduced, moving the baby a little so Aaron could get a closer look. Margo hugged Jack around the waist as they made their way closer to watch the exchange. Aaron stared at the child for a moment before responding.

"He's really small. Why is he red like that?" The adults laughed lightly as Aaron touched the baby's skin.

"He's only two days old, he's still becoming accustomed to being outside my tummy." Aaron's eyes widened as he looked from Kate to the baby.

"He was in your tummy?" Kate smiled wide at the child, taking in his honesty and candid attitude.

"Yep. He just came out a few days ago. So he's still very new to the world." Aaron didn't look like he believed her, looking up at Jack for confirmation. Jack nodded, before Aaron looked back at Kate.

"I came from your tummy too?" He questioned. Kate's smile faded a little and she felt her eyes automatically water as they always did when she thought of where Aaron had come from. But she fought the urge to shed a tear, brightened her smile and nodded emphatically.

"Of course you did! Where else would you come from?" She leaned over and placed a kiss on the boy's blonde head, catching Jack's eye for a moment. The look on his face comforted her, knowing he knew exactly how she felt. Aaron's face lit up.

"Wow! That's cool!" He turned his attention to the baby. "Hi Adam. I'm Aaron, your big brother." He touched the baby's hand and Kate felt again like she would cry, but this time from happiness. Margo was busy snapping pictures through the whole exchange between Kate, Aaron, and Adam, and Jack moved around the bed to sit behind Aaron, next to Kate. Margo felt her heart swell with pride at the family in front of her, so thrilled for her son that he was as happy as he was. And she was thrilled that he finally had a child of his own. Not that Aaron wasn't as much his as he was Kate's, but Adam was his own flesh and blood and that in and of itself was an accomplishment for Jack, she knew.

Jack watched Kate interact with their children, knowing that this was perfect. The four of them together made a family, Adam coming into the world solidified their bond. He leaned over, catching her lips briefly, enjoying the touch of them against his. He would never be able to get enough of them, he decided. He rubbed her back as he mother grinned, having captured the moment in still frame. That would be a good gift one day, she decided with a grin.

Kate woke to the sun shining in across her, warming her. She opened her eyes slowly, adjusting to her surroundings. She grinned happily when she realized she had slept on her stomach, in her own bed, for the first time in months. Stretching her limbs, she realized Jack was no longer beside her. Raising herself up on her elbows, she looked around the room, seeing no sign of Jack. She rolled over slowly, moving to a sitting position, and swinging her legs over the bed. She winced in pain, feeling how sore she still was from the birth. She had only been home since the afternoon before, Adam still only five days old. They had kept them at the hospital to assure Jack that she and the baby were indeed fine. Though smaller than a full term baby, Adam was functioning like he was, and was as healthy as one as well. She had woken twice to feed him during the night, and was surprised she didn't hear him crying now. Standing slowly, she moved to his bassinette and noticed he wasn't there either, meaning Jack must have him downstairs. Smiling at his consideration at letting her sleep, she walked to their bathroom to retrieve her robe. She paused in front of the mirror, glancing at herself in it. Lifting her shirt, she took notice of her stomach. She was much thinner than she had been five days ago, but she still had a very noticible pooch from where she had been pregnant. Touching it, she mentally promised herself she would get back to the gym as soon as her doctor cleared her. She had six weeks, her OB/GYN had informed her, until she could participate in any strenuous activity, including any type of sexual activity. And though it was the last thing on her mind, she did miss being close to Jack in that way. Falling asleep in his arms the night before had been the most amazing feeling, she thought to herself, smiling at the feeling, and how she now had goosebumps along her arms. Dropping her camisol back down to the top of her shorts, she slid her small robe over her bare arms, tying it and making her way easily but slowly down the stairs to find Jack and the boys. Her boys, she grinned.

She reached the bottom of the stairs and delighted in the smell of coffee and the sound of quiet laughter. Making her way into the kitchen, she looked to the living room and could see the back of Jack's head, as he was sitting on the couch. Knowing it was time to feed Adam, she wandered to him, kissing the top of his head, and then rubbing Aaron's blonde locks lovingly. Jack turned his head to the side, greeting her with a coffee flavored kiss and a whispered "Good Morning". She grinned against his with a "Good Morning, yourself". She then reached down and touched the small infants rosy cheeks.

"Hey, baby," She greeted the child. Aaron made his way between her and Jack, standing on the couch cushions to be face to face with her.

"Hi Mommy. We're watching "Curious George". I offered Adam cherrios but Daddy said he couldn't have them yet." He spoke with such an adorable innocence it made Kate feel warm and fuzzy. She rubbed the child's arms.

"Well aren't you the best big brother ever?" She kissed his nose and he made an 'yuck" noise, causing a chuckle from Jack. Kate feigned hurt, before Aaron told her he was kidding, embracing her over the back of the couch. She rubbed his back before the child resumed his sitting position, back enjoying the movie. Jack stood, carrying the baby around the couch to a waiting Kate.

"I wanted you to sleep in as much as you could, I know it's been a crazy past few days for you." He rested Adam in her arms. "I'm sure he's hungry though," Jack kissed her forehead, then followed her into the den. She wasn't prepared to nurse the baby in front of Aaron just yet, she wanted to get a better feel for it first. Jack followed her though, enjoying her in her mother role.

"Thank you. Do you have to work today?" She asked, sitting down in a rocking chair Jack had purchased just for rocking their baby.

"No. I'm going to take the next couple of days off to make sure you're situated with him and Aaron. Plus I just want to spend time with you and my boys."

"Aww. That's great!" She flashed him a shy smile as Adam nursed, and noticed how cute Jack looked in his shorts and tee shirt. He hadn't shaved in a few days, his scruff making him look the way it had when they had been on the Island. She did notice however that he had buzzed his hair, guessing he had done it earlier that morning before anyone had woken. "Your hair looks good," she complimented. He ran a palm over his head.

"Thanks. Its getting warm out now and I think it makes me look younger," he winked at her and she laughed. She knew he was pushing forty and that was the last thing he wanted to be pushing, especially now that he was pushing a stroller as well. She rolled her eyes.

"It does. You look good," it came out as almost a gasp, in a lusty voice. She didn't mean it to, but she so badly yerned to be close to him again. He seemed to register the different tone of her voice but didn't respond. They locked eyes for a moment before Adam broke the silence. Kate lifted him up and placed him against her shoulder, rubbing his little back. Jack watched her, studied her. She was more beautiful holding their baby than he had ever imagined. Even the night on Desmond's boat, when she had told she had always been with him, holding a sleeping Aaron against her shoulder, that couldn't compare to this moment right in front of him, knowing it was his child she was holding, knowing it was him she had chosen to be with. It lifted his heart and chased away apprehension at fathering an infant, which he had not the slightest idea of how to do. He had missed Aaron as an infant, and regretted it deeply, but knew that this was the journey they had had to take to get here. Locke was right...he did believe in destiny. He just hadn't known it then. But after watching Kate give birth and then losing her for those endless hours, he knew what destiny was, what fate encompassed.

"Jack, you okay?" she interupted his thoughts. He blinked back to reality, looking up at her. He grinned slowly, shaking his head.

"Yeah, I'm fine, was just thinking." He leaned back and she sat down on his leg. He wrapped an arm around her waist and placed the other arm over her knees that rested between his.

"Must have been deep in thought, I said your name twice," she teased, secretly wondering what he was thinking about. He stared up at her face, then reached to move a lost curl from her eyes.

"Sorry. I was thinking about you..."he trailed off, searching her face, "and how beautiful you are, holding our baby." He said it quietly, with such passion, it tore at her heartstrings. She smiled sweetly down at him, leaning over to kiss his forehead.

"You're so wonderful to me," she whispered. He rubbed small circles on her back with his thumb while Adam yawned in her arms. He looked down at the infant, lovingly.

"He has your nose." He told her quietly. She looked down at him, grinning.

"He has your eyes." She exchanged, smiling happily at the way he looked at their baby.

"Can I take him?" he asked gently, knowing how much she loved to hold him, just as much as he did, actually. She nodded, loving his adoration for the child. She had felt this before, about him and Aaron, but this time it was even more real, because Adam was theirs.

"Sure," she handed the small bundle to Jack, who snuggled it up to his chest. He rocked the child against his chest, talking to him quietly. Kate felt warmed at the sight. Standing, she kissed Jack's forehead again, and left the two boys to bond, going to find her first baby, and a cup of coffee.

Kate unlocked the front door, coming in to the sound of a crying infant. Concerned, she made her way to the kitchen where Jack was sitting at the dining room table, a bottle resting close at hand. Raising his head, she could tell he was about at his wits end with the child. She moved quickly to his side, relieving him of the upset child.

"Hey," She greeted, giving him a kiss. Jack returned it, but it was a sad, defeated kiss.

"I tried everything, Kate. I couldn't get him to stop crying," he ran a frusterated palm over his head. She turned her back to him and smiled for a moment, before turning back. The smile still played at the edge of her lips as she rocked the baby, who had quieted since she's taken him. That seemed to relieve Jack and yet make his sad at the same time.

"He probably just missed me, is all. Its nothing against you Jack. Sometimes babies just cry. Aaron would cry for hours, and I would feel so helpless. Adam is already ten times better than Aaron was when I got him here. Don't worry, it'll get better." She thought back to her first few months with Aaron, alone, and knew she knew exactly how Jack felt. That didn't seem to ease Jack's worried look, though.

"He's been crying for like an hour. He was fine before then. Aaron and I read to him, and I gave him a bath. Then after I fed him, and changed him, he began to fuss and now here we are." He looked exasperated, tired. Adam was now ten days old, and truth be told, neither of them were getting much sleep. As good of a baby as he was, he still was a baby, and babies have needs, lots of needs. He watched Kate rocked the infant in her small arms, singing to him softly. He began to relax, knowing that it was probably not anything he did. But he didn't like feeling helpless like that.

"All you can keep doing is trying the things you know. He's probably tired. It is 8 o'clock. He's probably just ready for bed. I hope, anyway," she grinned, relishing in the fact she might, just might, be able to spend sometime cuddling with her husband on the couch. "Aaron in bed?" she questioned, curious where the little boy was.

"Yeah, the stories were read to Adam were Aaron's bedtime stories. He really adores Adam." he grinned despite himself. "If he's sleeping though, I'm not. With the way this little guy was screaming, I don't know it would be possible." Standing, he made his way to Kate, touching the baby's cheek with the back of his hand. "Before that though, we had a great little time, didn't we, kiddo?" he spoke quietly to the baby. Kate smiled through watery eyes, and handed the baby back to Jack, who's eyes grew wide and fearful at the act. "Kate..." he began, staring at the settled infant. "Where are you going?"

"Just get the groceries. Finish what you started. You're going to need to know how," she countered with a grin, heading back outside to the car to carry in the bags. Jack watched her saunter away and found himself falling even more in love with her, if it was even possible. She knew exactly what he needed, always. And he needed to rock this child to sleep, to know how, because for the next eternity of this child's life, he would need to know these important parenting abilities, especially if they ever had another. He scoffed at the thought, Another? Lets see if I make it out alive with this one he laughed to himself, carrying the baby into the den. Settling into the rocking chair, he wanted to do something, maybe sing? he questioned himself. He talked to the baby all the time, but when Kate sang to him, he settled right down. Taking a deep breath, he figured he'd give it a go, hoping maybe it would allow the baby to sleep.

Deep In The 100 acred woods
Where Christopher Robin plays
You'll find the enchanted neighborhood
Of Christopher's childhood games

He kept his voice down, knowing he would be embarassed it Kate ever heard him, and knew he knew the song to 'Winnie the Pooh'. The baby stared intently at him, though, as if encouraging him though. He sang slowly, willing the baby to fall asleep.

A donkey named Eeyore is his friend
And Kanga and little Roo
There's Rabbit and Piglet
And there's Owl
But most of all Winnie The Pooh

Kate came into the house, and stopped short at the sound of Jack's voice. Peeking around the corner, she couldn't believe her eyes, as he sang to the small child, rocking him in their rocking chair.

Winnie The Pooh
Winnie The Pooh
Chubby little cuddly all stuffed with fluff
He's Winnie The Pooh
Winnie The Pooh
Willy nilly silly ol bear

He drifted the song off, as Adam's eyes closed. Kate moved past the den, dropping the groceries on the table, and taking a moment to let Jack make sure the baby was asleep. He stood, carrying the infant up the stairs to their room, where his bassinette was. Kate waited for him in the kitchen and as he walked into the dining around, still in his jeans and grey teeshirt, she moved quickly to him, wrapping her arms around his waist, resting her head against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her back, resting his head on her's. They stood, in silence, for a moment, before she leaned back, kissing him, softly at first, and then more deeply. He was taken aback by the power in her lips. Her heart leapt as he pulled her closer, placing a hand behind her head, his fingers becoming entangled in her hair. She raked her hands at his hips, pulling him at him, holding him tightly to her. He moved her backwards, to the table, placing her on top of it, moving between her legs and she stayed in a sitting position, still very much connected to his lips. After a few more moments of passionate kisses and his hands roaming up her shirt, she pulled away, breaking their connection.

"Jack..." she whispered as he devoured her small neck. She giggled, but pulled away. "Jack..." she raised her voice a little more this time. He made a "huh?" sound against her skin, sending shivers down her spine. She reluctantly pushed him away, her hands against his chest, and was met with confused eyes as he searched her face.

"What's the matter?" he asked, truly concerned. She grinned a little, apologetically. Looking down, she grapsed his hands.

"We can't..." her voice sounded defeated as he continued staring at her, still confused.

"Can't what?"

"Do this...," recongnition dawned on his face and he stood up straighter. "I have 5 more weeks before I'm cleared for that. And it's still really sore...down there," she finished the last part shyly, her face growing red. She looked away, and he knew he couldn't be upset about not being able to have her, with her cheeks as red as they were, as much as he wanted her right then, he could wait. Pulling her face back to him, he smiled at her, seeming to ease her embarassment and her uneasiness at having to end their game.

"Okay," he kissed her again, this time sweetly, before helping her off the table. He hugged her again.

"But don't think I don't want to," she spoke into his chest, loving the feeling of his heartbeat against her. He grinned above her head.

"Oh I know. That 5 weeks better come quickly," he teased. She pulled back, rolling her eyes playfully, before moving to the abundance of groceries on the counter than needed to be put away. He moved to help her.

"Maybe we could still snuggle on the couch after we put these away?" she asked shyly, still wanting to be close to him. He grinned, nodding, with a chuckle.

"Of course."

Laying on the couch, entwined in each other's limbs, they watched meaningless television, but enjoyed the relaxingness of it and the feeling of being alone for what seemed like the first time in days. With a baby and a three year old, things were feeling very chaotic, and she felt bad they hadn't had much alone time until now. They were working on a schedule, and Jack was working minimal hours for the next week, helping her get Aaron understanding of Adam's needs of Kate's time, and getting Adam situated on a feeding and napping schedule. Jack adored Kate's hard working mentality because raising two children was no easy feet, especially when he knew eventually his schedule would pick back up and she would be alone a lot of the time with both babies. His mother was a Godsend though, and her father was coming to visit the following week, so he wouldn't feel too bad leaving her then, knowing she had help.

The phone rang, startling their thoughts, and Jack squirmed quickly to get it, before the baby woke. Answering it quietly, he waited for the sound of crying, and let out a relieved sigh when no sound came from the stairs.

"Jack, its your mother." Margo greeted. Jack smiled.

"Hey Mom, what's up?"

"Not too much. Just cleaning and stuff, you know how it it. How is Adam?"

"He's wonderful. Sleeping. So's Aaron. Kate and I are just watching TV." he rubbed her back affectionatly.

"Must be nice to catch a break. What are you doing tomorrow?" She wondered, curious. Jack heard something in her voice he couldn't quite recognise.

"I have to go to work in the morning, but I'll be out by lunch time. Why?"

"Can you come over on your way home? I won't keep you long but there's something I want to show you," she said cryptically. Jack's heart sped up a little.

"What is it?"

"Just come after work and we'll talk." Was all she said before she excused herself and told him goodnight. He clicked off the phone, staring at it for a moment. Kate looked up curiously.

"What?" she asked, not sure what the look on his face was for.

"I don't know. She has something she needs to show me but wouldn't tell me what it was." He shrugged, dropping the cordless phone to the floor. Kate placed her head back against his chest. "I'll stop by there on my way home from work. That okay?"

"Of course. I'll be fine, don't worry." She smiled sweetly at him, before snuggling again back to his chest. He rested his arms around her back. "I wonder what it is" she pondered. He sighed.

"Yeah, me too."

Hope all you enjoyed it! Please read and review! Thank you so much for all of your reviews from the last chapter! New chapter up soon! Excited about where this is going...I wonder what she's going to show Jack... ;-) hmmm...LoL. 237 reviews so far and 18,000 hits. Awesomeness! Thank you all SO much! Please enjoy! :-)