7 years had passed, with Jack now 8 and Claire 7. The two siblings were really close. They played together all the time and since Claire was smart, were now in the same class. There was a bond between them that no one could break. They were in the family room playing. Claire with her Barbies and Jack with his GI Joes.
Claire skipped over to where Jack was, her blonde curls bouncing. "What are you playing?"
"Hunting the monster!" Jack said as one of his toys shot a Ninja Turtle. "Got ya!"
Claire thought it was boring and rolled her eyes. "Can I borrow one of your men?" she asked.
"Why?" Jack asked as he turned to her.
"Emily needs a boyfriend!" Claire stated excitedly.
"Here." He gave his sister one and she hugged him. Girls! Why do they have to be like that? Then he rolled his eyes.
"It's time for lunch!" Margo announced.
"Mommy, what are we eating?" Claire asked.
"Your favorite: Peanut Butter sandwiches."
"Yes!" Claire and Jack said at the same time. These were the only two kids Margo knew who got excited about peanut butter.
Later that night, Christian had news. He was home early for dinner. "Guess who I ran into today at the hospital Margo?"
"Who?" She asked. Jack and Claire were wondering too.
"Sam Austen!"
"Sammy! He's back?" Margo smiled.
"Yeah. He was transferring his records. He got stationed her in LA as a recruiter."
"Who's Sam?" Jack asked.
"He's in the Army and he's one of my best friends." Christian answered.
"Really? How long have you been friends?" Claire asked.
"Since we were your ages." He pointed to his children.
They both stared in amazement. That was a long time to them.
"How's Diane?" Margo asked.
"They got a divorce."
"That's so sad. I thought they would make it. How's Kate?"
"Sam said she is good. He has full custody of her. Diane met a really bad guy. And get this" he said changing the subject so the kids didn't have to know yet what happened to Kate. "Their house is down the street!"
"You're kidding!" Margo said. "That's who is moving in?" That's great!"
"I also invited them over tomorrow to catch up. Is that OK?" Christian asked.
"That's fine!" Margo smiled.
"Will we like Kate?" Jack asked for him and Claire.
"I think so. She's 8 too and will be in your class." Christian explained.
"We can have a new friend!" Claire beamed.
"Yeah." Jack wondered what Kate would be like.
The doorbell rang the next day and Margo got it. "Sam!" She hugged him.
"Hello Margo! It's been a long time."
"Is this Kate?" She asked.
"That it is. Well hello Chris!" Sam said when he spotted his best friend.
"Nice to see you Sam." The two talked while Margo met Kate.
"Hi!" The little girl smiled at her. Margo thought she was adorable with her green eyes, wavy brown hair, and freckles.
"Come on and site down. I want you to meet my kids."
"OK." Kate replied and followed her in.
Sam had already been introduced to Jack and Claire through Christian, so Kate was left. "Jack. Claire. This is Kate Austen."
"Hi! I'm Claire! I hope be can be best friends!" She said as she hugged her.
"Me too." Kate beamed. She had never really had friends before.
"Hi." Jack said as she turned to him. "I'm Jack."
"Kate." She replied as her face got hot when he smiled.
"Come on! Let's play!" And Jack led the girls to their toys.
As the adults talked, the 3 kids played. They were becoming friends fast. They all had a wonderful evening and a great dinner.
As the years went on, the 3 became best friends. Kate would spend the night a lot, staying in either Claire's or Jack's room. It would all depend on if she had a nightmare. If that happened, she would leave Claire's room and go into Jack's. Then she would wake him up and he would make room for her on the bed. Jack made her feel safe and she would be fast asleep.
Jack had made a lot of friends as he got older, like James "Sawyer" Ford and Michael Dawson, who he played football with. But no one knew him better than Kate. This didn't make sense to the guys, but Jack didn't care. He didn't trust anyone like Kate, expect for his sister Claire.
Claire loved having Kate around. Kate, as well as Jack, stood up for her when she was getting bullied by Shannon Rutherford. She loved her brother, and Kate was a sister to her. Nothing would break the bond the 3 of them held. Even the many changes high school had in store for them.