The further they drove up the mountain, the heavier the rain began to fall. Jack watched the way Kate stared out the window, nervous of the storm. He saw her jump once or twice at the crackling thunder.
"It's okay, just some rain." He put his hand on her knee to reassure her. "It's probably not even raining back home. Plus Aaron is with my mom. He'll get plenty of comfort. Maybe too much comfort," he chuckled. Aaron had been afraid of storms since the rescue, something neither Jack or Kate understood since it rained so often on the island. Still, he was with Margo and Kate knew that besides Kate and Jack, Margo was the best person for him to be with.
"Margo has my number," Kate said more for herself than Jack. "When you asked her to watch Aaron, did you tell her?" She said softly. "Did you tell her we were together?"
"Yes."
"That we were spending the night together?"
"That tonight I'd either open the door for you and I or I'd close it."
"Jack?" Kate waited until Jack glanced her way to continue. "Have you ever forgiven Sarah? For cheating, I mean?"
"I did. Not right away, of course…"
"When?"
"When I met you and realized she probably felt how I feel about you. And then I understood. It was never supposed to be her and I."
"Are you saying that because you feel that way or because you want to sleep with me?"
Jack smiled. "Actually, I've wanted to sleep with you since the first time your hand brushed against my back on the island. I felt it, Kate. And you felt it. You still do, I know you do."
"Jack," she sighed as they pulled up inside. They raced into the house, eager to get out of the rain.
"Even the gang doesn't like Spencer. They like us together, Kate. We belong together."
"They said that?" She asked, stunned. No one had mentioned it to her and she had assumed everyone liked him. "Even Hurley?" Jack nodded his head. "I mean, I thought Sayid would say something but he seemed to—"
"He threatened him as soon as you weren't in the room."
"How did I miss all this?"
"Because you didn't want to see it," he said sadly. A crack of thunder made both of them jump and the power flicker.
"We're going to lose power," Kate worried.
"We have a backup generator. You used to like storms. Growing soft, Austen?" Before she could answer, he tossed her over his shoulder and ran outside. She squealed and squirmed, giggling and yelling his name. She was careless and free, the way she had been when they were together. It wasn't her putting up a brave front to survive on the island. It wasn't her so restrained and tense when she dropped Aaron off. It was the Kate he knew inside and out; it was the Kate who rarely had reason to worry when she was with him. It was his Kate.
Instead of letting her down quickly, he held her hips as he lowered her slowly, her body rubbing his as he did. The rain continued to pour, soaking their clothes and hair. Their lips seemed to connect instantly; neither had initiated the kiss, it just happened automatically. Kate let her arms wrap around Jack's neck.
The sky illuminated as lightening hit close by, the crack of it echoing. It was so loud that Kate cried out and jumped high enough that Jack grabbed her and pulled her close. She let her fingers knot around his belt loops and he suddenly felt her shivering.
"Let's get inside," he whispered, kissing her forehead.
Inside, he quickly realized that neither one had anything else to wear. The rustic cabin also had no washer and dryer. Even with a fire burning, they'd never warm up with wet clothes.
"I know," Kate whispered. She'd come to the same realization as him. They'd have to lose their clothes. She slowly removed her tank top and because of the built in bra, she was immediately exposed. Jack took his shirt off but got distracted watching Kate as she shimmied out of her jeans and panties.
She watched as Jack unbuttoned his jeans. Grabbing both his pants and his boxers, Jack pushed both down at once. A small gasp escaped Kate's lips at how erect he was.
"Don't do it," he whispered. "Don't marry him, Kate. Please. I'm begging you." Kate's eyes welled up and her lower lip quivered, something he had never seen her do before. "Why are you marrying him, Kate?"
"So I can't be with you," she whispered breathlessly. "I do love you, Jack…" a tear fell down her cheek and Jack watched as it hung from her jawline as if afraid to fall. Just like Kate.
He stepped closer, needing to touch her. "Talk to me. Make me understand."
"I'm not good for you," she sobbed.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Jack, you didn't want Aaron and then you—"
"I made the choice to become a father. That was my choice not yours."
"We got pregnant. And I lost the baby," her voice shook as the words got choked up in her throat. "I lost the baby and you started drinking and taking those pills…" she covered her face in her hands, crying uncontrollably. "I'm not good for you," her voice sounded so small and defeated that he almost didn't recognize her. He let the words sink in as he watched her move to the floor, curling herself up enough to bury her face in her knees as her tears fell as hard as the rain outside.
