"We don't have to do this," Jack whispered softly. He had spent nearly a half hour kissing Kate outside her door like teenagers. He sensed her hesitation and didn't want her to think he had any expectations.

"I...I promised myself a while ago I wouldn't sleep on the first date," she admitted, covering her face with one hand. "I've just been going back and forth..."

"There's no pressure. We don't have to," Jack assured her.

"But it's not really a first date," Kate reasoned.

"If you have to convince yourself—"

"—I don't need convincing," she kissed him, licking his lower lip before opening her front door.

"Hola, Miss Kate!" A cheery voice called from the kitchen.

"Rosie, this is Jack Shepard. Jack this is my nanny, Rosie." The two shook hands. "Rosie is actually a friend of Hugo's."

"You were on the plane, too?" Rosie asked, although Kate and Jack both knew it was out of politeness. There had been so much press that it seemed impossible not to know that.

"How was he?" Kate asked, switching topics.

"He cried for a little when you left but calmed himself down. He's been asleep since about 8."

"Do you want to check on him with me?" Kate asked, her green eyes locked on Jack. He nodded and followed her down the hall, unable to stop his eyes from traveling up her bare legs to the dress that clung to her slender frame.

She slowly opened the boy's bedroom door, a sliver of light illuminating his blonde hair. Jack watched from the doorway as Kate slid through the narrow opening and sat on the edge of Aaron's bed. She brushed the hair from his eyes, making him nuzzle against his favorite stuffed animal, a kangaroo that they'd named Clarence. She didn't notice Jack had come closer until he placed a hand over her shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly. "Let me just turn on his nightlight," Kate whispered. The two moved awkwardly around each other, still getting used to being in the same space. Jack turned the nightlight on, creating brightly colored trains on his walls.

"Mommy," Aaron whimpered without opening his eyes.

"Shhh, I'm here sweet pea," Kate sat back on the bed and rubbed his back for a few minutes until he fell back asleep. "I love you," she whispered and kissed the top of his head.

After, she lead him to her bedroom, kissing him the minute the door was closed. He lifted her with ease, refusing to let her out of his arms. It had taken too long to get to this moment, to have Kate relaxed and at his side. When they came up for air she pressed her forehead against his, stroking his hair.

"I should get changed into something more comfortable," she whispered and he set her down. He took a seat on a plush chair in her room while she fixed her hair nervously in the mirror. When she returned, she wore a bathrobe and was visibly shaking.

"Hey, you're shaking," Jack jumped up to rush to her side.

"It's just nerves. Sit, sit."

"You know, I've seen you... you know..." Kate stared at him wide eyed so he corrected himself, "I've seen you in your bra at the caves," he reminded her. Kate remembered the moment he was talking about and bit her lower lip. She had been in an old worn out bra when they ran from bees in the caves and it was amusing to her that he really couldn't tell the difference in situations.

"This isn't exactly like that," she said seductively, untying her robe. Underneath she wore a matching red lace bra and panties with red garter belts holding up her stockings. With her red lips and brown curls, she looked like something he imagined. He wanted to grab her and rip her clothes off. More than that, he wanted to savor the moment.

"Jesus Christ, what did I do to deserve this?" He asked, leading her to the bed where he laid her down. He let his hands stroke her cheek, loving the way she closed her eyes, leaning into his embrace. As his hands brushed over her neck, she craned it to give him complete access; complete control. His hands moved to her stomach as he suddenly noticed the clusters of freckles across her stomach; they were like secret constellations, so light they might easily be missed. He couldn't help wonder if her exes had admired the same freckles or if they'd been in such a hurry that they didn't study her; he wondered if they noticed the faint scars that he knew better than question the cause of. He reveled in the fact that she had marks no one had ever seen. He hated that she had them, but he was the only one who knew those scars and one of a handful who knew the truth about how she got them. He bent his head, kissing the freckles, scars and all the things that made Kate's body hers. "You are the most beautiful creature that's ever walked the face of the Earth."

"You haven't seen every creature that's ever walked the face of the Earth," she rolled her eyes but was still blushing.

"I don't need to."

She reached up, her hand snaking around his neck and pulling him into a heated kiss, forcing his body on top of her. She moaned at the contact; she'd spent so long relishing the simplest of touches that she felt like she could reach her peak just laying like this. Laying with him, letting him run his hands over her was the most intimate thing she'd ever done and in that moment, she'd never felt closer to anyone else and she never wanted to. She just wanted to be his. "I need you," she whispered, her lips touching his ear so lightly he felt goosebumps on his arm.

He pushed into her, unable to take his eyes off her. Even in the dark, he could see her green eyes sparkling; he couldn't take his eyes off her. The way her head tilted back to release soft moans and mews. She clung to him, refusing to let go even as he clung to her. As he kissed her, his hands got lost in her hair. In that moment he realized all his jealousy towards Sawyer was misplaced. He'd seen the video tapes; they'd had sex but they hadn't made love. In those cages, it was frantic and quick, the threat of death heavy in the air. Tonight, they made love, reveling in each other's touch. As he spilled into her, she felt her own body erupt in pleasure.

He plopped down next to her on the bed, each struggling to catch their breath. They sat in silence for a moment, taking in everything that had just happened.

"That—" Jack finally spoke up.

"That didn't feel weird," Kate joked and they both broke into a fit of laughter. The more they tried to stay quiet for Aaron the more they laughed. Eventually, Jack had tears in his eyes.

"This is... just amazing."

"What is?"

"Laying here, with you. We're healthy and we're home. I've never heard you laugh so much," he admitted. He studied her for a moment, wondering if he was ready for the answers to his questions. Finally, he couldn't hold it in any longer. "How do you feel now? Is it still weird?" He ventured.

Rather of words, she climbed on top of him, straddling him as she kissed him, her tongue dancing with his.

Jack felt himself hardening again, his body ready for round 2. He braced himself, this was going to be a long night.