ILoveNeil - Glad you like it.
Temporarilymisplaced - Glad you found it intense. I wasn't sure whether or not she should give him the mugshot. But she really does want to get off to a good star...if that's possible considering she's still just kind of a criminal.
Famous4it - I'm glad I'm managing to put you in suspense! =D
Boo2ubam - Hehe. I'm gonna have fun with this. I can just imagine trying to make Kate explain it to Jack eventually.
Lostcandy - Huh. Wow. I've never come across a theory like that. Though, I don't really read too many theories...which could explain it. It was an accident stumbling across the Adam/Eve one. Someone mentioned how much they'd hate if it reset like this...but I thought it'd be rather enjoyable if one person remembered the rest were all, "huh?!"
P - Glad you think it's interesting. ^-^
Rainydaytruth - Yeah. I know. I really suck at writing Sawyer. He's going to be really ticked off at Kate in the near future tho...so hopefully he'll be more like he is on the show.

I really hope for some feedback on this chapter. I was wayyy nervous about how I was going to write it...or even if I was going to change things this much yet. I think I made the right choice though. Enjoy!

The sun had gone down, and I sat alone near the water's edge. Once upon a time, it had been sunny and Jack had been sitting beside me telling me he didn't want to know what I did. I glanced behind me, watching as most people lied down to get as much sleep as they could. Some people slept easy on the island. I didn't understand that. From the point I had first crashed there until where right at this moment, I had never managed to get a good night's sleep. Even now that I knew the majority of what was to happen, I still couldn't rest.

I glanced at Sayid in the distance. He didn't look to be sleeping either and I figured he was working on the device I previously broke after he made it. I'd try not to be clumsy this time. Locke was sitting by himself just looking around. Michael was asleep, but Walt was staring at Locke. Sawyer was going through a suitcase, occasionally pausing to look something over.

"Hey." Jack walked past me, blocking my view of the others. He took a seat beside me, facing toward the ocean.

"Hey," I replied quietly. My legs had been stretched out in front of me as I leaned back against my hands, but I drew my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. "You should be sleeping."

"So should you," he responded. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper that I recognized as my mugshot. "I came to give this back to you."

I looked away before glancing at it and slowly taking it from him. "Why?" I questioned sarcastically. "Don't want to hang it on your refrigerator?" The way he stared at me almost made me think he was pitying me. I avoided looking at him, crumpling the piece of paper and shoving it in my pocket.

"It's just a paper here," he commented. "You're responsible for the marshal dying, but what we did before this, before the crash…it doesn't matter, Kate. Three days ago, we all died. We should be able to start over."

I turned my head quickly to look at him, narrowing my eyes. "I didn't die, Jack." My voice came out choked whether than with strength as I had wanted it to.

He opened his mouth to speak. I actually found myself wondering how he was going to respond to that. Before he could even say one word, there was a loud crash in the direction of the fuselage. People began to get to their feet, making their way over toward the opening. "I'll be back." Jack went to join the group in checking out what was going on.

For awhile, I turned around and stared at them. I had no interest in joining them only to be chased away by wild boars. I faced the ocean again, resting my head against my legs and closing my eyes. The sound of screaming and people scrambling to get away didn't even faze me. I knew the worst that would happen was Charlie would get his side scraped and Jack would propose we burn the fuselage.

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I sat by the water a long time, dozing in and out of sleep. I tried to convince myself I just didn't feel like going to bed, but I knew I was waiting for Jack. He never came back.

The nausea returned sometime in the early hours of the morning not long after the sun came up. I found myself momentarily dizzy and then I was vomiting on the sand beside me. Tears stung my eyes. I hated being sick and this was the worst possible time for it to happen. I cursed Jacob, placing the blame on him. Once I was sure my stomach couldn't get any emptier, I got to my feet and brushed the sand off the back of my pants.

Sayid was staring at me when I turned around. He gave me a sympathetic look then glanced away. The rest of the survivors were either sleeping or just waking up and didn't even notice me. For that, I was glad. Turning to the side, I rubbed at my eyes then faced the beach again. When I noticed Sayid take another glance at me, I walked over. "Looks like I'm not the only one who couldn't sleep last night," I commented.

"There are better things to do with my time than collect firewood." He turned his attention back to the machine in his hand. "I'm trying to find a power source on the island."

"Can I help?" I knew this mission would end as equally well as the last two, but I couldn't sit around all day. I needed to be up and doing whatever would take my mind off of what was going on.

"It appears you are as anxious to get off this island as I am," Sayid said. "You don't look well though. I don't think it's such a good idea."

I crossed my arms tightly across my chest. "Right." I didn't need Sayid's permission to go hunt for boars later anyway. I walked away.

My stomach was growling and begging for food, but I knew there was none left. I walked back and forth across the beach, gathering pieces of the plane and setting them up together to make myself a shelter. We'd be here for awhile and I still needed a nice place to live. Some people were giving me curious looks and others were looking less than happy with me for taking things that didn't belong to me. If they were smart, they'd have been doing to exact same thing. I made my shelter back toward the jungle, far away from the ocean so it wouldn't end up getting washed away. I thought about moving other things back or warning people to start moving them back, but it wasn't one of my top priorities.

I finally dropped down outside my completed shelter and closed my eyes. I began to drift off, but someone sat down beside me.

"So a group is going boar hunting so we have some food." It was Jack's voice.

I opened my eyes again and glanced over at him. "Do they need anymore help?" I began to get to my feet, but he placed a hand on my arm to keep me down.

"They don't need anymore help. Locke, Michael, and Sayid are going. Tell me something; how come every time there's a hike into the heart of darkness, you sign up?"

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're worried about me, Jack," I commented, getting to my feet once again.

He too got to his feet. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you have a problem staying in one place for very long, Kate."

I was suddenly so angry, I swore my cheeks were beginning to go red. Soon, I knew I'd have smoke coming out my ears followed by a fire whistle. I was the one that couldn't stay in one place very long? Me?! He was the one that left me and Aaron. He was the one so eager to get off the island and then so eager to go back. "You didn't come back last night. I'm going boar hunting." I marched away from him and over toward where the group was just leaving.

I kept my distance, figuring I'd follow them to a place where telling me to turn back would just be pointless. I followed in silence for several minutes, hiding behind trees. The path they were taking was all too familiar to me. I stopped and glanced around, watching as the group in front of me walked off until they were no longer visible. I turned to the right, walking hesitantly in the direction. Some places were a bit difficult to go through now that things were back to being not trampled and uncut and no longer made easy access paths. I felt the back of my pants, cursing when I realized I had no gun I was carrying with me. I had gotten so used to having weapons, even back at home.

I came to a halt at my destination, shifting nervously from one foot to the other. I wondered if there was even point in uncovering the hatch if I could secretly lead someone else to the back door. I also wondered if this was a good idea or not. After shoving away from vines that were growing in front of the door, my fist slammed against it. "Desmond!" I shouted. "Desmond! Hey!"

The door creaked loudly then swung open. Desmond stood in the doorway, pointing a rifle straight at me.

I held my hands in the air and took a few steps back. "Whoa. It's okay. It's fine. I'm…"

"Kate?"

I gasped and let my hands drop to my side. "How do you…?" My voice trailed off as I took in his appearance. He wore a white dress shirt with blue jeans and his hair was combed back nicely. "I mean…How…"

A little voice cut me off. "Daddy?" The small boy hid behind Desmond, reaching up to clutch his shirt sleeve.

"Charlie! What did I tell you about…" Penny approached him, placing her hand on the child's shoulders. She glanced at Desmond then looked at me, her hands flying to her mouth with a gasp. "Kate?"

I was in shock. My mind could barely wrap around this. I wanted to cry out in joy and throw my arms around them. Instead, I just stood there staring with my mouth partially open.

"Who she?" Charlie was staring up at me, still clinging to Desmond. "She Udder?"

Desmond glanced down at him and laughed. "You mean Other, Charlie. No, she's not an Other." He scooped up his son and took a few steps back, motioning me inside. "I guess we have some catching up to do."

"Yeah," I agreed. I stared at Charlie as I walked inside, missing Aaron. "Could you…" I didn't know what to ask. I motioned toward the toddler, hit by an extreme feeling of guilt as I realized I just couldn't be in the same room as him.

Desmond looked confused. He nodded his head though and turned to leave. "It's time for your nap, Charlie." He ignored the boy's protests as he carried him out of the room and back toward the bunk beds.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, allowing Penny to lead me to the kitchen and over to one of the booths to sit down. I took a seat and placed my head in my hands, trying to wrap my mind around all this while also trying to push Aaron from my mind.

"Do you want some coffee until Desmond gets out here?" She asked, placing her hands on the table as I glanced up. "Anything to eat?"

"No coffee." I shook my head. "Food sounds great though. Even Dharma brand." We smiled at each other and I leaned back against the back of the booth seat.

"I'll make us all sandwiches."

I watched her go to make us lunch then glanced around the hatch. I had to admit that I didn't miss this place at all. It used to make me feel trapped and claustrophobic. I no longer had the same feeling, but I didn't like it any more than I had before it imploded.

"So where are the others?" Desmond walked over and took a seat in front of me. "You couldn't have come alone."

"Well, I did," I answered. "Jack thinks I'm out hunting boars." I shook my head, resting my elbow on the table and my head against my hand. "How did you get back here, Desmond?"

He sighed and scratched his head. "I had to come back here. I had this dream…it was more of a memory. And then…then I just had this feelin', ya know? Like I was needed here or something. It wasn't easy to convince Penny to come. Especially with Charlie and all. We came on our boat and as soon as the island came into view…there was this flash. It felt like it did when the hatch exploded. And then the three of us were lying outside the hatch again."

"He took it as a sign we were supposed to stay here." Penny set down the plates with sandwiches on them on the table then took a seat beside Desmond. "So we've been here for three days waiting for something to happen next. And now you showed up."

"So you mean you didn't die?" I picked up my sandwich and took a rather large bite.

"Die? I don't…" Penny shook her head.

I chewed for a moment then swallowed, my mouth still half full as I spoke. "Of course you didn't die. You remember who I am." I swallowed the rest of my food.

"What's all this nonsense about death?" Penny asked. She glanced at me then looked at Desmond before looking over at me again.

I took a breath, unable to figure out where to start for a moment. "We came back," I told them. "All of us who had been rescued. And we were back in time and…none of that matters. There was a bomb."

"A bomb?" Desmond asked.

I nodded. "There was a bomb. And Jack thought if he could make it explode that we could fix everything. That it'd all be like the past when we first crashed on the island." I watched as Penny and Desmond gripped hands. I'd never even thought of what would have happened to them if that's what really had happened. "But it didn't. I woke up and everyone, well, dead." I glanced away for a moment. "But Jacob he…he gave me this talk on destiny and led me to this place where I had to push some wheel. And there was the flash. And I woke up in the jungle right after the crash."

"Everyone from the crash is dead?" Desmond asked. "Jack and Hurley and Sun and…"

"No," I shook my head quickly. "Well, yes. But no. They died. But they still survived the crashed. It's just like being in the past with them. They don't remember anything like we do. This is our past. But this is their present."

The two of them looked confused.

"They don't know who you are," I spelled it out for them. "They don't know about the hatch. They just met me a few days ago. Claire is still pregnant with Aaron and Jack…he just met me." I took another bite of my sandwich, this time having to force myself to chew and swallow.

"Wow," Penny muttered.

"So they don't know we're here," Desmond stated.

"Of course they don't know we're here," Penny said. "Kate didn't even know we were here."

"I mean they haven't found the hatch yet." Desmond glanced at me for conformation.

"Boone and Locke haven't dug it up yet," I established. "Don't let them in on any of this. When they get here, it's going to have to be just like the first time this happened. I still plan on being the first one down here. But, maybe, do you think this time you could give me a softer landing incase I fall again?" I smirked.

Desmond chuckled. "I'll try to slid a few couch cushions or a mattress there."

Penny leaned back. "This is just…"

"Crazy?" I supplied. Neither Desmond nor I looked quite as in shock as she did. We had already experienced so much on this island that I doubted anything could truly be unbelievable anymore. I continued eating, staring down at the table. "I was preparing myself to be shot when you opened the door."

"Sorry about that," Desmond apologized. "You just never know here."

I nodded. "I mean, it was just a shock…all of this." I motioned around. "It's great really. I was beginning to feel…I don't know." I finished my sandwich then brushed my hands together to get rid of the crumbs. "Do you uh…" I swallowed the rest of the food in my mouth then rubbed the back of my neck. "Do you mind if I use the shower?"

"Of course not," Penny answered. "I guess this is as much your place as it is ours."

I paused. "I guess it kind of is, huh?" It was more of a rhetorical question and they seemed to get that. "Thank you." I got to my feet. "I don't know how to even repay you for letting me in."

"This isn't something that needs to be repaid, Kate," Penny answered. "Your explanation was enough. We're all in this together. Though, I suppose, you could come back and visit until they dig us up."

I laughed. "I guess I could find the time to do that." I headed back to the bathroom. After three days, the supply of soap, shampoo, and disposable razors was like Heaven. But even those were nothing compared to the cold, sulfur-smelling water that wasn't full of salt. I now knew when I came to visit, I was going to bring my clothes along to throw in the washing machine.

I took my time in the shower. I was suddenly in no hurry to get back to the beach. I wanted to stay in the hatch. Jack was back at the beach though. I thought about secretly leading him here, but I had a feeling he'd share this place with the rest of our group. A towel wrapped around me, I stood right outside of the shower, examining the razor in my hand before I was about to toss it in the trash. I wondered what would happen if I were to die. If I too could wake up as if we had just crashed. If I could forget Aaron and all the hell Jack out me through. I tossed the razor and dropped the towel then slid on my clothes.

After pushing open the bathroom door, I headed down the hall. The bedroom door was cracked. Coming to a stop, I didn't quite know what I was thinking. I peered inside at the sleeping child. Unable to hear Desmond or Penny after a few moments of listening, I let myself in and walked over to the bed. Charlie was beautiful, but not as beautiful as my own son had been. I took a seat beside him. I knew how to be quiet and gentle so as not to wake a sleeping child now. Sliding my fingers through his curls, I was hit by how much I missed being a mother.

"Did he vanish?"

I glanced up to see Penny leaning against the doorway. "What?"

"Aaron," she whispered. "You said his mother was still pregnant with him. Did he vanish?"

"No," I replied then paused. I hadn't even thought about it. My child really could no longer be in existence. "Well, maybe. I left him with his grandmother. I couldn't bring him back here."

"It must be really hard having another one," she commented.

I was confused and a bit shocked. "What?"

"You mean, you're not…?" She motioned with her hands.

"What? Of course not." I stopped stroking the child's head and got to my feet. "What would make you think that?"

Penny looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry. It's just, you look tired, but you didn't want coffee. You devoured food like I did when I was pregnant. And you're kind of…well glowing."

I shook my head. I tried not to take in account vomiting and the fact that my period should have started the day we crashed. "It's impossible." I left the room, not wanting to wake the baby. "Before the crash, I haven't had well…There's really no one to have sex with on the run." I could feel myself blushing.

Penny also stepped out of the room and shut the door. "You weren't on the run before the crash though," she commented. "Not according to your story. You never died…so that means you're still you; just like Desmond, Charlie, and I are still us. Forget about the crash. When did you last…You know?"

My hands flew to my mouth and fear consumed me. "Oh, God." I very vaguely recalled taking advantage of Jack after I had dropped Aaron off with Claire's mother. It had been a bad night and I could barely remember it, but I knew we had had sex. I counted how long ago that had been and calmed slightly. "It's impossible. It wasn't even two weeks ago. And before that, Jack was a bit…distant." I didn't want to go into detail with anyone.

"You're time traveling though, Kate. Things could be a little…" She shrugged. "Things could be a bit off after you've gone through time, don't you think?"

The fear was back. "I…no. It's impossible." I ran a hand through my wet curls then crossed my arms across my chest. "I really need to get back before people start to wonder where I am. I promise I'll be back as soon as I get the chance. I'm just going to use the bathroom before I go…" I motioned toward the bathroom.

Penny nodded her head. The computer buzzer began going off. "I need to get that before it wakes Charlie." She spun around and hurried out of sight.

I closed my eyes and slouched heavily against the wall for a moment. It was impossible to be pregnant with Jack's child when technically he just met me three days ago. I tried to convince myself it could never really happen. My mind refused to believe it. I straightened up and ventured into the bathroom, glancing around at the cupboards. I opened almost every one, reminding myself every two seconds the island had some issues with pregnancy. I finally found a small stash of tests shoved far in the back of a cabinet under the sink. I grabbed one and shoved it in my pocket then wandered toward the back door.

I didn't say goodbye to Desmond. I had to get out of the hatch and back to the beach. I had to pretend like we had just crashed on the island and none of this had ever happened. If I could only convince myself for a few seconds…

The sun was beginning to set as I finally made it onto the beach. A group of survivors were beginning to gather around the fuselage. I noticed those who had gone to hunt boars among the group and swore under my breath.

"So where were you today, Kate?"

I spun around to see Jack sitting alone a few feet away. "Looks like a few people could be asking you the same question right now." I walked over and knelt down beside him. I wondered what it would have been like at home. I might have been sitting beside him with the test in my pocket, full of anxiousness and joy. I bet I wouldn't have been able to wait to take it and hopefully tell him I was going to have his baby. Now, I was full of dread. "You okay?"

"Looks like I could be asking you the same question right now."

"Touché." I sat comfortably beside him, watching the memorial for the bodies from a distance.