A/N: As in previous chapters, actual dialogue from the show will be in italics and underlined. Here we start to deviate from canon, although I will still include some of the dialogue from the following episodes: Some Like It Hoth, The Variable, The Incident: parts I and II.
I will try to fill in the details of what happens as much as possible especially if they're relevant to this story, but there will be some (non-essential) scenes that I skip over (just assume all stays the same).

Georgia, tnlostfan, eyeon & emerson023: Thank you for your reviews of chapter 37 :)

Julia: It's always nice to hear from long time readers like you. I believe you've been following this story from the very beginning, right? I admit that I did pack a lot in the last chapter. Actually, I've been trying to wrap up this story for sometime now. Back in December I had 50 chapters (total) planned for this story but then around that time it appeared that reader interest had waned. Since then, reviews for this story have gone up and down like a yo-yo with most chapters getting one or two reviews (sometimes none) and other chapters with a surprising good number of reviews. It's been difficult to predict, actually, and for a while I believed it might be due to the alignment of the stars in the sky so I tried timing the posting of chapters accordingly (if only I had payed attention and not flunked my darn Astronomy class...who knew it would come in handy one day?)

Anyway, my goal since then has been: how can I finish writing this story in the fewest chapters possible while tying all loose ends?

The good news: This story is SO close to the end now, and it seems like everything has worked out for the best.

The 20 chapters I started with were probably too rushed and 50 would have made it drag on.

The Beginning of the End

Miles shook his head in disapproval: LaFleur's mistake had been great.

Now he was supposed to take care of this tape. With a look of resignation on his face, he pushed the button to eject the tape from the player. At that precise moment, Horace showed up with the intention of recruiting him for a mission as part of the circle of trust.

Miles found himself in a bit of a bind: How could be snatch the tape without arousing Horace's curiosity? Maybe the best was take care of it when he got back.

As luck would have it, Phil got hold of the tape while Miles was away on his mission.

As it followed, When James got home that night, Phil intersected him and confronted him about the contents of tape which showed him and Kate crossing the pylons with Little Ben.

It probably wasn't the greatest idea, but he really had no time to think of a better solution. So once he got Phil inside to discuss the situation, James knocked him out cold and tied him up in the broom closet.

"What are we gonna do now?" Juliet wondered while trying to get little J.J ready for bed.

"Monster, monster!" J.J exclaimed pointing to the closet. He had seen everything that had happened and ever since then had acted agitated and very much unlike his normal happy self.

"No, sweetie...there's no monster in the closet," Juliet tried to reassure their child while giving James a pointed look that clearly said, 'look what we've done'. How are they ever going to convince him that bed time monsters don't really exist.

James pursed his lips. "The thing is Sweetheart, that monsters DO exist...the sooner he learns that, the better," he replied in a Sawyer like fashion. He couldn't help it sometimes, especially when he felt particularly stressed, since it was the perfect defense mechanism. "This world ain't for the weak or faint of heart."

"He's only a toddler, you know! She called out as she stood by the changing table cradling her son's head.

"I know, I know," he relented as he went into the bathroom to brush his teeth. He squeezed the toothpaste tube harder than he intended and a blob of toothpaste covered his toothbrush and spilled onto the sink. Definitely more toothpaste than he cared for. In a way, it was like life, sometimes you find yourself in a mess much larger than you could have ever imagined. The worst part is when you're a parent and then realize that despite your best intentions you can't keep your child forever locked in a protective bubble.

Danger came in different packages: there were grapes and marbles and other choking hazards...or that knife inadvertently left lying on the kitchen counter.

At times danger came in more insidious forms like a slithering snake that you don't notice until it's too late ...and there's not one Goddamn thing you can do about it.

By the time James came out of the bathroom ready for bed, he'd found Juliet standing by J.J's crib, smoothing his hair and humming a lullaby.

His demeanor instantly softened as he gazed down into his child's angelic blue eyes. He marveled at how Juliet had managed to soothe him into this relaxed dreamy state.

"Sweet dreams," he murmured, placing a kiss on his son's forehead. "Love you," he said, unable to shake this feeling that this would be the last time he would tuck him in bed, in the nursery he had built for him not so long ago. For a moment, he could almost hear himself fooling around with the paint...and laughter...and could almost see Jin and Miles covered in paint from head to toe.

Miles and Daniel

"Hey, Miles, no time no see," Daniel says as a way of a greeting as he stepped off the submarine.

Later that night, Daniel excitedly talked to Miles about his conversation with Dr. Chang.

"So you say that this pocket of electromagnetic activity is now contained, " Miles prompted.

"It's contained right here but in about six hours the same thing is going to happen at the site at the Swan station..the energy there is about 30 times more powerful there, sir. And the consequences would be catastrophic." Daniel's eyes adopted a soft far away look that made him appear as though he belonged in a different, gentler world. "I had to tell him I was from the future."

"You did what?" Miles protested. "That was a big mistake, Dan. I will not back you up, no way!"

Later when Dr. Chang asked Miles if Daniel's assertions were true, Miles replied: "I don't know what he's talking about."

The next morning.

At 6:00 am, James was surprised to see Jack bright and early at his door.

"Faraday is back," Jack reported.

"What do you mean? Why?"

"I have no idea. He came in on the sub. He started talking nonsense."

Right then, J.J ran into the room with Juliet trailing behind him.

Juliet stood back when she saw Jack.

J.J retrieved a firetruck from underneath their coffee table and started rolling it on the floor, oblivious to their visitor.

"Get in here," James snapped, quickly closing the door behind Jack.

Jack stared at J.J for what seemed like minutes, a smile of recognition playing on his lips.

"This... is your kid?" he stammered, his eyes darting back and forth between Juliet and James.

"Nah. We just baby sit him sometimes," James was quick to reply smiling to himself, "Cute little kid, heh?" He added with just a glint of amusement, tiny dimples showing.

For a moment, Jack and Juliet exchanged a long, knowing look.

"Well, well, well," Jack began taking his own sweet time, knowing that he had their full attention. He approached little J.J who looked up at him with his mother's eyes. In an instant, he realized that the little boy was his father's spitting image. He faced James with a grin. "Um, I tell you," he clucked his tongue, cocking his head just so. "Unless these Dharma wackos are into cloning, it seems to me that this kid.. "

"Okay, fine. He's ours," James interjected unable to take Jack's runaround any longer.

Jack gave Juliet another long look as if to say 'why didn't you tell me?'

Juliet felt the weight of his gaze, a thousand words hanging between them.

"We have a bit of a problem on our hands," James addressed Jack, wanting to interrupt whatever was going on between him and Juliet. Then, he opened the closet door revealing Phil's presence.

It seemed like the perfect time for Juliet to quietly slip out of the house and take her son to Mrs. Johnson's.

Everyone gathers at the little yellow house

James: "For those of you who have just showed up here...for those of us who have been here for the last 3 years...this is our home...the last thing I wanna do is leave...but we ain't got no choice."

Kate: "How much time do we got before someone realizes he's gone?"

James: "not enough."

Juliet: "So what do we do now?"

James: "We only got to choices...either we commandeer our selves on the sub and get the hell off this island before anyone realizes we're gone...or we head back to the jungle and start from square one."

Jin: "I'm not getting back on that sub if there's a chance that Sun might be on this island."

Hurley: "Me neither, we just got here and now we're gonna run off. It seems kind of wishy washy."

Someone knocked on their door. It was Daniel.

James: Welcome to the meeting, Twitchy. He opened the door in a grand gesture. Then, he turned to Miles and murmured, "IS he still still crazy?"

Miles: "It's to a whole new level, man."

Daniel: "Does anybody know where I can find the hostiles?"

Juliet: "Why do you need to know that, Daniel?"

Daniel: "Cause one of them is my mother. And she's the only person on this island that can take us back to where we belong."

James to Daniel: "Your mother is an other?" he asked, puzzled.

Daniel: "You met her, actually, when the island was skipping...back in 1954...they were calling her Ellie."

Hurley: "You guys were back in 1954...like Fonzie times?"

Juliet: "You still haven't told us why you need to find her."

Daniel, "I just need to talk to her."

James: "I thought we were supposed to lay low, whatever happened happened. I'm not telling you anything and you ain't going anywhere unless you share with us what the hell it is your doing. " James was outraged. Daniel couldn't just barge into their lives and mess things up even worse than they already were. Besides, he was used to being in charge and he was about to follow some else without a good reason.

Jack: "Sawyer, he says he can get us back where we belong...whether we get back on the sub or head into the jungle...we don't belong here."

James: "we belonged here just fine until you came back, Doc ."

Jack thought about it for a second. Then he turned to Kate. "You know where the hostiles are? You and Sawyer took Ben down to the hostiles."

James: "Hold on a second, don't say a word, Kate."

Jack: "She can say what she wants to say. Kate, you made me promise never to ask what happened to Aaron or why you came back here. But I know the reason you came back it isn't here, it's not now."

James: Whatever her reason is, helping HG. Wells here talk to his mommy has nothing to do with it." He addressed Kate: "Come with us, Freckles," speaking in a gentler tone.

Juliet: The code for the fence is 141717, " she peered at kate in a nonchalant manner, realizing that Jack and Daniel are intent on doing whatever it is they want to do. "You should take Daniel. It's over for us here, anyway." They really don't have the time for an endless debate. All she could think about was that they needed for them to go off their merry way so that they could go and get J.J from Mrs. Johnson's. And then they would head for the beach which appeared to be their best option at the moment.

James was shocked to hear Juliet give away the code yet he said nothing.

Kate: "Okay, let's go."

Before going out the door, Daniel asked Miles to come with them but Miles refused. Daniel looked hurt.

James to Jack: "When you realize you've made huge mistake, we'll be back at the beach right where we started," he concluded in a calm, confident manner while holding the door open for them. Once they were gone, he turned to Miles and Hurley: "The rest of us, pack anything you can carry. Be back here in twenty minutes."

James to Juliet: "You called it the minute those yahoos got here," he started once everyone had left. "I should've listened to you. You can say I told you so."

Juliet: "Maybe after we get to the beach," she said matter of factly. It still bothered her that James had invited Kate to come with them. But she was determined to focus on packing some necessities and retrieving J.J from Mrs. Johnson's without arousing any suspicion.

"Hey, you still got my back?" James wondered, feeling a little insecure.

"You still got mine?"

"Absolutely!" he reassured her. "I just wanted to keep Kate from helping them. You know that... right?"

Right then, a loud buzzing sound filled the air. Unbeknownst to them, Jack, Kate and Daniel had just gotten involved in a shoot-out with members of the Dharma Initiative.

Following the leader.

James and Juliet dashed over to Mrs. Johnson's house which was a couple of doors down from their own, away from the commotion.

Mrs. Johnson didn't seem particularly surprised to see them arrive together in the middle of the day, although she did immediately start helping Juliet gather some of J.J's toys, baby bottles, pacifier and Mr. Bear.

In the meantime, James stood furtively by the window, weapon drawn. It does not take him long to realize what's happening and that Jack, Kate and Daniel were in trouble. Part of him wanted to get out there and join the party. Even though it would be like shooting darts in the dark. What would happen next would be anybody's guess. One thing for sure, the chances of him and Juliet escaping from all this would be next to none.

Still, could he just stand around and do nothing?

"Wish me luck," he said to Juliet, hand in the doorknob as a way of a good-bye.

"James!" Juliet exclaimed, alarmed.

"Daddy," J.J ran to him and hugged his legs.

"Don't go...whatever you do, don't open the door!" Mrs. Johnson exclaimed with such surprising urgency and unequivocal certainty that startled both James and Juliet.

Noticing something in the sixty year old woman's voice he had never heard before, James asked, " What is this about?" while stroking his son's head in a protective manner.

Right then, they heard a bustling noise that sounded like a deafening knock coming from the back of the house.

Seventeen month old J.J let go of his father's legs and ran towards the sound at the speed of lightning.

James pointed his weapon toward the sound.

With a gasp, Juliet ran after the child, scooped him into her arms and rushed back to where James stood.

"Please, " Mrs. Johnson spoke to both of them. "It's not safe for you here anymore. Come with me, " her tone was pleading yet urgent. "Eloise will be waiting for you on the other side."

James and Juliet exchanged a perplexed look, trying to figure out what was going on.

"That sound...it's a secret passage way...it's a signal for us..."

"You're with them?" James brusquely cut in, putting his weapon in his back pocket. "Why should we trust them?" he took a big breath, clenching his teeth. "How do we know we can trust you?"

"You've trusted me to take care of your son...right? I would never do anything that would harm him. Look, I have instructions to take you to the temple... you will be safe there."

"James," Juliet intervened. "We ran out of time. With the chaos going on out there, how can we safely take our son out of here?" We have no choice, really."

"How can we trust them...after everything they did...remember our little 'vacation' at the temple?" he reminded in a sarcastic tone. Out of the corner of his eye, a sudden movement his attention. Partially hiding behind the curtain, he turned to peek out the window. He blinked twice and froze. He couldn't believe his eyes: Phil was out there.

Apparently, someone had found Phil and let him loose and now he was running around like a chicken with his head cut off, spilling the beans to Radzinsky about what a traitor Jim LaFleur had turned out to be.

For a moment, he considered Miles and Hurley whom they had agreed to meet back at the yellow house. Regretfully, there was nothing he could do about that.

"You really have no choice. " Mrs. Johnson echoed Juliet's words.

The buzzing alarm coming from outside became even louder as if to punctuate Mrs. Johnson's words.

And with that, James and Juliet exchanged a look of agreement and followed Mrs. Johnson through the closet door that lead to the underground tunnel underneath the temple.

"We have to get out of here, Juliet," James mumbled between his teeth as they went through dark corridors and past the courtyard that led to the pool room.

Realizing this was the end of their journey, they both sat down on the steps leading into the healing spring.

Mrs. Johnson discretely stepped away.

"I don't see the rush," holding J.J tight against her chest, she smoothed her child's hair over and over in a soothing manner. "We really need some time to think. " she looked furtively around her. It was all so unearthly familiar, as if all their lives they'd been running around in circles. "Plus you know, I don't think they're holding us hostage this time."

"Maybe not." He conceded. "I ain't completely sold on their whole hospitality program. Last time they kept us locked up for days," he peered at his son who sat quietly on his mother's lap sucking his pacifier. "Plus, they even baptized him right here, in this very spot without our green light."

"So we're just gonna head out for the jungle and hope for the best? Let's at least wait for Eloise and Richard to get here...see what they have to say."

James's gaze followed Mrs. Johnson who seemed to be engaged in a lively argument with one of the Others. Amazing the transformation in the woman's demeanor... from good old granny to commander in charge all in the blink of a eye.

Unbeknownst to them, at that same moment in time Sayid, Jack, Eloise and Richard were heading to the opposite side of the temple (Daniel had been killed at this point), to the secret tunnel to uncover the hydrogen bomb.

Eventually, Sayid and Jack went through the same secret passage way that led to the interior of Mrs. Johnson's home.

At the temple, the hostiles around watching them with curiosity, as if Juliet, James and J.J were exhibits at a circus.

"whaddaya lookin' at?" James snapped at a woman who wouldn't quit staring.

Sometime later, Mrs. Johnson politely inquired if there was anything they needed.

"We can't stay here," James declared. "We're leaving."

"Where would you go?"

James was thinking of getting on with their plan of heading for the beach but he said nothing.

"I wouldn't advice that...but I won't stop you." she added, after it became clear that she was not getting an answer.

After what seemed like hours of walking through the magical forest, James and Juliet came upon Kate who seemed to pop out of nowhere.

"I came back to get you," Kate stated looking at James. Her eyes then darted to the child who was happily riding on his shoulders.

"Get me for what?"

"Where's Jack?" Juliet asked.

"He's on his way to blow up a hydrogen bomb." More intrigued than ever, Kate couldn't help but stare at J.J. "Who's this little guy?

"Why?" Why would Jack...?

"Does it matter? We have to stop him."

"Sorry...I'll pass." James just shook his head, which seemed to delight little J.J.

"Did you hear what I just said?" Kate was outraged.

"You just don't get it, Kate. We were happy here in Dharmaville until y'all showed up."

Kate further explains Daniel's plan to detonate the bomb, all in one breath.

"So let me get this straight...Jack sets off the nuke, which somehow... resets everything if flight 815 never crashes...lands in L.A safe and sound, and none of this ever happens. " James concluded.

"Sawyer, If Jack does this he can kill everyone on the island."

As if to punctuate her words, they came upon two familiar faces. Bernard and Rose standing in front of a makeshift cottage made out of straw.

James couldn't believe it. Last time he'd seen the couple had been way back when the Others were shooting the flaming arrows.

"Well, we spent lots of time searching for ya. I had Jin searching the island grid by grid." Seeing that his child was getting fussy, James tried to keep him in constant motion by twisting his upper torso in half circles.

"Yeah we know...you guys all joined up with the Dharma initiative." said Rose nonchalantly.

"Well, damn, I could have brought both y'all in. Why didn't you find a way to tell us you were out here?"

"People try their whole lives to get themselves one quiet place near the ocean where they can live in peace. We did it. That's what we made for ourselves," Bernard said while Rose nodded her head in approval.

"I hate to rain on your parade, but your condo is about to go ka-blooey."

J.J laughed. "Ka-plooey..." he mimicked. "Ka-plooey, Ka-plooey!"

"Jack has a bomb, Kate explained.

Rose didn't seem to care much about that. "Well, look at him! Your baby is all grown up now," she smiled at J.J.

"Rose, we need to know which way the Dharma Barracks are from here so we can stop Jack or you're gonna be dead. We all are," Juliet spoke.

"So we die. We just care about being together. That's all that matters in the end." Bernard said.

Juliet looked at James who steals a glance at Kate. "Maybe that's alright for us...but how about all the children on this island?" She took her child's hand and gave it a little squeeze. "Don't they also deserve a change to grow up and find some happiness?"

Rose shrugged and pointed, "The barracs are five miles away." Once again she smiled at J.J. "Take good care of your little one," she peered at James. "He's you all over again!"

As they said their good-byes, Bernard politely asked Juliet if she'd like some tea.

"Maybe another time." Juliet answered, wishing they could really stay and chat some more.

Kate stood by to walk along side Juliet while James marched ahead with J.J still riding on his shoulders.

"Yeah, he's ours," Juliet said after a long silence.

"We'll stop Jack," Kate swallowed hard. "Lord knows what I would do if Aaron was here in the midst of all this...one thing's for sure, I would NOT sit back... if there was the slightest chance that any harm might come to him."

As if on cue, they saw Jack driving one of the hippie vans at high speed.

James transferred J.J (who appeared to be just about ready for a nap) to his mother's arms.

Kate and James drew their weapons at the approaching van while Juliet found a secluded spot to take her child away from all the action.

"Just five minutes. We don't have much time, Sayid is critically wounded," Jack informed them.

A moment later, Jack and James stepped way for a private conversation.

James: "My folks died when I was 8 years old ...Did I ever tell you that?"

Jack: "No."

James: "A con man took my daddy for everything he had...he didn't handle it too well. He shot my mom then he blew his own head off.

Jack: "I'm sorry."

James: "I was under the bed when it happened ...heard the whole thing. That was a year ago. Right now july 1977. So i could have hopped on the sub, gone back to the States, walked right into my house And stopped my daddy from killing anybody."

Jack: (Somewhat puzzled). "Why didn't you?"

James: "Because Jack what's done is done."

Jack: "It doesn't have to be that way."

James: "What did you screw up so bad the first time around you're willing to blow up a damn nuke just for a second chance?"

Jack: "This is not what it's about."

James: "Then what is it about?"

Jack: "Three years ago Locke told me that this was all happening for a reason that us being here with our destiny."

James: "I don't speak destiny. what I do understand is that a man does what he does cause he wants something for himself. What do you want jack? "

Jack: (Sighs) "I had her. I had her and I lost her."

James: "Kate?" he shook his head, flabbergasted. "Damn Doc, she's standing right on the other side of those trees. you want her back, ask her!"

Jack: "No its too late for that."

James couldn't believe this. If the nuke went off and there was a time reset, Jack and Kate would be strangers and she would be in handcuffs. Why couldn't Jack see that love was worth fighting for even against all odds?

Jack: "If it's meant to be." he shrugged.

James' response was to punch Jack in the face and soon the two were rolling in the grass and raining blows on one another.

A few minutes later, Kate intervened and stopped their fighting from getting out of hand. "STOP!" she yelled and wedging herself between the two men. "Jack! Sayid is getting worse!"

"The only thing I can do for Sayid is this." He motioned to the nuke in his backpack. "This is the only thing that will save him." He glanced at James. "See you in Los Angeles." And with that, he took off into the woods.

"NO, leave him alone!" Kate stood in the way, blocking James' attempt to follow Jack.

"He doesn't stand a chance..." James reasoned after a moment. "Radzinsky and his men won't let him get anywhere near the swan site."

A look of panic swept across Kate's face. "Sawyer, he's gonna get killed out there!"

"What are we gonna do, Kate...blindly follow him to his grave?" James scoffed, heading out in search of Juliet.

Not long after that, James, Juliet and Kate walked up together to the van where they meet up with Hurley, Miles, Jin and Sayid.

After a few moments, James approached Juliet and wordlessly took J.J from her tired arms. Their child was fussy and wanted nothing but to be allowed to roam freely, yet he instantly molded his body to his and rested his head on his shoulder.

"I saw you look at her." She didn't know why she blurted this out, the timing was all wrong. She just had to be sure that she hadn't just been a replacement for Kate. After All, he had been so smitten with her before she left the island...and he had called her Freckles...

He took a deep breath, suddenly understanding. "That...doesn't mean anything. Juliet...I'm with you, you're the best thing that has happened to me. With you I learned I didn't have to be Sawyer anymore...And that is why I always love you," he stated, his searching gaze ran over her face, drilling into her core.

Juliet's expression softened and she met his eyes for a moment before looking away. She wanted to believe yet that nagging feeling was still there...why did he look at Kate during such critical moment of Bernard's little speech?

Somehow she felt as though she was that vulnerable little girl who stood at her daddy's doorstep with her little Hello Kitty suitcase, lost and rejected all over again. He'd said he loved her yet he had loved his new mistress first and foremost.

What if James sooner or later also wound up putting someone else first? She didn't doubt that he would always be there for her forever (if she let him), but what if deep down she'd only been second choice?

Growing impatient, Miles interrupted their private moment, and remarked loud enough for everyone to hear, "Has it occurred to any of you that your buddy's actually going to cause the thing he says he's trying to prevent? Perhaps that little nuke is 'the incident'. So maybe the best thing to do, is nothing? I'm glad you all thought this through..."

Right then, the group spots a vehicle driving over the terrain in the distance.

"If they see Jack, they're gonna kill him!" Kate appealed.

James furrowed his brow."What do you think, Blondie?"

A/N

Trivia: when Juliet says she feels like they'd been running around in circles is a reference to the fact that LOST's original name was 'The Circle'. Incidentally, in season 6, Sawyer remarked that it felt as though they were going in circles when once again they were held captive in the cages.

JUST IN CASE : In this fic, Juliet doesn't give her 'if I never meet you, I'll never have to lose you' speech. This would be the equivalent of saying she wished her child had never been born.

I worked on this chapter every day for a week, it's the best I can do. Hope you liked it.

Tell me what you think. Your continued support still needed.

Do keep on reviewing, I'd like to finish this story now while the iron is still hot!

ps. New readers: In case the timing of this chapter was off in relation to the stars, STILL REVIEW! Even if it seems like forever since I've updated.