Jack came back into the house, closing the door behind him as gently as possible, in case Kate was still asleep. He put the bags of groceries down on the kitchen table, and looked throught into the living room, expecting the silence of the house to mean that Kate was asleep, but she wasn't. She wasn't even lying on the couch anymore. Frowning he stepped into the living room, throwing his jacket onto an empty chair.

"Kate?" He called out. There was no reply. He was just about to go upstairs and check when he noticed that his letter was not alone on the coffee table anymore.

Beside it was another peice of paper. Picking it up and unfolding it in his hands, he realised that he had never seen the handwriting before. It was messy, but neat, and although there were no fancy loops and curls, the letters slanted off to the left professionally. It was a lot longer than his letter, but then his had been slightly rushed, at first. Reading through it, he sat down on the couch. This what what he had been afraid of: Kate taking off and leaving a goodbye note.

Hey Jack,

I don't know how I'm going to thank you for this. When we were on the island, we were constantly thinking back to the lives that were here. My life is still out there somewhere, and someday, I wanted to find that part of me again. Yet another part of me wanted it to stay missing forever. I guess that our other selves are hard to let go of.

When I was a little girl, I always had this dream that once I found the man I loved, I would be happy forever. Then, when I thought I found him, I was mistaken. I wasn't happy, I wasn't safe, but more importantly, I wasn't me. Everything in my life has been a disappointment, and I have been a disappointment to everyone. Until now.

Suddenly, I'm stranded. Lost. There's nowhere to run when you're lost. I didn't know what to do, where to turn, and I found myself longing for that feeling of security and love more than ever.

Then there was you.

You didn't show me the way out like I thought you would. You just showed me yourself, and expected the same in return, and I came to realise that you were the way out. However, the best thing you showed me was that I was wrong before. The reason I hadn't been happy in love before was because I wasn't in love. I have feelings for you that I never thought I'd experience, and to have those feelings returned only intensifies them.

From the moment I realised this, I wasn't lost anymore. In the middle of danger, I started to feel safe, knowing that every pulse of fear and adrenaline was worth it if I could come out of it with you. You made me laugh when I didn't even want to smile. You're just amazing, Jack, and I love you so much that sometimes I don't know what to do with myself.

So I'm not going to run anymore. I can't. How could I leave, knowing that I wasn't running from myself anymore, but from you? Knowing that this time I'm leaving somebody behind who actually cares for me? I don't think I could, and I'm not even going to try it. I meant what I said, too. It's time for me to stop running, and I'm glad that it's you who made me realise that. So if you're looking around the room wondering where I am, I haven't left you. The only thing that could make me leave is you not wanting me here.

Love, Kate.

xxx

P.S You're not the only one who can leave letters lying around.

"Hey."

He looked up from the bottom of the letter to see Kate standing at the bottom of the stairs. She was wearing a fresh pair of clothes, and her thick curly hair cascaded over her shoulders. It seemed a lot thicker than usual, and knew that she had just blow dried it with the hairdrier that she had brought back in Sydney. He looked from her, down to the note in his hands, and then back again.

"Hey." He replied back, unsure of what else to say. What else could he say to the woman who brought a thousand words to his heart but left him speechless?

"You got the letter." She stated. It wasn't a question, but he nodded anyway.

"Yeah, it's beautiful." He said quietly, as command of words finally came back to him. "I want you to know, Kate, that I do want you here, in my home, and in my heart."

She smiled, and came over to him, holding him closely. "I'm glad I don't have to run anymore." She said aloud.

"I hope you never have another reason to." He agreed. "I don't think I could live with myself if I forced you away from me."

She looked up at him. "Jack, nothing could do that." She assured him, and they kissed again, knowing that now, everything would be just fine between them.

FIN