Authors Note: Just another note. The story is based on Season 1, but will include/mention characters and plot points from Season 2.
Chapter 28: Final Understanding
It had been three months since Charlie had left for rehab, and he would finally be coming home. Everyone was planning a surprise welcome home party for him. Jack had gone to get Charlie earlier that morning. Kate and Claire were now decorating the Shepard's house with balloons and streamers. Sawyer and Shannon were also helping out with the decorating. Shannon who was nine months pregnant wasn't really helping. Instead she was sitting on the couch ordering Sawyer where to hang the streamers and balloons.
"There," said Shannon pointing above the television. "There needs to be more balloons hanging."
"Yes, Princess," said Sawyer sarcastically even though he didn't mean it, "You could help."
"Are you pregnant?" asked Shannon, "No. So shut up."
Sawyer laughed as he continued to take her orders. Claire and Kate were busy in the kitchen preparing a whole bunch of food…all of Charlie's favorites…that mostly consisted of weird British food. Suddenly a scream made everyone stop what he or she was doing. Kate and Claire walked into the living room. Shannon was standing up clutching her stomach…Sawyer was standing next to her, his hand on her shoulder. Kate walked over and spoke calmly to her.
"What's wrong Shannon?" asked Kate.
"I think my water broke," said Shannon staring down at the floor. Everyone looked down. Shannon was right…underneath her feet was a puddle of water.
"Oh God," said Kate, "We need to call Jack."
"I'll call the paramedics," said Claire walking back into the kitchen.
"I don't think we'll have time for that," said Shannon. "The contractions are less then five minutes apart."
"What?" asked Kate, "Why didn't you tell us when you started having contractions?"
"Because I thought it was another false alarm," said Shannon clutching her stomach. She sat back down on the couch.
Claire walked back into the room a minute later. She looked extremely angry.
"They put me on hold!" said Claire sharply holding the phone to her side.
"Hang up," said Kate, "We'll drive her to the hospital."
"I don't think so," said Shannon shaking her head, "The baby is coming now."
"Now what?" asked Kate, her voice full of panic. She looked at Claire and Sawyer who looked as clueless as she did.
"You deliver," said Claire not as a suggestion, but more as a command. "You delivered Aaron, you can do it again."
Kate sighed deeply realizing she didn't have any other choice.
Sawyer left the room to try and call Jack as Kate and Claire prepared Shannon for delivery. They set up a place for her on the floor. They helped Shannon sit down as Sawyer came back into the room. He had gotten a hold of Jack, but he was a good half an hour away. Sawyer went behind Shannon and helped her sit up. He took both of her hands as Kate covered Shannon's legs with a blanket.
"You ready?" asked Kate even though Shannon didn't have much choice in the matter.
"Push," said Kate.
Shannon pushed. She held onto Sawyers hands, squeezing them as hard as she could. Kate ordered her to push again. Shannon pushed, her voice getting caught in her throat. Shannon let out a scream and then relaxed.
"Push, Shannon," said Kate.
Shannon shook her head. Tears of pain were running down her face.
"I can't," said Shannon.
"PUSH!" ordered Kate.
Everyone looked over at Kate. Her glare softened, but everyone could see the fear in her eyes as well. Shannon closed her eyes as she pushed again.
"I can see the head," said Kate laughing, "You're almost there Shannon, come on."
Shannon pushed again, letting out a soft scream. Sawyer wined in pain as Shannon squeezed his hands again. Kate smiled at him.
"One more Shannon," said Kate, the baby's head was almost out. "One more…that's all."
Shannon pushed one more time as hard as she could. Her moan of pain was soon meet by the soft crying of a baby. Kate took the baby. She had gotten Jack's first aid kit so she was able to cut the cord. She wrapped Shannon's daughter into a blue blanket (after all Kate had two boys) and handed the baby to Shannon. Shannon took the baby, who had stopped crying, and held it close to her. She looked up at Kate who was smiling down at her. Fifteen minutes later, Shannon and the baby were all cleaned up. They were planning on headed to the hospital when Jack and Charlie got home. Kate got Boone and Christian (who had been in the playpen all this time) ready She put them into their 'baby carriers' and went into the living room where Shannon was lying down on the couch. Her eyes were closed, the baby sleeping on her chest. Shannon opened her eyes as Kate came into the room. She sat up slowly supporting the baby into her arms.
"Do you want to hold her?" asked Shannon.
"Sure," said Kate. Shannon handed her the baby. The baby rested nicely on Kate's stomach, which had begun to show, after all, she was five months pregnant. Kate looked down at the baby who was still sleeping. As Kate continued to stare, the baby opened her eyes and looked up at Kate. "She looks a lot like him."
"I know," said Shannon gazing lovingly at the baby, "This whole thing is bitter sweat."
Kate handed the baby back to Shannon. The baby did look a lot like Sayid. She had tan skin and a full head of dark brown hair. Suddenly Jack and Charlie ran into the house. Claire walked into the room from the kitchen; she had been calling the hospital preparing them for Shannon. Having children at home wasn't that unusual, except the fact that you should usually have a midwife, and Kate and Claire were not qualified in that area.
"Surprise," said Claire walking over to her husband who was looking around the decorated living room. Claire's mother was watching Aaron and Emma, but had been called because the party had been canceled.
Jack and Sawyer went over to Shannon and helped her up. Shannon handed the baby to Kate who put her in the extra car seat. They led Shannon outside into the car. As they walked towards the car, Matthew walked towards the house. He walked inside to find Claire and Charlie hugging and Kate trying to pick up three car seats at once. Matthew went over to help his daughter.
"Whose kid is that?" asked Matthew looking down at number 4 of the second-generation castaways.
"That would be Shannon's daughter," replied Kate.
Two hours later, Shannon was packing her daughter to go home again. The doctors had checked Shannon and the baby out and declared that everything was fine. As Shannon finished packing up the baby, Sawyer walked into the room. Shannon looked over at him smiling. She had this new look in her eyes…the look of pure joy.
"Ready?" asked Sawyer in a harsh voice.
"What's wrong?" asked Shannon who knew Sawyer pretty good by now.
"Nothing," snapped Sawyer.
"Don't lie to me," replied Shannon putting her hands on her hips, "And don't snap at me."
"Fine, you wanna know what's wrong?" asked Sawyer.
"Yes!" replied Shannon, "I would."
"You," said Sawyer pointing at Shannon, "That's what's wrong."
"What the hell does that mean?" asked Shannon.
"Is there room for me in your life or not Shannon?" asked Sawyer, "Because if their isn't, I am going to walk out of this room and onto the next goddamn flight to L.A."
"What's with you?" asked Shannon shocked by Sawyer's odd behavior.
"I can't replace Sayid you know?" asked Sawyer.
"I know that," said Shannon, "And I'm not asking you too."
"All I can do is l—…"said Sawyer ending mid sentence.
"What?" asked Shannon softly.
"All I can do is love you…"said Sawyer in a voice barely above a whisper.
Shannon walked over to Sawyer and put he arms around him. She looked up into his eyes. She brought her arm back around and brushed hi hair out of his face. She stood up on her tippy-toes so they were the same height.
"I love you Cowboy," whispered Shannon, their lips only centimeters apart. "And I don't want you to be anyone but you."
Shannon wrapped her other arm around his neck and kissed Sawyer. Sawyer retuned the kiss and wrapped his arms around her as well. Behind them, Kate began to walk into the room. She had heard them fighting and had gone to investigate. She stopped quickly when she was Shannon and Sawyer kissing, and turned on her heal back down the hallway. On the way she remembered the first time Jack had told he loved her…
They had been on the island for a year and a half now. They had been joined by the tallies (that's what the survivors of the tail section were called). They had opened the hatch…and found Desmond inside. Everything was fine now. They had pretty much set up a normal society. Jack and Kate had been inseparable since their 'first date'. Kate had even moved into the caves…just to be closer to Jack.
Kate sat inside her tent reading a book she had borrowed from Sawyer. She heard someone brush up against her tent's tarp wall so she looked up. Jack was standing in the doorway.
"Move," said Kate, "Your blocking my light. There is only an hour before nightfall, and I want to finish this chapter."
"To bad," said Jack walking over to her. He took the book out of her hand and lifter her up, "Because you're coming with me."
Kate didn't argue, but instead followed him. He lead her to the beach…nobody lived there anymore. Everyone had gone to live at the caves. Kate was slightly disappointed to find nothing lying on the sand. Usually Jack surprised her with dinner…a blanket surrounded by torches. Instead a tiny black box was sitting in the middle of the beach. Jack let go of Kate's hand and walked over to the box. HE lifted the lid to revel Desmond's record player. Jack turned it on and put the needle onto the disc. Soft music began to play.
You fill up my senses
Like a night in the forest
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again
Come let me love you
Let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter
Let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you
Let me always be with you
Come let me love you
Come love me again
Kate smiled as Jack walked back over to her and reached out his hand. She took it as he led her over towards the box. There he put his arms around her waist. Kate put her arm around Jack's neck They danced together until the song hit the dramatic chords.
You fill up my senses
Let me give my life to you
Come let me love you
Come love me again
You fill up my senses
Like a night in the forest
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again
Jack bent down whispered in Kate's ear.
"I love you Kate."
Kate's heart became caught in her throat. She smiled to herself. Did Jack just say what she thought he said? Kate tried not to sound to excited…but she had never been in this deep of love…
"I love you Jack."
Kate continued to walk down the hallway until she reached the familiar waiting room. Jack was sitting there with the boys. Kate walked up to him and kissed him.
"You okay?" asked Jack after they had broke apart.
"Yup," said Kate smiling as she sat next to the boys, placing a hand on her stomach, "Everything is great."
Once back at the house, Sawyer helped Shannon up to her bedroom. Even though she was released from the hospital, the doctor told her to remain in bed for at least a week…giving her body plenty of time to heal. Once upstairs, Shannon sat on the edge of her bed. She placed her daughter in the crib next to her. Sawyer sat down next to Shannon and held her hand.
"Have you decided on a name?" asked Sawyer.
"I was thinking maybe Laura," said Shannon.
"I like it," said Sawyer who reached in the crib and with his finger put it in the tiny babies hand. Slowly, Laura's hand curled around Sawyer's finger.
To be continued…
