"I can't believe we're actually doing this." Charlie thought aloud.

"What, you've never played Name the States?" Jack asked, surprised.

Charlie shook his head, which was fair enough, considering he'd never even been to America.

"That's okay." Claire said, absentmindedly rocking Aaron in his sleep. Her son lay bundled in her arms, wrapped almost entirely in blankets. "We'll leave the easy ones for you."

Charlie grinned at her, at the same time stroking Aaron's turnip-shaped head. "Thanks."

"OK, so, who's first?" Hurley asked, faking enthusiasm, positioning the pad on his knee.

After a few times around the circle, it was clear that the already not-so-exciting game was beginning to grow even more tiresome.

"Well, I for one am having the time of my life." Sawyer drawled, and everyone turned to stare at him. "Yep, this is almost as riveting as daytime TV."

"If you don't like it, why don't you go -" Jack fired up, but was cut off by the last person he would have expected.

"He's right, Jack." Kate interrupted. "I know we don't have much to work with, but this is…"

"It can barely even be called a game." Shannon finished for her.

"You just don't like it because you haven't been able to name a single state so far." Boone retorted, and Shannon turned away sulkily.

"Hey, you know what might make this fun?" Charlie suddenly piped up. "If we had a sort of… motive."

"A motive." Kate repeated, not fully understanding.

"Yeah, like…" Charlie trailed off into thought as he pondered the most adult way to say this. "A dare. If you get one wrong, or something…"

"Chuckles, the last time I played truth or dare, I was about 7 years old." Sawyer drawled, still a bit too banged up to indulge in his usual level of sarcasm.

A small 'Aww…' swept around the group, just to degrade him further, Sawyer was sure.

"I think it sounds like fun." Shannon said, which had been expected by most.

"Why am I not surprised?" Boone muttered to himself.

"I'm sorry… were you enjoying this?" Shannon replied bitingly.

"Ah… sibling love." Charlie sighed with a cheeky grin. "Does the heart good."

This seemed enough to make them realize they were embarrassing themselves and each other, and they shut up.

"I guess we could try it." Boone relented after a minute, just a touch of sulkiness seeping through his steady tone.

It would be common at this point for the rest of the group to cheer, but in truth, they were all as bored by the idea as he was.

Their sullen attitudes were quickly replaced by a merry mood as the game launched into full swing.

Charlie's suggestion (which everyone had been so ready to criticize) had turned out to be highly entertaining for everyone, even Sawyer (who, although he had been lucky enough to not have been faced with a dare yet, he seemed to find everyone else's pain, embarrassment, disgust and tortured endurance the highlight of his day).

"What'd I tell you?" Charlie said. "This is great, huh? Everyone's having fun?"

"I think it's more like, 'Ain't it amazing what will amuse people when they're bored enough.'" Sawyer shot back. Charlie ignored him.

"Whose turn is it, then?" He asked with cheerfulness as thin as tissue paper, a vein throbbing in his temple. "Kate?"

"Nebraska." She said, with the confidence held only by the undefeated.

Charlie looked to Hurley, who scanned down the list of the already-named states with his finger.

"The reign is over!" He announced after a few seconds, and Kate's face fell. "Nebraska's already on the list!"

Some people laughed and clapped, as Kate buried her head in her hands.

"I've got one!" Shannon cried out, not waiting to be asked. "I dare you to kiss someone in this circle."

The people who had been laughing now started 'ooh'ing and 'ahh'ing, as Kate turned a dark scarlet color.

She looked around the circle reluctantly, searching for who would be her next victim. Her eyes passed over Hurley, Michael, Boone and even, to her surprise, Jack (although, she had to admit, they did linger slightly longer on the latter).

Finally, her gaze landed on Sawyer. She saw his expression change when she slowly pushed herself into a kneeling position and began walking on her knees across the circle.

A hush had descended on the cave occupants, even the storm seemed to be quieter, as Kate kneeled in front of Sawyer, staring at him with what, to the untrained eye, might have looked like reluctance.

Sawyer knew better; his expression matched hers, and it was far from reluctant. It was wondering where to begin.

Slowly, Kate leaned forward and gently pressed her lips to his, savoring the moment that she would remember until the day she died.

It was no more than her intentions; she knew it couldn't go any further. Not this time anyway.

She had almost summoned enough will-power to pull away, when Sawyer broke the bounds of the friend-friend kiss, and the plan to keep it innocent was over.

A flame had erupted between them, and Kate's self-consciousness at kissing in front of the onlookers was gone. As far as they were concerned, no one was there but them.

'Sawyer…'

Sawyer placed one hand on her cheek, letting it roam further down her shoulder, and stop on her back. He gave her a squeeze, pulling her closer and wished this moment would never end.

'Sawyer…'

Kate in return was exploring Sawyers back with her hands, feeling his strong muscles. She brought her hand to his hair, and weaved her fingers in and out, letting his long hair fall back across his shoulders.

"Sawyer!"

The loud voice in his ear made him jump, and he nearly fell off the large, flat rock he had been sleeping on in the corner. Jack's face filled his vision, and he pulled back a bit, blinking the sleep out of his eyes and wrinkling his nose. Jack's expression showed that someone had made him come over to see him.

Then the realization that the past few minutes must have been a dream sank in, and disappointment washed over him. It had seemed so vivid. What he wouldn't have given for it to be real.

"Some of us are gonna play Name the States." Jack said half-heartedly. "You in?"

A cheeky grin flitted across Sawyer's face for a split-second, and he pushed himself off the rock.

"Hell, yeah." He said, following Jack towards the middle of the cave.