There's a reason I'm updating so fast. I'm going to camp soon and I want to leave off at a place where I know I'm definitely going to want to continue when I get back. Updates probably won't come in so frequently after camp. Maybe 1 - 3x a week prolly.
That and your reviews make me feel all warm and fuzzy. ^-^

Lostcandy - I was a bit hesitant about adding Desmond and Penny...but I'm way glad I did. And I would love if there was an S6 Jaby on the way. x]
Temporarilymisplaced - Rules are overrated for Desmond. ^-^ Jabies are the best. 3
Famous4it - Thanks so much! That's an amazing compliment. I really appreciate it. And I'm rewatching as I type chapters. Sometimes I type the chapters before I watch and I find myself getting mad at the TV for not being how I wrote it. Haha.
Northern Wolf - I haven't decided whether or not to reveal the hatch early yet. I'm pretty sure I have a much better idea in mind tho. =D
P - Haha. I'm wondering the same exact thing. Kate and I haven't quite worked that out yet. I'm still trying to convince her to drop the denial. If I left it to her, she'd be 8 months pregnant and a hippo and all, "Nope. Not pregnant. You stupid writer."
Boo2ubam - He can't really get his memory back...because it's not a memory. This is Kate's past, but it's Jack's present. Future Jack -the Jack who could remember all this- is dead. I view them technically as two seperate people.
Ilayda - I gave the whole Aaron thing a lot of thought before I started the fic. And from what I've decided, no. There is only one Aaron and he is still in Claire's womb. Kate's Aaron no longer exists. Now that she's began living in the past, if she were to transport to the future, things would be different and there's a chance that Aaron would still be with Claire. If she went into the future now, the future would no longer be the same. She couldn't even time-travel back to the time of the bomb and go into the future to get him. She'd just end up where she is now...bc where she is now is the future of the past. Does that make sense? xD
ILoveNeil - I'm glad you liked the chapter...and the story as a whole! Thanks for the review!

Enjoy the Jangst!

I went to bed long before anyone else did. I wanted to stay up with Jack, but I found myself completely exhausted. I gave up on begging him to sleep too. I knew it wasted effort and I'd deal with it later. Letting him to sit alone, I wandered to my shelter and lied down on the airplane seats I had placed there. Compared the ground, it was amazing. I wanted to go home and sleep in my own bed though. I silently cursed Jack for making me come back here.

Waking up in the morning to throw up was like torture to me. I kept the pregnancy test in the pocket of my pants, because until I took it and it possibly proved I was pregnant, I simply had some twisted stomach bug.

The beach wasn't the same as the one on the island. The beach on the island was pretty, but the beach where I was standing was the epitome of beauty. The sand was the perfect shade of tan and around me was unscathed except for the footprints that led to where I was. Rocks, stones, and glossy pebbles scattered themselves beside the water's edge, beat on gently as the waves crashed down upon them.

If it's possible for music to elegantly float through the air, that's what Nickelback's Far Away was doing. It slowly flowed on top of the breeze and just felt oh so fitting for a moment I never wanted to forget.

I closed my eyes, feeling the cool, salty atmosphere ruffle my chocolate colored curls that had taken hours to fix. They were held back with a thin headband in a style that was feminine, but at the same time not unlike me. My hair looked soft, but upon touching it, I knew it would take hours to get out all the hairspray.

My dress was white with spaghetti straps and fit me perfectly. It had sparkling silver designs that not only covered the top and straps, but also the lacey bottom that was hovering above the sand in the gentle wind. I felt prettier than I'd ever felt in my entire life.

"Guess who." Two hands covered my eyes.

I found myself giggling like a little kid. "I don't know. But whoever you are, you must use just the right amount of lotion on your hands." I snuggled against the person behind me, leaning my head back against his shoulder. "It couldn't be my amazing husband, Jack Shephard, because he would never sneak up behind me."

Chuckling, Jack removed his hands from over my eyes and swatted at my thigh. "Well, you couldn't be my beautiful wife, Kate Shephard, because she would never be trying to cuddle with someone who wasn't her amazing, sexy, hunky, brilliant…"

"Hold on. I stopped at amazing." I turned to face him, placing my hands on my hips.

"…husband, Jack Shephard," he finished sheepishly. He wrapped an arm around me, pulling me closer.

"You look handsome in a suit." I pulled back a bit and admired him. His suit was black with three buttons on the jacket. The shirt underneath was white and he wore a silver tie that matched the designs on my dress. "We look perfect."

"You surpass perfect." He leaned forward, pressing his lips softly against mine. I kissed him back, inching forward and sliding one arm around his neck and the other around his waist. He slid one arm around my waist and supported my head with his other hand. "Do you trust me?" he whispered.

His lips were so close to mine that when he spoke, they brushed my own with the pronunciation of each sound. I could taste his warm breath and I felt captivated, needing more. He made me feel so fragile, as if I were nothing but a thin sheet of glass. "Mm," I mumbled my answer, unable to get out anything more. I felt the wedding band on my ring finger with my thumb, breathing shakily.

His lips were suddenly against mine again. He tilted me backwards and I felt like I was suspended in midair. And then he dropped me. I fell.

And fell…

And fell…

And fell…

And shattered against cold cement as a bomb exploded in the distance.

I sat straight up, sucking air into my lungs as if I were running out of it. I fumbled with my hands, finally gripping my ring finger. There was no wedding band, but there was an engagement ring. I was still wearing it. Tears of rage burned my eyes as I pulled it from my finger and chucked it in a random direction. It made a pinging noise as it crashed against a metal piece of my shelter. "I trusted you and you broke me," I whispered to the empty space beside me, curling up on my side.

There was some sort of commotion outside. I rubbed the tears from my eyes and got to my feet, peering out the opening of my shelter. There was a group gathered down by the ocean. "Joanna," I mumbled. I felt a rush of panic and guilt. I darted outside to tell Boone to let Jack go in after her, hoping Jack could save her life. Boone was soaking wet and Jack was walking dejectedly up the beach.

As angry as I was with him right then, he just looked so disappointed in himself. I stepped out of my hiding place and ambled over to him. "Hey." I nervously rubbed the back of my neck.

"Do you know who she was?" He questioned, looking anywhere but me.

"Jack, maybe you should…" My voice trailed off because I didn't know what to say.

"Who was she?" Jack paused between each word, turning to face me. His voice was intimidating and it sent a shiver down my spine.

"Her name was Joanna. She…" I stopped and shook my head. "Jack, don't."

"Don't what? I want to know who she was. I never talked to her. I never said a word…"

"Don't act like this!" I cut him off. "Don't act like it's all your fault, because it isn't, and I worry about you when you act this way!" I narrowed my eyes at him, almost unable to hold back my fury. He stared off in the distance. "Are you listening to me? Jack?"

"Did you see that?" He took a few steps forward.

I glanced over to where he was looking and shook my head. Not this again. "Jack, you're probably hallucinating," I spat. "Why? Because you're not sleeping! As a doctor, you should know…" He walked away from me, not even looking at me. "Would you listen to me for once?!" He kept walking. "Jack!"

He spun around and pointed a finger at me. "Don't talk to me like you're my boss, Kate. If you want to be a leader here, if you want to be the hero, fine! But don't tell me what to do. I don't even know you." He walked toward the jungle.

"Well, it's a good thing I don't know you either!" I wanted to take his engagement ring and shove it down his ungrateful throat. I could sense the other survivors staring at me, but when I spun around to glare at them, they quickly turned their heads.

"Well, well, well. We been here, what, 6 days? Already, there's some lover spats going on." Sawyer strode up to me, hands shoved in his pockets. "Guess murderer's never really get the chance at relationships outside their victims, huh?"

I balled my hands into fists and faced him. "What could you possibly want right now?"

The southerner shrugged. "Haven't thought about what you owe me yet. Just felt a little extra-social today and you looked like you could enjoy the company considerin' ya just chased your boyfriend off into The Jungle of Mystery to get eatin' by polar bears. Ever thought of an affair behind his back? I make a better boyfriend."

I scowled, because at the moment that was probably true. "Sorry," I muttered sarcastically. "I'm not a cheater." I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my arm and turned me to face him again. I smirked and placed my face close to his, our lips only centimeters apart. "I know your type."

His gripped loosened. "You do, huh? And what would my type be?"

"Manwhore." I yanked away from him and walked off, heading down the beach. I didn't glance back, because I knew he'd still have the irresistible smirk on his face.

I stopped at my shelter and walked inside then changed my clothes. I glanced around for a bag, but just ended up grabbing the blanket from my 'bed'. After tossing the clothes I had worn since we got here (pregnancy test discarded on the ground) on top of it, I tied it and picked it up, along with the water bottles that (probably) Jack had put by my shelter. I could always get something to drink from the hatch.

Claire was beginning to sort clothing out in the sun. It had been a job I once started, but I had other things to do now. I took a few steps toward her, then noticed Sun walking past. "Hey!" She turned to look at me. I wondered if I should go with the whole not speaking English thing or not. I decided to play along for the moment. "Can you give these to Claire?" I motioned toward the water bottles then pointed to Claire.

Sun pretended to hesitate then slowly nodded. She took the water bottles then walked over toward Claire.

I watched them for a moment, making sure Claire got them and took a drink. I didn't want her passing out. I felt guilty, but it was because my care for Aaron this time and not my care for her.

I walked toward the hatch again, intent on getting a good meal and doing some laundry while I chatted with Desmond and Penny. Things felt a bit off on the way there. I kept hearing bushes rattling and such noises. I reassured myself over and over it was a breezy day and there were a lot of unexplained noises in the jungle.

I approached the hatch then turned the handle, the door creaking as it opened. "Guy's, I'm…!"

"Whoa! What is this place?!"

I gasped and brought my hand to my chest, jumping probably about ten feet in the air. I spun around to face Walt and Vincent. "Walt? You followed me?!"

The young boy was staring at the hatch in awe. "I was bored," he replied, taking a few steps forward. "I thought you were going to look for water, so Vincent and I decided to help out."

"You decided to help out by sneaking up behind me?" I asked, attempting to just breathe in and out. This reminded me of the times Aaron would crawl out of bed and sneak into my room, jumping out at me just as I walked through the doorway. "You can't be here. And you can't tell anyone about this."

"Why can't I be here?" Walt dragged Vincent forward, touching the door of the hatch. "Wanna know a secret?"

I rubbed my forehead. I could hear someone heading toward the hatch door. "Sure." I didn't. "What is it?"

"I know we're not here by accident," he commented, seeming to be examining the outside of the door. "And I know you know more about this place than anybody else does. You even know more than Mr. Locke."

"And how do you know that?" I demanded, feeling rather flustered.

"I may be ten, but I'm not a stupid, little kid." He looked up as Desmond appeared at the door with a rifle. "Whoa! Is that a real gun? We only have knives back at camp!"

Desmond glanced at me and tilted his head.

"He followed me," I tried to defend myself. "Kids are sneaky. You should know that."

"No kidding, Mate." He stepped aside to let us in.

----------

The sun was going down by the time we began to head back. Walt had taken a shower as I did our laundry then played with Vincent and Charlie. I chatted with Penny (neither of us bringing up the matter of pregnancy or children) and then also had the privilege of using the shower again. Penny cooked dinner for all of us then kindly asked if I would put Charlie to bed. It was a challenge, but, shockingly, it helped a bit with getting over Aaron.

Jack was giving his 'Live Together, Die Alone' speech when we got back. I hoped he choked on his words. I stood near the back of the group, placing my hand on Walt's shoulder as I pretended to listen. He was fidgeting and I could tell he wasn't really listening either.

"Where the hell have you been, Man?!" Michael came rushing up to us, talking in a harsh but worried whisper. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"I thought Kate was going to look for water," Walt answered. "I was thirsty."

"I'm sorry." I fumbled for words on the inside but appeared to know what I was saying on the outside. "I was going on a hike and he just sort of followed behind me. By the time I realized he was there, we were already deep into the jungle." I showed him where all the chocolate in the hatch was in return for him not breathing a word about the place. "I brought him back as soon as I could."

Michael stared at me. "Uh…thanks." He took Walt by the arm and led him away.

Jack stopped talking and the crowd began to disperse. He zigzagged around a few people and walked over to me, staring down at the sand. "I'm sorry about earlier."

I was shocked and I knew it showed from the look on my face. I replaced it with anger. "I'm sure you are."

"My father died," he stated as if that excused his actions. "In Sydney."

"I'm sorry." I bit down on my tongue to keep from reminding him his father was an ass. Like father, like son, I guessed. I shook my head.

"I'm sorry too." He glanced at me.

I walked away.