First off I want to say thanks to all my reviewers. This story has had over 40,000 hits and nearly 250 reviews, so thank you all so much for making this story my most successful ever. The way my plan is going, it's not even halfway through yet. There will be the return of an unexpected character soon enough to through a spanner in the works.

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Jack approached Kate's room with a thumping in his chest. No matter how he tried to calm himself, his heart was working overtime with the knowledge that in a few minutes his Kate would be in his arms again, even if it was just for a while. Knowing that he had to leave her again though, however, was readying the break that would crack as soon as they closed the door that seperated them. Beside him, Kaia gripped his hand tightly, and he could see from her little face that she was excited. Curtis, as usual, was settled on his hip, with one hand on Jack's shoulder and the other clutching the blue rabbit he now loved so much.

Somehow, he was regretting his decision to bring the children. He had fought to get it allowed, but now he realised that later on he would have to tell them that it was time to leave, and they would ask when they could come back, and he would have to say that he didn't know. How long would it be? A week? A month? How long were they going to be seperated? He was becoming a wreck, and they had only been apart for a day. How was he going to cope another hour without her? He had managed in his life before Kate came along, sure enough, but now he didn't know how to live, to breathe, without her guiding him.

The Marshals stood from their chairs either side of the door as they approached. The tallest one, who had thrown a digusted look at Kaia that morning as she had bounced up and down excitedly at the idea of seeing Kate, gave another disappointed look to the broken family, and Jack glared back, forcing himself to keep hold of his children and not to knock the man out. Her past doesn't mean that we can't be a family... he thought bitterly, and damned anyone who was going to come between that.

"You were serious then." The Marshal grunted to Jack.

Jack frowned at him. "Of course I was."

"Best go in then. Stop her whining."

Jack would rather listen to her whining for the rest of eternity than to go another day without hearing her voice. They opened the door after unlocking it in two different places, and then undid the slide locke, which allowed the door to open. The shorter Marshal entered, and he heard Kate's determined voice come through the open door.

"What, am I free already?" She asked, trying to sound sarcastic, but Jack could hear the note of hope in her voice. Curtis heard his mothers voice and looked at Jack excitedly, and he nodded, assuring his son that this was definately real.

"You wish." The Marshal answered.

The Marshal turned on his heel and left, allowing Jack and the children to enter the room. Again, he stood and stared, as did Kaia. She was still lying on the bed, her face to the wall, looking more uncomfortable than she had been lying on the cave floor. Her face was hidden by the mass of curly hair that was cascading down her back. Jack noticed that she was wearing a new pair of jeans and t-shirt that he had taken down to her yesterday.

He crossed the room, and sat down on the edge of the bed behind her. The matress was so hard that she didn't even notice. Curtis moved himself so that he was sitting on Jack's lap properly, and Kaia stood calmly beside him, as always. Reaching out a free hand, having released his daughters, Jack placed a hand on Kate's shoulder.

Immediately, she turned around, and upon seeing Jack there with the children, her eyes lit up. She sprung up into a sitting position, ignoring the dizziness that it gave her, and wrapped her arms around Jack's neck, while Kaia climbed up on the bed and together with her brother, hugged her tightly. They held each other, the four of them, along with the secret child inside of Kate, as a family once again.

"Jack, I didn't think in a million years I was going to see you again." Kate said happily, her mood changing considerably since the previous day when he had arrived, and she had been more desperate than pleased.

"You don't get rid of us that easily." He reminded her.

Kate's attention turned to Curtis, who moved himself into Kate's lap on the bed, and Kaia, who stood infront of her on the mattress. Kaia leaned into Kate and hugged her, placing kisses on her cheeks, and Kate returned them.

"I'm doing what you said, Mommy." Kaia said.

"I knew you would, angel." Kate smiled at her.

"They've been really good. Daddy ate all his breakfast this morning." She said proudly.

Jack rolled his eyes, with Kaia around Kate would always be there. She was exactly like her mother in every way. Even as protective of him as she was.

"Did you?" Kate asked Kaia softly, hoping that at least her children would have had the five star breakfasts other than the toast she had managed to keep down.

"No." Jack said, shaking his head. "She and Aaron ate Sawyer's breakfast instead."

This made Kate laugh, but Kaia held her head high. "It's good to share." She recited like she wasn't going to do anything but steal Sawyer's breakfast. Yet again, she had picked up things from Sawyer that both her parents wished she hadn't.

"I'm sure he didn't mind." Kate said simply, smoothing back Kaia's hair with the hand that wasn't wound around Curtis. "Kaia, you look beautiful." She smiled, admiring the outfit that Jack had told her about yesterday.

"Daddy found it." Kaia told her. "I wanted clothed like Aunt Shannon's, but Daddy said that those are for big girls."

Jack indicated to Kate over Kaia's shoulder that these clothes included boob tubes and tiny skirts, and Kate managed a laugh. "Well, listen to Daddy because he's right."

"Mommy, look at my bunny." Curtis said, holding it up in front of Kate's face.

Kate took the stuffed rabbit in her hands, feeling how soft it was, and it strangely reminded her of her own childhood, something that had crossed her mind many a time stuck in this dingy room.

"He's called Baggy Bunny." Curtis continued. "'Coz his pj's are all baggy."

"He's lovely, sweetheart." Kate said, returning Baggy Bunny to Curtis. "What did you buy Kai?" Kate asked.

"Daddy said I brought half the shop." Kaia mimicked. "But I only got seven teddies and a load of toys."

The use of the word 'only' in that sentence stood out a mile away. Jack watched Kate's face as she spoke to the children about their time on the boat so far, and what they were going to do with the time remaining, and he noticed how well she was putting up a front for the children. She didn't look scared, she didn't look ill, she didn't look haunted. He was glad that Kaia and Curtis could see her looking happy like she was now, to have her children in her arms and close to her heart. However, this wasn't the same for him. As much as she tried, her guarded look across her eyes was too weak to block Jack out. He could see right into her, and saw the fear, the pain, and the haunting visions she was plagued with.

Kaia and Curtis had both brought down a few toys to play with, and set about scurrying along the floor with new found amusement, while Jack and Kate settled beside each other on the bed. Kate rested her head on Jack's shoulder, and he put an arm lazily around her waist, resting his hand on her hip. She let out a heavy sigh. "How did you get them to let you in?" She asked.

"I suggested it yesterday when I left, and this morning they were practically begging me to come down." Jack told her.

"Why?"

"They could hear you crying, Kate." He said softly, both of them keeping their voices down so that the kids didn't hear and worry. Kate looked away, ashamed. "You don't have to cry, Kate. Everything's going to be Ok."

"Jack, think about it, how can I possibly be set free after what I've done?" She asked him, the pain in her voice refusing to let her meet his eyes. "I blew up my dad. I robbed a bank. I got Tom killed. I conned people into thinking I was someone else. I'm no doubt going to be blamed for the Marshal's death as well..."

Jack tucked his fingers under her chin and brought it round to face him. "Kate, what you did to your father was because of what he did to you. When you robbed the bank you were set up by the Marshal. You told me yourself, you told Tom to get out of the car, it was his own decision - the police killed him, not you. And you didn't kill the Marshal. As I recal, it was because of the crash."

"I gave Sawyer the gun." She reminded him.

"Sawyer lifted the gun from the Marshal in the first place."

"But Jack-"

"Don't 'But Jack' me on this one, Kate." He said with a smile. "I'm getting you out of here. Last night I spent my first night in eight years without you in my arms, and it nearly killed me to wake up and not see you there." He admitted, giving her the lingering kiss he had wanted all day.

"Mommy! Daddy! That's disgusting!" Kaia called over to them, her attention disappearing from the toys.

Jack and Kate parted with soft smiles. This is what Kate would miss. "You can talk, Kai." Jack teased. "We saw you cuddling Aaron yesterday."

Kaia faked a shocked look, while Kate raised an eyebrow at her daughter. "What's this?" Kate asked.

"I didn't cuddle Aaron!" Kaia said defensively. "Aaron cuddled me."

"Same thing." Curtis spoke up. Of course, the five year old wouldn't listen to romance from her parents, let alone from her two year old brother. "Kai's got a boyfriend. Kai's got a boyfriend." Curtis chanted to annoy her.

"No I haven't!" Kaia said defensively. "He's not my boyfriend!"

"But he hugs you!" Curtis said. "That means he loves you!"

Kate and Jack settled for watching their children banter with each other. Kaia frowned at Curtis. "No it doesn't!"

"Mommy and Daddy hug. They love each other." Curtis said. "So do Uncle Charlie and Aunty Claire. And Uncle Sayid and Aunty Shannon. And Uncle Bernard and Aunty Rose. And Uncle Sawyer and Aunty Ana."

"Sawyer and Ana Lucia?" Kate asked incredulously.

Curtis nodded. "They were cuddling and kissing by a tree." He said. "Making funny noises."

Jack and Kate looked at each other with slightly alarmed glances, realising exactly what their son had witnessed, yet the boy seemed indifferent to it. "Curtis, when did you see that, sweetie?" Kate asked gently, trying to act naturally.

He shrugged. "Other day."

"I'm going to kill him." Jack muttered, holding a false smile on his face while he did so.

"Don't." Kate chided softly. "At least that means he'll definately stop hounding me now."

Jack grinned and kissed Kate again. "Looks like our little girls fallen in love as well." He whispered to her.

"I heard that!" Kaia yelled. "I don't love Aaron!"

"Yeah you do." Curtis said.

"No I don't!"

"Yeah."

"No."

"Yeah."

"No.

"Yeah."

"No."

"Yeah."

"DAD!"

"Kids, stop shouting." Jack said softly. "Otherwise we'll be made to leave, Ok."

Instantly, the kids continued their arguement in whispers, and Jack returned his focus to Kate. Her face was saddened. "Kate?"

She looked up at him, bringing her gaze up from the ground. "I'm fine." She told him with a soft smile.

"Come on, Kate." He urged.

"It's just..." She looked over at the kids, smiling at their fun even though they were arguing. "...This could be the last time I see them for a while. The last time I see you for a while."

"Don't think that way." Jack said, bringing his hand to her cheek and stroking it softly.

But for Kate, it was hard not to. She was locked up with that thought every second of the day. "Even at a good point its going to be a month, maybe more. There's the preparations, the proceedings, the trial, the sentencing..."

"Kate, don't." Jack urged, never once tearing his eyes from hers. He didn't want to think of this as one of thier last moments together.

"I can't help it." She whispered. "I hate this as much as you do, Jack. I want to be there with you. I should have taken my chances with Joanna's passport."

"We talked about that it was too risky." He reminded her. They hadn't wanted her to do it incase someone slipped up. Of course, there was going to be television coverage and interviews. It was too risky to get 40 people to remember a person's name they'd known for 9 years and suddenly change it to something else.

"Look. I could go down for over twenty years, Jack. More than that. By the time I've served, Kaia and Curtis would have moved out and this baby would most likely be in college. I'd have missed everything. Kaia will be twenty-five. By the time I was twenty five I'd been married and divorced, and I'd killed a man. I'm not going to be a part of their life anymore."

"No matter what happens you'll always be a part of their life." Jack promise.

The rest of their time is passed too quickly for Jack's eyes, yet when they were told to leave, Jack noticed that the sun was setting out of the small window in Kate's room. The Marshals waited at the open door while they said their goodbyes. Curtis didn't understand why he was being taken away from Kate again, and fought tooth and nail against Jack at first until Kate assured him that he would see her again, though it was killing her to say it. Kaia hugged her mother.

"Love you, Mommy." She whispered. "Love you forever and ever."

"I love you too, sweetie. Be good, Ok?"

"I will. I promise."

Kate looked at her breaking family with tear stained cheeks and then focused her attention. "Baby, do you remember the words to your songs?" She asked her.

"But you sing our songs, Mom."

"Kaia, do you remember them?" Kate asked, regardless of Kaia's heartbreaking statement. Kaia nodded firmly. The songs she heard everyday now imprited in her mind. "Whenever I'm not there, and your sad, just sing those songs, Ok?"

Again Kaia nodded, and then she went to stand with her brother beside Jack. Curtis looked at Kaia for a minute, then grabbed her hand. Kaia squeezed it back and Kate smiled softly.

Jack came over to where she stood at the centre of the room, and took her in his arms once again. "Promise me you'll look after yourself." He asked her. "And our little one."

"At least I'll have a part of you with me." She smiled sadly.

"Lets keep it that way, too." He agreed.

He kissed her, determined not to be torn away from her this time. Then they parted, and stared into each others eyes.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"And when we get you home, I'm going to marry you." Jack said determinedly. This brought an instant smile to Kate's lips. "Thats the smile I love and know." He kissed her again, then looked in the direction of her bed. She followed his gaze and raised an eyebrow. "I hope you still hug your pillow in your sleep." He said, winking at her.

She frowned, trying to figure out what he meant. She never hugged her pillow in her sleep.

After watching Jack's retreating form fade out of the room once again, she went over to her bed. Thinking about what he had told her, she reached her hands beneath the pillow, and found an envelope.