A/N: Sorry for the time between chapters…I made this one extra long to make up for it.

Chapter 36: Family Questions

Kate walked into the diner and spotted David quickly. He was sitting in a booth that was upholstered in the most hideous red vinyl. David stood up when he saw her and began to walk towards her. He was about 6'5" and he had ditched his black suit for a pair of jeans and a blue polo shirt. His eyes, like Kate's, were a deep hazel color. He ran his fingers through his curly brown hair before shaking Kate's hand with the opposite hand. They exchanged their hellos and he led her to the booth. Kate sat down opposite of him and when the waitress came over to the table Kate ordered a iced tea and a salad (without tomatoes.)

"Thanks for meeting me here," said David smiling at her, despite the fact that he was extremely nervous.

"Yeah," said Kate softly as David ordered his food (fried chicken), "Just tell me one thing…"

"What?" asked David taking a deep breath.

"Why did you want to find me?" asked Kate taking a drink of the iced tea that had just been brought to her.

"Because my daughter is pregnant," said David, "And it made me wonder about my family, since she plans on giving her baby up for adoption and of course I wanted to meet my real family."

"How old are you?" asked Kate suddenly, only realizing afterward how rude that sounded, but David laughed.

"Thirty-nine," said David smiling.

"Oh," said Kate. He was a lot older then she was…but her mother had had her when she was thirty-six.

They sat in silence for a few minutes until their food came. They both began eating…Kate had found it so much easier to talk to her father when he had found her. Why was this so much harder?

"How did you find me?" asked Kate finally breaking the silence.

"I went to the adoption agency that had handled my adoption," said David, "The adoption agency told me that was where Diane lived, so that's where I went. Then I went to the Diner and talked to manager, Harry. He told me that you were here."

"I see," said Kate, "So what exactly are you looking for?"

"I'm not sure," replied David, "I just wanted to see if you would talk to me…and now that you have…"

"You're not sure what to say?" asked Kate smiling for the first time since they had met.

"Exactly," said David smiling back at her.

"Just try and think of me as a friend," said Kate trying to help the awkward situation, "That you haven't seen in a very long time."

"Well if you were an old friend," said David lowering his voice to a whisper, "I would tell you that that waitress over there keeps looking over here and it is creeping me out."

Kate looked over her should and saw the waitress David was talking about. She was very tall, probably taller then Kate and had very frizzy white and black hair; she smiled at them reliving the fact that she only had two teeth. Kate tried not to laugh, but when she turned around and David whispered 'see!' they both began to crack up.

David and Kate spent the rest of their time laughing and talking about everything in their lives. Kate told David about her ordeal on the island and about her family. She revealed her past to him, leaving out the bank robbery and those kinds of things. David told her about his life. He had married right out of high school, then went to college and became an architect and had designed some of New York's finest buildings. His wife Mary Beth did when giving birth to their daughter Victoria, who is 19 and expecting a child of her own, she was staying with Mary Beth's parents so David could go on his trip. Both of David's adoptive parents had also died, leaving just him and Victoria.

Kate and David walked the block back to her house; as soon as he stepped inside he was amazing by the architecture of the old Victorian house. He was examining the living room when Jack came out of his office. Kate walked over to him and took his hand and led him over to David. She introduced them to each other and they shook hands. She showed David pictures of the kids because they were all upstairs taking naps. David and Kate sat down in the dining room and she handed him a dozen photo albums that her father gave her.

"Is that her?" asked David once he had opened up the book, "is that Diane?"

"Yeah," said Kate who was sitting next to him. She pointed to the picture that showed Diane and Kate when she was about ten. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" asked David looking up at her.

"That you never got to meet her," replied Kate flipping that page to show a bunch of pictures from Christmas past.

"Me too," said David sadly.

"Well David seems nice," said Jack as he continued to read his book.

"He's…a lot like me," said Kate who was sitting next to him on the couch reading a book of her own.

"Looks quite like you too," replied Jack turning the page of his book, "Where is he staying?"

"Some hotel downtown," said Kate folding the corner of the page she was on. She closed the book and put it down on the coffee table. David had stayed for dinner then headed back to his hotel, "I'm going to up to bed, okay?"

"Yeah," said Jack putting his book down long enough to give Kate a kiss goodnight. Kate went upstairs leaving Jack in the completely silence house. Suddenly at about midnight the phone rang.

"Hello," said Jack picking it up as soon as he could so it wouldn't wake up the baby.

"Jack?" asked a woman on the other end of the phone.

"Mom?" asked Jack.

"Yeah, baby," said Margot. She sounded tried and worn-out, "How are you?"

"I'm fine mom," said Jack, "What's wrong?"

"Will you come to L.A?" asked Margot not answering the telephone.

"Why?" asked Jack?

"Because I'm dying Jack," replied Margot nonchalantly.

"What?" asked Jack barely able to get the words out.

"Please just come baby," replied Margot coughing, "I just need to see you."

"Of course," replied Jack, "I'll come."

Jack hung up with his mother after promising that he would be on the first flight to L.A. Jack ran upatirs and into his bedroom. Kate was sleeping, but she woke up suddenly when Jack started to pack a suitcase very loudly.

"What's up?" asked Kate rubbing her eyes, "Why are you packing?"

"I have to go to L.A," replied Jack throwing several shirts into the suitcase.

"Why?" asked Kate sitting up, "What's going on?"

"My Mom just called, Kate," said Jack throwing a suit in the suitcase as well, "She's dying."

"Dying?" asked Kate absolutely dumbfounded, "Is that what the call was about?"

"Yes," replied Jack, "That's what the call was about. She didn't give me any details. Just asked me to be on the first flight out."

"I can't go with you," said Kate trying her hardest not to think about their last trip to Los Angeles.

"I know you can't," said Jack smiling at her to show that he understood, "it's okay."

"Do you know when Jack will be back?" asked Matthew catching Christian at the end of the slide.

"No," said Kate helping Boone slide down the slide, "I really don't know."

Jack had left earlier that morning for the nest flight to L.A. Kate decided to go spend some time with her father; they were at the park near his house. Kate helped Christian up the steps of the jungle gym careful not to squish baby Hannah who was sleeping in the baby carrier slung across Kate's chest. "I hate to say it, but he'll probably come home when Margot dies."

"Will you go out for the funeral?" asked Matthew catching Boone at the end of the slide. Boone giggled as his grandfather caught him, and he walked over to the stairs where his mother picked him up and sat him back down on the slide.

"I don't know," said Kate, she hadn't thought about the funeral before this moment. "If Jack wants me to be there."

"He'll need you," replied Matthew nodding his head.

Kate smiled to herself…

Kate stumbled as she walked down the beach towards the tent she and Jack had been sharing for about a year. She felt dizzy and wasn't sure if she was even going to right way. Kate heard someone calling her name in the distance. She turned around, her eyes burning from the bright sunshine. She shielded her eyes and saw Mr. Eko walking towards her.

"Kate?" asked Eko as he reached her. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," said Kate her voice shaky, "What's up?"

"I was just wondering why you were walking so far away from the camp?" asked Eko.

"What?" asked Kate looking around her. She realized that she was walking in the completely wrong direction. "I don't know. I don't feel so well."

"Come with me," said Eko, "I'll lead you back to camp."

"Okay," said Kate but as she walked forward she collapsed into the sand. Eko turned around quickly and checked her pulse, it was beating extremely quickly, and He picked her up gently over his shoulder and walked into the forest and towards the cave infirmary.

"Eko?" asked Claire as he passed her and Aaron in the jungle, they had just left Jack. "What's wrong?"

Eko didn't answer so Claire followed Eko. As they entered the clearing Jack turned around from his patient (Hurley who had stepped on another sea urgent). Jack ran over to them as Eko put Kate down on the bed laying the middle of the infirmary.

Jack bent down next to Kate, who was shaking. Jack put his hand on her forehead; she was burning up. He instructed Sun, who had become the island nurse; to get him several wet rags. Sun brought him the rags and jack put one on Kate's forehead. She moved her head slightly as the cold water ran down her forehead. Kate opened her eyes as Jack tried to get her to swallow some aspirin, she began to cough and she gagged on the water. Jack sat her up and held her close to him; he helped her drink the water and slowly fed her the pills. Kate swallowed them and closed her eyes. Jack laid her down on the pillow and covered her with a thin blanket.

It was night time before Kate woke up again, when she did she found Jack sitting next to her, he hadn't slept instead he watched over her silently, every so often changing the cold rag on her forehead. She sat up slowly feeling much better; Jack bent down next to her and told her to take it slowly.

"So what do you think is wrong with me?" asked Kate smiling at him.

"Not a clue," said Jack truthfully, "Probably just a heat stroke or something. Eat nothing but fruit and boar can't make you the healthiest person either."

"Very true doctor," said Kate nodding her head. She ran her fingers quickly through her hair wondering how awful she looked.

"You look beautiful," replied Jack. Kate stopped messing with her hair. She laid back down and covered herself with the blanket, falling asleep again. Jack didn't sleep because he had to make sure that she would be okay. He needed her more then anything in the world.

Little did either of them know…Kate had been pregnant…with twin boys.

Kate was brought back to reality again when she felt Boone tugging on her sleeve. "Again!" he said softly. Kate sat him down on the slide and gave him a soft push. The twins had begun saying some small words, their favorite was "No!", but they hadn't said anything like Mommy or Daddy.

"Kate?"

Kate turned around and saw David walking towards her. He had on an orange polo today. She hopped down from the jungle gym, as she walked over to him she tried to straighten out the blue tank and jean jacket she had on.

"Hey," said Kate as they met, "What are you doing here?"

"Just wanted to go for a walk," replied David. "Is that you daughter?"

"Yeah," said Kate as Matthew walked over to them, Boone and Christian running in front of them. Each of them held onto one of their mother's legs. "And these are the boys."

David bent down in front of the boys and held out his hands, each of the boys put their hands in his; he shook them gently and introduced himself as Uncle David. David stood up and found himself face to face with Matthew.

"Hi," said David reaching out his hand, "I'm David."

"I'm Matt," said Matthew, "Kate's Dad."

"It's very nice to meet you," said David smiling, "Well I'm going to continue on my walk. Are we still on for lunch tomorrow Kate?"

"Yeah," said Kate, "See you later."

David smiled and waved as he walked away. Kate put Boone and Christian into their stroller and she and Matthew began down on the path.

"So that's David," said Matthew running his fingers through his hair that was almost all gray now.

"Yeah," said Kate, "I think he's leaving on Monday, going back to New York."

"He reminds me a lot of Diane," said Matthew, "You do also. I'm happy that he found you."

"Me too," replied Kate, "At first I wasn't. I was terrified, but now I'm really glad he did."

75 miles away Jack Shepard was being dropped off in front of his mother's house. The cab driver got his suitcase out of the trunk and brought it up to the front door. Jack paid the car driver and made his way into the house. The house was completely silent. Jack dropped his suitcase next to the door and walked up the staircase and down to his mother's bedroom. When he was about to walk in, Aunt Lorraine walked out.

"Jack!" said Lorraine giving him a hug, "I'm so happy to see you!"

"Thanks Aunt Lorraine," said Jack, "How's my Mom?"

"Why don't you go," said Lorraine. She walked down the stairs away from Jack. Jack pushed open the door to his mother's bedroom and walked in. Margot was sitting up in bed, her usually neat hair was all over the place, and she looked like she had aged forty years in the matter of weeks.

"Hey baby," said Margot as Jack walked in the room. Margot patted the edge of her bed so Jack would sit down. "How are you?"

"I'm fine mom," said Jack sitting down.

"How are Kate and the kids?" asked Margot.

"Great," said Jack softly, "Everybody's great. Mom what's wrong?"

"I'm dying Jack," said Margot smiling, "I told you that."

"I know," said Jack trying to hold back the tears, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I only found out about the cancer when there was no hope," replied Margot, "I came out to see you…saw baby Hannah. I thought that would be the last time. As long as you weren't mad at me, I was okay with that being the last time."

"Mom," said Jack softly, "If you had told me I could have helped you."

"You already did," said Margot her voice becoming barely more then a whisper, "You did, you saved me a long time ago. When you stood up to me, defending Kate. You make me so proud Jack." Margot took Jack's hand and kissed it softly. "I'm so glad you are here. Thank you Jack. I can die now…"

"No," replied Jack the tears falling from his face, "No, please don't."

"It's okay," replied Margot closing her eyes, "I can't feel the pain anymore."

"I love you Mom," said Jack softly, "Always, even when I was mad at you."

"I know you do," said Margot, "And I love you too, my baby boy."

Kate walked into the house just as the phone was rung. She wheeled the stroller into the kitchen so she could let the boys out. She picked up the phone just as it clicked to the answering machine.

"Kate…"

It was Jack's voice, Kate quickly picked up the phone.

"Hey Jack," said Kate happily into the phone. There was nothing on the other end for a few seconds. Kate could hear Jack breathing. "Jack?"

"She's dead," said Jack his voice breaking.

"Oh Jack," said Kate, "I'm so sorry."

"I need you," said Jack, "I need you to come out to L.A. Please Kate…I can't go through the funeral…"

"Jack," said Kate softly cutting him off, "You don't have to say anything else. I'll be there as soon as I can."

Kate, David, and the kids were all on the next flight to Los Angeles. David had decided to go back home because he had to get back to his daughter. They would take the same flight into LAX and then David would grab a connecting flight to New York. The flight got them to L.A. by the late Tuesday morning. David and Kate got their luggage, and the strollers for Boone and Christian. Kate walked with David as far as security would allow.

"It was so great to finally meet you," said David sticking out his hand. Kate walked forward and gave him a hug. He returned the hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Don't be a stranger, okay?" said Kate as they broke apart, "Write, email, visit, call me, okay?"

"Okay," said David nodding as he grabbed his suitcase and walked away towards his terminal. Kate watched him walk away until he only became another traveler among the thousands. Kate grabbed her suitcase that wheeled behind her, and began to walk with some difficultly, since she had to push the stroller and carry Hannah at the same time. Finally she made her way to the pick-ups, where she could see Jack standing there waiting for her. Jack turned around and saw her walking towards him. He ran towards her, careful not to knock anybody over. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, again being careful not to squish the baby. Jack kissed his wife deeply held both of her hands. Kate pulled one hand away and wiped away the tear that was running down Jack's face.

"Thank you so much for coming," said Jack, "I know you didn't want too…"

"Jack," said Kate softly cutting him off, "I'll always be here for you, okay? You never have to question that."

To be continued…