Kate spent the next week not sleeping. She wouldn't let anyone take the baby off her, not even Jack, and didn't move off the beach. Claire was beginning to worry about her friend. Without sleep she was going to be exhausted and both mother and baby would suffer then.
"Kate," Jack said sitting beside Kate who was leaning against a tree, staring blankly into space. "Let me take him for a while, you really need to rest."
"He's not going anywhere," Kate said, her grip on her child tightening.
"I'm not asking you to let me take him off," Jack replied quietly. "But you can't go on like this. He can sense your tiredness and it's stressing him."
"I know!" Kate moaned closing her eyes. "But I can't let them take him."
"Kate," Claire came and sat next to her, her arms empty for once as Charlie, who was stood a few feet away, was holding Aaron. "Just give him to Jack. Jack won't let anything happen to him."
Kate glanced down at her small child and Jack could see how much it was hurting her. She held out the baby to Jack and he took him carefully.
"I'm not going anywhere," he promised. "But you need to sleep."
Claire smiled slightly as Jack stood up and took a few steps back so Kate could stretch out to sleep. Charlie stood next to him with Aaron grinning.
Claire stayed with Kate whilst she slept and Charlie and Jack wandered round the tent with the two babies in their arms.
"Kate thought of a name yet?" Charlie asked as Jack held his child carefully in his arms.
"No," Jack shook his head. "I've thought of a few but none of them seem to fit. To be honest I think Kate needs to name him as confirmation that he's hers."
"Mm," Charlie nodded, scuffing his feet through the sand. "Maybe you should talk about it when Kate's a bit more rested."
"Yeah," Jack agreed. "She doesn't need all this stress and pressure. I'm sure baby Austen can wait a few days for a name."
"Do you think the 'others' will come after him again?" Charlie asked after a minute. Jack frowned slightly glancing at the still sleeping Kate.
"I hope not," Jack said. "But if they do I don't know what I can offer them in his place."
"Isn't there anything else they want?" Charlie said watching Claire.
"Me," Jack replied. "But it's not gonna be any good if I go as well. What would Kate or Claire do if either of their children got sick?"
"Maybe they'll just decide against taking him?" Charlie suggested. Jack smiled wryly.
"Somehow, I can't see that happening," He said quietly.
When Kate woke up next Jack was instantly by her side with baby Austen. She smiled slightly feeling better for actually sleeping.
"Jack," she began taking the baby from him. "I was thinking about names and I came up with one, but I wanna know what you think."
"Oh yeah?" Jack asked curiously.
"What about Joshua?" Kate asked tentatively. Jack smiled.
"Love it," he replied. Kate grinned back.
"Thought you might," she said quietly.
"Any reason for the name?" Jack said looking down at Joshua.
"My mom was gonna call my sibling Joshua, but she never got around to having another child," Kate said sadly. "Just too busy I guess."
Jack smiled slightly.
"I won't let them take him you know," he said quietly.
"I know," Kate replied, leaning her head against Jack's shoulder.
Later that night Jack was on his way back from the caves with water for Kate when he suddenly froze. Listening intently he held his breath. He was sure he'd just heard something ahead of him. Creeping forward he stepped into a clearing and found 'Zeke' stood in front of him.
"Hello Jack," he said quietly.
"What do you want?" Asked Jack glancing round for the other 'others'.
"I came to retrieve what rightly belongs to us," 'Zeke' replied.
"Can't you leave us alone?" Jack demanded. "Kate's scared half to death which means Joshua is worried, I'm not exactly happy about the situation either, and if you split mother and child up then… well it doesn't bear thinking about."
'Zeke' paused for a moment before opening his mouth to speak but Jack cut across him.
"What do you want with him anyway?" Jack looked at 'Zeke' with a pained expression. "He's a baby. He can't do anything!"
"Jack," 'Zeke' paused again. "I can see your point. I'll make you a deal. We'll let you keep the child and the mother, but only if you bring us food and stay out of the jungle except to deliver the goods."
Jack almost couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Seriously?" He asked glancing round to check it wasn't a trap.
"The 'others' and I have agreed that this child is more hassle than it's worth," 'Zeke' grumbled. "This way we both win, but you still know who's in charge. If you fail to reach our agreement however we will kill the child."
Jack nodded.
"Of course, of course," he smiled weakly. "Thank you."
'Zeke' backed away through the trees, disappearing in a rush of wind. Jack cheered silently almost spilling water everywhere. Running through the trees he made his way back to Kate's tent where she was sleeping, propped up against Sawyer, Joshua asleep in her arms.
The three of them looked so peaceful sleeping together Jack decided not to wake them. His news could wait until morning.
Sayid was walking back to the beach from the caves when he heard a squeal. It sounded awfully like Kate and fearing the worst he charged through the trees back to her, only to find her with her arms round Jack's head crying for joy.
Sawyer stood back slightly holding Joshua and watching them with a slightly jealous but happy look on his face.
"What's up with them?" Sayid asked quietly.
"The 'others' have agreed to leave us alone," Sawyer said smiling. "Looks like it's a happy ending all round."
Sayid smiled slightly. Somehow he got the feeling that Sawyer was a little bitter that Jack and Kate were finally in the clear.
"Looks like Joshua is no longer the poor island baby," Jack grinned as Kate finally let go of him. She grinned and kissed him.
"I love you!" She cried happily.
"I love you too," Jack replied glancing at Sawyer and offering an arm to him. Sawyer stepped forward with baby Joshua and was almost surprised when Jack and Kate pulled him into a hug.
"Couldn't have coped without you Sawyer," Jack said.
"Me neither," Kate grinned.
"Does that mean I can be an uncle to this little guy?" Sawyer asked laughing as Kate whacked him. Looked like things were back to normal. Or as normal as they got on the island.
THE END.