"This is going to be stupid," Jack grumbled. He knew he was pouting but he didn't care. Much to Kate's disapproval, Jack had gotten Aaron a power wheel for his second birthday and he'd been "fixing it up" with Aaron the same way he hoped to one day restore a car with him the same way.

"Don't pout," Kate teased. She stepped out of the bathroom, still in just a bra and panties, and swayed over to Jack. He wondered if she knew how badly she was torturing him. He wanted to rip her clothes off and screw her until she was cross eyed and begging for a chance to catch her breath. She let her tiny fingers move to adjust his tie; knowing he was staring through her undergarments. "They're our friends," she reminded him "and they're worth dealing with the press."

"So much press," he sighed. "Can't we just invite Sun, Sayid and Hurley to a nice dinner?"

"Because Oceanic thought of it first," she laughed, ending her point with a quick kiss. Jack grabbed her and kissed her as his hands buried themselves in her straightened hair.

"I'd rather stay here with you," he purred, his voice smooth and seductive. Goosebumps crept across her skin as she imagined all the things he would do to her if she cancelled. But, she missed her friends.

"I won't be here," she kissed his forehead. "And I have to get dressed."

A little while later (so much that they actually were late) Kate's heels clacked against the hardwood floors. Jack looked up to see Kate with smoky eyes and straight hair. She wore a long, sleek purple dress with a slit up to her thigh. It hugged every curve, not that her slender body had many. Still, he had to fight his body, which threatened to harden at the very sight of her.

"That was worth being late for," he observed aloud.

"Shit! We're late!" Kate rushed to grab her clutch. Even in heels, she was flawless as she raced around the room. He wondered if any other woman could run in heels.

"Tell them the normal excuse," he smirked. Kate was compulsively late but was saved with Jack. Any lateness was chalked up to Jack working. It was only of the only times he was able to swoop in and save her so he was happy to tell the white lie. With Sarah, he was the one to rescue her from everything. He fixed her back. He took her from a poor dancer to a doctor's wife. With Kate, none of that impressed her, a trait he both loved and hated.

"Jack! Kate!" Sun cried with glee when she saw them.

"Sun!" Kate hugged her friend tightly. The women held the hug, both having so much to say that words couldn't suffice. Kate wanted to apologize. To beg forgiveness for Jin. To apologize she couldn't make it when her daughter visited Jin's grave. It was too hard for Jack and her to remember how they had failed. "You look beautiful," Kate added, noticing Sun's outfit when she stepped back. Sun wore a red lace dress with a bow at her tiny stomach, red flats and a chignon bun.

"You both look wonderful," Sun added as she hugged Jack.

"Dude, I need in on this action," Hurley called, approaching them. He hugged them all tightly; Kate always loved Hurley's hugs. They made her feel safe, something she rarely felt on the island.

"Where's Sayid?" Kate asked.

"Right behind you." Kate turned to see Sayid, donning a suit.

"You clean up nice," she laughed. She didn't know why but she half expected him to wear the dingy tank top he wore on the island.

Seeing them made her compare everything to the island. She hated that feeling.

As the party continued, people began to dance as the orchestra performed on stage. Jack and Kate danced until Sayid interrupted, asking for a dance. One dance turned into two before Jack stormed off to the bathroom. Alone, he paced the bathroom before splashing water on his face. Why did Kate ask about Sayid? And then say how handsome he looked? Why did Sayid want to dance with Kate anyway? He suddenly remembered how Kate and Sayid quickly became friends on the island. Had she had a thing for him? It wasn't unheard of, considering him. It always came back to Sawyer. Jack grabbed two Percocet from his pocket and used his hand to cup enough water to wash them down.

"Hey! I was looking for you," Kate said softly when he returned.

"I'm surprised you noticed."

"What? What's wrong?" She asked, running a hand along his jawline.

"I just want to get out of here," he muttered, turning his head away from Kate's touch. He walked away, heading to the bar.

"Is he okay?" Sun asked, stepping forward to Kate's side.

"Yeah, I think he's just exhausted from work," Kate lied. She bit her lip, watching Jack down two shots of whiskey in a row. She'd been making excuses more and more often to explain Jack's behavior. To friends. To Aaron. To herself.

It wasn't long until Jack and Kate headed home; she'd made excuses to everyone as to why they left first. She felt awful, Sun had traveled so far and Sayid had come from who knows what to attend. Even Hurley was able to leave the asylum for the evening (with a doctor to chaperone, of course.)

"What the hell was that?" Kate demanded when they were in the car.

"I should be asking you."

"Jack, what is going on?"

"What's going on with you and Sayid?" Jack fired back. Kate let out a small laugh before she could stop herself. Sayid was handsome and an amazing man but there had never been anything but friendship between the two. Since they'd been rescued, Sayid had confided in Kate that he respected her more than any other woman on the island simply because she could rival any man on the island.

"You've been drinking," she sighed. "Remember when you thought I was flirting with the waiter the other day."

"You thought he looked handsome."

"I told you and Hurley the same. And I told Sun how beautiful she looked. That's what you do at formal events!"

"You danced for three songs."

"We danced so he could ask about Hurley subtly. It took three songs to tell him about all our visits, alone and together. And then we got sidetracked—"

"With what?!?" Jack's voice raised enough to make Kate jump.

"He asked me about Aaron!" She yelled back. She sighed in frustration. "You're just drunk. Again."

Jack took a deep breath, her words sinking in. He knew better. This was Kate. And Sayid. Kate and Jack had established a life together, a family together.

"Kate," Jack said softly.

Kate didn't even look away from the passenger side window as she spoke. "Don't, Jack. Just… don't."

The drive home was spent in a silence so intense it sounded like a scream.