"Now, be good! And Sawyer, if I find one thing set on fire you're a dead man."

"Does 'thing' include child?"

"Of course it does!"

"Relax, Freckles. Go - have fun without me."

"Sawyer...it's parent's night."

"So."

"You're not a parent."

"...Oh yeah."

Kate shook her head. Sometimes spening too much time with kids had it's effect on Sawyer. Mind you, Evan and Evelyn were probably more mature than him already, not to mention Aaron. Jasmine came over to say goodbye, and Jack kissed her head before she went to Kate who hugged her. She then handed Amy over to Sawyer. "We'll be back around 11. I want Jasmine in bed by nine, there's a bed made up on her bedroom floor for Taylor. Boone's funny in sleeping at other people's houses so he'll probably stay up, but if he falls asleep make sure that he's comfortable - Do not leave him at the kitchen table again. Aaron's sleeping on the floor in Evan's room, and Ashley's in Evelyn's, and the four of them are going to bed at ten."

Sawyer took Amy, who squirmed for a moment before settling, and raised an eyebrow. "You're not serious? I'm babysitting and you're giving them bedtimes?"

Jack sighed. "Sawyer, they've got school in the morning."

"You think that these fireworks are gonna be done by nine? Hell no. And I'm not gonna send those kids to bed and set them off on my own." Sawyer argued. "One night won't hurt." He added in.

"Yeah, Mom." Evan piped up. "One night won't hurt." His voice sounded scratchy, probably from the ache he had in his chest.

All the other kids started to chorus in agreement from behind Sawyer. The parents all shook their heads. Eventually they came to the settlement on 'if you're grumpy in the mornings it's your own fault', directed mainly at Evelyn, who rolled her eyes innocently. They said goodbye to their children, and left Sawyer at their mercy.

Sawyer immediately turned to Evan. "What's up with your voice?"

Evan shrugged. "Chest pains." He answered.

"I thought it was Evie who had the attack?" He asked.

"It's always been that way." Aaron explained, looking over at where Evelyn was helping Jasmine and Taylor now to finish her homework. "When Evie has the attacks, Evan feels it as well."

"But you don't have asthma?" Evan shook his head. Sawyer nodded. "Good, well, don't go getting it when I'm here." He said. Evan just shrugged.

"I don't control my chest." He said.

"Well, start to." Sawyer went over into the living room now full with Evan, Evelyn, Aaron, Taylor, Jasmine, Amy, Ashely and Boone. "Here we go again." He muttered to himself, then looked down at Amy who was trying to pull on his hair, but luckily couldn't reach. "At least I've got you on my side." He said to her. "Right, as soon as Jazz and Tay are done with their work, we'll get started on the fireworks."

Of course, mentioning fireworks while they were still working was a big mistake, and they looked at each other before all seven of the older children rushed over to the back door, waiting for Sawyer.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked them.

"The garden." They all said together.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Sawyer asked, nodding his head behind him to the coat railing.

"But its not even cold!" Boone protested.

"Maybe not. But you don't get sparklers unless you're wearing gloves." He told them, and they all rushed around just as quickly to get their coats on with gloves. Sawyer grinned to himself, yeah, he could handle them all no problem.

Over at the school, Shannon and Sayid went down to the lower school to see Boone's teacher, while Charlie and Claire went to Aaron's, and Jack and Kate to the twins'.

"Ah, Mr and Mrs Shephard?" Mr Keaton said as they entered the room. He shook their hands before sitting back down. "Please, take a seat. It's good to see you again." He said with that large grin that had last year meant that he was going to tell them all the trouble the twins had gotten into so far. "The twins didn't come with you, I see?" He observed.

They had noted that on the way in, some parents had brought their children with them. Last year, however, although Amy, still very young, was left with Sawyer, the others all came, and got up to no good. "No, they're at home with our friend." Jack said. "We thought it might be best not to bring them after last year."

"I understand." Mr Keaton laughed. "First of all. Evander." Kate nearly interrpted him and told him that Evan didn't like being called by his full name, but she held back. "A very good student. Very good." He praised. "His results on the human biology test earlier today were astounding - full marks!"

"He gets that from his father." Kate pointed out.

"I understand that Evander also wishes to work within the medical profession as well?" Mr Keaton checked.

"So far he does." Jack said.

"Well, work wise, I think that he is easily reaching his full potential. However, he can be easily distracted within the lessons, particularly when it involves group work with his sister and miss Jarrah." Keaton continued. "He seems to excel in the more academic fields though, it seems. Unlike his sister."

Kate resisted the temptation to roll her eyes. She had heard all of this before. In all truth, she hated parents night as much as the kids did. She didn't need some teacher telling her that her kids were awful, or how hard they were working. If they were trying their best, that was all that mattered to her. She wasn't about to push them into getting homework done on time if it was going to stress them out. She had never done her homework, and although Jack was the one who was more likely to ask them if they'd finished their work, she would help them when they asked, and she wanted them to come out of life better than she had started out. One particular thing she hated about Mr Keaton was how he always compared the twins rather than seeing them as individual people.

"Evelyn seems to fall behind her brother in academics, but in the arts, she never fails to amaze me." Keaton said. "Her musical ability is one of the best in the school. Does she take piano lessons, may I ask?"

"No." Kate said, nodding her head sideways at Jack. "She learns from her father."

"Picking up that kind of ability is rare, Mr Shephard. Your daughter has quite a talent. When she proceeds up to High School, I strongly suggest that she takes a music course."

Jack had lost track of the amount of times Keaton had suggested this to him. They had asked Evelyn about taking music lessons thousands of times, and every time she said that no, she didn't want to go, she'd rather learn from Jack.

After leaving the room, they met up with Charlie and Claire, who were just walking past the corridor having finished with Aaron's teacher. Shannon and Sayid came over, waiting for their time to see Mr Keaton for Ashley.

Mr Keaton had also come out of the room, and was still talking to Jack about Evelyn's music when another man approached. Keaton stopped the conversation short to greet the man, who looked at everyone around him with specific interest.

"Ah, Mr Rom. So glad you could make it."

"Please, Ethan." He said, holding out his hand.

"I know that Kerry has only been with us for one day, but I think this would be a wonderful opportunity for you to meet the parents of other children as well. Why, what a coincidence, Kerry has been with your children most of the day." Keaton said, turning to Jack, Kate and Shannon with a grin on his face which wasn't reflected in their faces. "Right this way, Mr Rom - sorry, Ethan."

As they disappeared into the room, there was no movement for a moment. "Guys..." Charlie said. "You all saw that, right? I wasn't just imagining it?"

"We all saw him." Jack said. But...Ethan was dead...wasn't he?