A/N: Okay, here's the final chapter. But I'm writing a new, much longer one with a couple friends that should be up within the next few weeks. ;-

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Lost.

Chapter Five- The Morning After

The next morning, Kate awoke from a very deep, peaceful sleep, wearing nothing but an airline blanket, lying partially on top of Sawyer, and partially next to him. It took her a moment to realize what in the world was going on, as thoughts of the previous night quickly flooded into her mind. Kate smiled a true smile—a type that hadn't crossed her face in a very long time.

She let out a contented sigh and shifted her body so that she was facing Sawyer. He was still fast asleep, just as she had expected him to be, with a calm expression on his face. She watched him for a few moments, the smile never leaving her face, as she watched the simple rise and fall of his chest. Then, regretfully, she decided to wake him so they could both get dressed before someone caught them in a compromising position.

Kate shook Sawyer lightly and he groaned. She heard him mutter vaguely, "Five more minutes…" as he tried to go back to sleep. Kate laughed. "Sawyer, you need to wake up!" She shook him again. He groaned again, but woke himself up despite it.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm awake," he mumbled, opening his eyes.

"Morning," Kate greeted him, placing several kisses on his jaw-line.

Sawyer grinned, "Morning, Freckles."

Kate placed another kiss on him, this time on the lips, which Sawyer quickly deepened. After a few moments, Kate reluctantly pulled away and said seriously, "We need to get dressed."

"Aww, why the hell would you wanna go do something like that for, Sweetcheeks?" Sawyer protested.

"Jack will be here soon to check on your shoulder. Do you really want to be found like this?" Kate asked. Then, a moment later, after seeing his expression, she said, "You know what? Don't answer that. Just get you're clothes on."

He reluctantly got up after Kate and got dressed along with her.

"How's your shoulder?" Kate asked.

"Hurts," he said shortly.

Kate frowned. "Last night can't exactly have helped…sorry."

"Hell, don't be sorry, Sweetheart, I sure know I ain't," Sawyer stated with a grin.

He sat down again, laying back. Kate positioned herself comfortably in his lap, leaning into Sawyer.

"So," he began, "now you don't mind if we're found by the good doctor like this?"

Kate turned her head to face him. "Right now," she said, her face merely inches from his, "I could care less." She brushed her lips gently against his. Kate willingly lost herself in him as the kissed, forgetting everything else but the two of them and he made her feel.

But, most unluckily, they were interrupted a few minutes later by exactly who Kate had feared would find them.

It was Jack.

He stared at the pair with a look of mingled shock a disappointment. "Oh…sorry if I was," he paused sadly, "um…interrupting something." He started to leave.

"Jack!" Kate called out. "Sorry…we were just…well…" she was at a loss of words. She was silent for some time. "You needed to look at his shoulder right?"

"It can wait," Jack stated with slight bitterness.

Kate was silent as he turned to leave. "I'm sorry Jack," she spoke. Once Jack was out of sight, she turned back to Sawyer, who was looking at her with a pained, angry expression.

"You're sorry, huh?" he asked her coldly. "Sorry you ended up with me? 'Cause you can go ahead and have the doc if he's what you want!"

Kate sighed, "No, I'm not sorry...I didn't mean it like that, Sawyer. I don't want Jack," she paused, "I want you. I could never really be with a guy like Jack. He doesn't understand and he never will. He's trying to fix a person whose damage just can't be reversed. Any feelings I ever had for him were because he reminded me of someone I lost. Someone I loved. But Jack just doesn't understand me at all. If I was with Jack he'd just ignore the parts of me he doesn't like, he'd over-look the darker aspects of my character. But you won't do that. You offer acceptance, Sawyer. I need that more than anything. And you understand," she explained, "I know you do," she said softly. Sawyer remained quiet, absorbing her every word. "Listen," Kaye began, "I'm sorry, but this isn't going to be easy for me. I haven't exactly been with a guy that I actually cared about in a long time."

"Who were you with, then?" Sawyer asked gruffly.

Kate paused, "Guys I manipulated. Sometimes when I was on the run, I'd use guys. I'd seduce them to get what I needed. I hated it, but I did what had to be to done to get what I wanted," she explained sadly, "I'll do anything if I want something bad enough."

Sawyer nodded. "Well I'm sure you've figured out I haven't been with anyone I cared about for a while now, either, seeing as what I do for a profession and all."

Kate laughed lightly, "You can hardly call it a profession, Sawyer."

"I make money, don't I?"

"Not legally."

"Hell, look who's talking now!" he said, almost playfully. Kate gave him a small smile.

"Yeah, well, what can I say? I'm a hypocrite."

Kate smiled as they fell back into their usual flirty banter. She was glad that the fighting had come to end, at least for now. She knew that things wouldn't be easy with Sawyer, but since when was anything easy for her? She could care less if her relationship with him was easy because she knew it would be worth it.

Kate knew deep within her heart that some how, they'd be able to make it through.

Fin.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed. Please review.