First of all, I would like to apologize for the delay in this chapter. I had wanted to write this sooner, but you know how things get around the holidays. So much to be done…

But I digress. Thank you all for reading and I hope you like this last chapter!

Special thanks to my reviewers: JaimeLeigh, smilez4eva, Seredipity9, alias09, MizSniz, kate and jack, LOSTinFishboy, a.k.a.-ashley,ErabuHikaridaisyduke947, and CharlieLover!

Disclaimer: You know he drill by now - Carol's mine, everyone else is not. Also, Locke's quote about fate towards the end is courtesy of my favorite band, Matchbox Twenty.

Jack and Kate

Jack sighed in relief. He had been terrified for Kate all day, but it seemed like she was going to pull through. Her breathing had been ragged and halting, but now that she was lying on a soft, comfortable bed roll she seemed to be improving. Jack squeezed her hand.

He was concentrating solely on her, which was why he didn't hear the harsh whispers just outside the medical tent…

"… and then he shoved her with all his might into the side of the plane. It is a true miracle that the beautiful woman is still here with us at this moment." Sawyer smiled sweetly at Carol, who was calmly leaning on his shoulder and doing her best to look wounded. "It's a good thing I was there to care for her, her husband just abandoned her without a second thought."

Carol brushed a fake tear from her cheek and nodded. Jack hadn't really hurt her before, he had only stunned her a little, but she most certainly didn't mind the extra attention. She also felt that the knock on her head had given her a far more healthy perspective. The only real use for a husband is to get easy money, she decided. I certainly over-reacted before with that whole "love" thing. I would be penniless without Jack, but there are always other options… Smiling and trying to look brave, she announced, "Of course, I will move on. If there were a justice of the peace on this island, I would divorce him instantaneously." There, that should get some sympathy.

"Excuse me, mam, but I am a justice of the peace and I would be more than happy to divorce you."

Oops, thought Carol. She looked over at Sawyer, who was nodding encouragingly. This man Sawyer says that he has money and he seems completely infatuated with me. His cash is just as good as Jack's, of course. What the hell?

"I would like that very much, Sir."

"Jack?" Kate's eyes fluttered open and she looked up to see her doctor looking down at her, his tear-streaked face radiating joy.

"Thank God you're alive, Kate. I thought I had lost you there for a minute."

"Lost me? No matter what, I don't think we could ever completely lose each other, Jack…" Her sentence faded out and she fell asleep once more.

Still smiling, Jack turned to see Locke peering into the tent. "May I come in, Doctor?"

"Of course. Sit down."

"So, has the right choice become clear to you, Jack?"

"It was always clear, Locke. I just couldn't see the truth through the haze of morals and bindings. I must say, though, I can't figure this fate thing out. Why did Kate have to get hurt? I almost lost her, in reality I still could lose her. I mean, how will this ever work? How do I know that fate will start dealing me a good hand?"

"Fate is a strong force, Jack, but it is most certainly not everything. You can never control everything, but if you just slide on over and accept fate, then of course it's bound to be a powerful thing."

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by Carol rushing into the tent. Jack draw back as she came towards him until he saw the piece of paper she was holding. "I am tired of the suffering you put me through. I want a divorce. Sign here, or I'll…"

"Calm down, Carol. Trust me; I'd be more than happy to."

"By the way, you are formally invited to my wedding."

"Wedding?!"

"Sawyer asked me to marry him! Might as well do it here before he backs out." Giggling, she rushed out.

Locke smiled and shook his head as rose to leave. "I must say, however, that sometimes fate can be a very nice thing to have on your side."

"I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Sawyer kissed Carol happily, pretending that she was his beautiful Kate. Too bad it didn't work out with us, we were the perfect match. However, there are some benefits to this woman. She is obviously a bitch and is probably a little insane, but take a look at that necklace! She must have big bucks when we get home!

As they walked down the beach together, Sawyer leaned close to Carol and whispered, "Just to clarify, not that this is important or anything, but you are an heiress, right?"

Carol laughed. "No, silly. Why would you have thought that? Wait- what's wrong. It shouldn't matter, I mean, you are a rich businessman, right?"

"Um, no."

The new couple took one look at each other and whirled around. "Mr. Justice of the Peace, wait up! We need a divorce."

"Sorry, can't do that. Those were my last papers."

"Wait, so now I'm stuck with…"

Jack and Kate turned around in an attempt to locate the source of the collective screams coming from the beach area. She had finally felt well enough to walk, and they had taken a brief stroll to Jack's spot on the beach. Forthe most part, they had walked in silence.They had so much to say to each other that neither knew where to even start.

Kate smiled warily. "So Carol is out of your life now?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Do you think they are really going to be happy together?"

"You never know. Sometimes completely different people can be completely right for each other."

"What about us?"

"Us." He smiled. "I could get used to that."

"I could to. If that's what you want, I mean."

Jack looked deep into her eyes. "I could never want anyone else."

Kate smiled and blushed. She had so much more to say, as did he.

Finally,Jack pulled her close and kissed her. As they got lost in each other, they both knew that whatever ended up happening, they were not going to fall apart.

The waves of their lives had finally risen up.

So. I hope you liked the last chapter and will continue to read my writing!

I will post the next story in two weeks or so. As of this moment, I am debating between two ideas- a post-rescue story and a story about tension between the two camps. Both will be Jack/Kate centric and I want to eventually post both. Tell me if you would want to read either one next.

Please, everyone, review and let me know what you think!