A/N: This whole chapter is a flashback to the island. I hope it doesn't get to confusing; it's not going to be in italics. It will show you the depth of Kate and Jack's relationship. Enjoy.

Chapter 38: Island Revelations

It was the fifth year anniversary of the plane crashing on the island. Many things had changed: relationships, personalities, and the look of the island. The beach had a few tents on it, one of which belonged to Jack and Kate. The rest of the castaways had taken to the caves. If you were to walk into the forest it would seem like a mini town to you. The forest had tents everywhere; giant trenches had been built to capture the rainwater. Sun's garden had grown immensely, and many people had started their own. The hatch was hardly ever used, they had stopped pushing the button…and surprisingly nothing had happened. The only thing in the hatch that was used was the shower. One of the caves had been turned into an infirmary. There were several beds laid out and all of Jack's medical supplies were set up inside of the cave to prevent rain damage. The hatch had supplied them with many medical supplies, including a stethoscope and prescription medication. Everyone had medical charts and had monthly doctor visits. Life was pretty much normal, the others were gone, Desmond and Danielle showed up every once in a while, but otherwise it was like they had all gone on Survivor.

Kate had a schedule that she pretty much stuck too, she would get up with the sun and go help Jack with the infirmary, and it was like they played doctor and nurse. If nobody needed anything they would spend the rest of the day together, walking along the beach talking about life. Every once in a while they would have a romantic evening, candle lit dinner, or dancing on the beach. Kate liked to pretend that everything was perfect and it was as long as they remained on the island.

"What are you doing?" asked Jack walking behind Kate wrapping his arms around her thin waist.

"Sinking," replied Kate putting her head back so she could smell the mix of seawater and after-shave that he had been able to use through out 5 years, "You should know that by now."

"True," said Jack kissing her neck. Kate squirmed in his arms, his non-shaven face tickling her neck. "You wanna go for a walk?"

"Yeah," said Kate pulled her feet out of the sand. She slipped on her flip-flops and took Jack's hand.

They began to walk down the beach as the sun cast an orange glow over anything.

"Do you know that we have been together for almost five years?" asked Jack softly as they continued to walk.

"Yeah," replied Kate smiling slightly.

"I want to know how serious you take our relationship," replied Jack very quickly.

"What?" asked Kate stopping as she pulled her hand away and crossed her arms.

"I love you," replied Jack, "And I want to have a future with you. I want to marry you."

"Jack," said Kate shaking her head, "Please don't say those things to me."

"Why?" asked Jack reaching out putting his hand on her shoulder.

"Please," replied Kate almost begging him. She hated to talk about the future. She knew exactly what would happen if she ever got off the island, and that scared her. She did not want to talk about the future; she just wanted to live in the moment. "Just don't say those things…lets not talk about the future."

"We have to Kate," replied Jack, "If we want to have one together."

"Jack," sighed Kate, "I-I can't do this."

Before Jack could do anything Kate turned away from him and ran into the jungle. He did not go after her, even though he could easily have caught her. Kate ran through the forest until she could be sure that Jack was not following. Kate sat down in the dark forest, putting her knees up to her chest she began to sob.

"Jack, man, are you okay?" asked Hurley. It was the early morning and Jack was walking around the infirmary. Jack, who always took such precise care of everything, had just knocked down his tray of medication.

"Yeah," replied Jack softly giving the opinion that he was not all there, "I'm fine."

"Girl troubles?" asked Hurley sitting down on the doctor bench.

"What?" asked Jack turning around to face him, "How did you--?"

"I'm good like that, man," replied Hurley, "So you like wanna talk about it?"

"Not really," said Jack turning back around so he could clean up the spilled medication.

"So is Kate being stubborn again?" asked Hurley playing around with the stethoscope.

"How do you know these things?" asked Jack looking up at him.

"Like I said," replied Hurley the stethoscope in his ears, "I'm good dude. Well I have a piece of advice for you Jack."

"Yeah?" said Jack standing up so he was in front of Hurley, "What is that?"

"If you love something set it free," said Hurley in a fake mystical voice.

"Okay," said Jack.

"And if it comes back…set it on fire," replied Hurley nodding.

"What kind of advice is that?" asked Jack trying not laugh.

"Dude, I was trying to pull a Locke," answered Hurley putting the stethoscope down, "Trying to think of a really good metaphor for life. It's the first thing that popped into my head."

"Right," said Jack feeling depressed as ever, "Thanks for the try Hurley, but I think that maybe I should just get over the whole thing."

"I thought doctors were supposed to be smart," replied Hurley.

"They are," replied Jack raising his eyebrow at him.

"Well that's the stupidest thing that has ever come out of your mouth," said Hurley, "Dude everyone can see how much you too dig each other. I mean you've been together for like 5 friggin' years. Why would you just throw that all away?"

"Your right," replied Jack shaking his head, "I'll just have to talk to her."

"Good luck with that man," said Hurley hopping off the bench and patting Jack's arm twice, "Next to you, she is the most stubborn person I know."

Kate walked towards the tent that she and Jack shared just to check if he was in there. She reached the tent and found it exactly how they had left it. He hadn't come back just like she hadn't. Kate let the flap door close behind her as she walked away from the tent and towards the water; once she was near the water she took off her shoes and rolled her khaki pants up to her knee. She walked towards the water until it was only a centimeter below her pants. Kate stood there looking out at the endless water dreading the day a boat would be seen on the horizon. Dreading the day that she would never see Jack again.

"Hey dudette," said a voice behind her.

Kate looked behind her, Hurley was walking towards her. She turned around as Hurley came to her side.

"Hey Hurley," said Kate wiping away the tears had been falling onto her freckled cheeks. "What's up?"

"Just thought I would come check on you," replied Hurley, "Jack has been acting so weird I thought I would come to you and see if anything was wrong."

"Nothing is wrong," said Kate giving him the fakest smile ever.

"Nothing eh?" asked Hurley, "Then tell me why you are about to cry and Jack is the infirmary going crazy."

"Hurley," replied Kate a pained expression on her face, "You wouldn't understand."

"Sure I would," said Hurley, "Try me."

"He doesn't get it!" replied Kate, "Everyone knows what I did, and he thinks that we actually have a future together. When rescue finally comes, I will never see him again. I will be taken away from him, along with my heart and his. I can't do that to him. I can't break his heart. He means so much to me. I love him."

"Dude, that was deep," said Hurley smiling. "But you know what the ancient ancestors used to say, 'If you love something set it free, and if it comes back set it on fire.'"

"What?" asked Kate not sure if she had heard him correctly.

"It didn't work on Jack either," said Hurley shaking his head, "I need to work on my metaphors."

"Yeah you do," replied Kate smiling slightly, "Seriously Hurley, what should I do?"

"Talk to him," said Hurley giving Kate the exact same advice as he gave Jack, "He really wants to talk to you too."

"Thanks Hurley," said Kate giving him a kiss on the cheek, she ran out of the water and up the beach and towards the caves. On the way she passed Claire, Charlie, and Aaron, who were talking softly, but Kate could hear Claire telling Charlie that it was okay for Aaron to call him Daddy. Kate smiled to herself as she ran through the jungle barefoot. As she ran she put her hair back into a ponytail and pulled on her purple tank top to make sure she looked half-way decent. She was not looking where she was going and only looked up when she had run into something hard. Kate fell backwards and looked up; John Locke was standing above her offering her a hand up. Kate took it and stood up.
"Hi John," said Kate.

"Kate, may I offer you a piece of advice?" asked John. Clearly island gossip travels fast.

"Ummm, Yeah," replied Kate shrugging, "I guess so."

"If you love something set it free," said Locke seriously.

"And if it comes back set it on fire?" asked Kate laughing.

"Uh, no, I was going to say then cherish it," said John smiling, "But fire always works."

"Right," said Kate nodding, "Well thanks." She began to run again until she had reached the caves. She looked all around until she made sure that Jack was not there. She walked through the infirmary and found it a complete mess. She picked up the medicine cart and put the little bottles back on it.

"Jack went to the beach," said Rose who was sitting only a few feet away. "I was about to have an appointment, but Jack ran off. I think he was looking for you."

"Thank you," said Kate starting off for the beach again. She finally broke through the trees and found Jack walked along the beach towards their tent. Kate ran up to him and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey," said Jack everything that he wanted to say just seemed to float right out of his head.

"Hey yourself," said Kate.

"I need to talk to you," they both suddenly said together.

"You go first," replied Jack smiling.

"Good," said Kate realized that she would be able to finally get out everything that she had to say. "Okay." Kate took in a deep breath. "I don't think that I can do this anymore, Jack. I can't break your heart."

"Why would you break my heart?" asked Jack the look on his face was very sad, Kate couldn't bare to look up at him.

"I wouldn't mean to," replied Kate the tears beginning to swell up in her eyes. "But Jack we both know what kind of person I am. I am a fugitive, I lie, I steal, Jack I don't deserve you."

"No," said Jack, "Don't say that. That is not the kind of person you are, you are warm, loving, and kind. I came alive when I met you."

"NO!" said Kate her emotions taking control, "I don't deserve you. This island is driving me crazy! You don't know about the person I was before the crash. I was always running. I can't run here! For the first time I couldn't run away from all the bad things that were happing. Then I met you. …and for the first time in my life I felt like I was safe. I didn't have to run. But I realize Jack that I can't be with you. I can't hurt you."

"You won't hurt me," replied Jack, "Because I know you would never do it on purpose. I know that you love me. I can accept everything you did off the island. And if we do get off this island I can promise you that I will wait for you. I don't care if I have to wait until I am seventy years old and don't have any teeth. I will wait. Because when you say that you love me, my whole world stops and it's only you and me. Only you and me Kate. That's all that matters. Not your past, not my past. Noting but our present and our future."

"Jack," said Kate falling forward into his arms letting him hold her. "I love you. I love you so much I can't even tell you."

"I know how much," replied Jack shaking his head, then looking into her eyes, "I can see it in your eyes every time you look at me."

Kate sighed deeply and closed her eyes. Jack kept his arms wrapped around her. Tears of happiness began to flow from her eyes. They were no longer tears of sorrow and sadness, but tears of joy. She did not know what her future would hold. Especially for her and Jack, but she was sure that this is the only thing she would…Always and Forever.

To be continued…