Lostcandy - I'm glad you liked it. And if you think about it...her Jack technically is dead.
Temporarilymisplaced - Kate and I are both very fond of Jacob, so he might eventually knock sense into her. Haha.
Northern Wolf - Awe. That sucks. I've never broken a bone. I did sprain my arm once 'ice-hopping'. Stupid, Self, Stupid. . Past-futurish-Jack who Kate went thru everything with is indeed dead. There's a skeleton of him to prove it. Jack that is currently alive is Jack but will never remember what happened because technically he never went through any of it.
Pavement Chaser - I'm glad you loved it. Thanks for reviewing.
Anon - Hopefully this chapter is a bit more happy. I can't garauntee happiness Jate-wise, but I don't look at it as a sad chapter.
Rainydaytruth - Technically, the Aaron she knew never even existed now. He's vanished. The best way to deal with that is probably looking at it as he died. She can grieve without hope of his return.
Famous4it (Chapt 8) - Well chapters should be coming in a little slower now. Life is beginning to get busy. So much to do in so little time!
Famous4it (Chapt 9) - There's a reason people should read author's notes. ^.- Lol.
Famous4it (Chapt 10) - Glad you liked the Charlie/Hurley part. What's Sawyer without a bit of 'evilness' though? Hehe.
Famous4it (Chpt 11) - Well, I am a walking thesaurus! And Jack is pretty oblivious to the whole hatch thing right now. I doubt he'll figure it out just by her clothes if he figures it out.
Famous4it (Chpt 12) - Changed your mind about not liking so many chapters at once? xD
Famous4it (Chpt 13) - Ha. I'm nowhere near as bad at the real writers. They're evil and mean!
Famous4it (Chpt 15) - I won't hold you back from slapping him.
Famous4it (Chpt 16) - Here's your chance to find out! =D

Alright, Guys, this'll be the last chapter for awhile. I leave for camp on Monday and doubt I'll have a chance to write another chapter before I leave. I won't be back until Saturday, so I'll probably have one up then or the day after.
Sorry this one took so long to get up. My writing time has been taken over my yoga and the gym. I really want arms like Kate's. Haha. -blush-
I hope you enjoy!

Whoever came up with the term 'morning sickness' needed to be slapped. I was plagued by 'most of the day' sickness for the past few days. When I wasn't feeling nauseas, I was absolutely starving. The best place for starving people was definitely the hatch.

"Kate, you're not putting ketchup on that bloody thing, are you?"

I spun around to face Desmond with a pickle in my one hand and a bottle of ketchup in the other. "I'm sorry!" I mumbled overdramatically through the spoonful of peanut butter in my mouth. "It's really good? Want to try some?" I offered him the pickle but within a second I pulled it back. "Never mind. If you eat it, I might run out."

Desmond had a disgusted look on his face. "Out," he said, waving his hands in and out the door of the pantry. "Come on."

"I like it in here," I argued, shaking my head. I swallowed my mouthful of peanut butter and took a few steps back before biting into my ketchup covered pickle. I placed the bottle back on the shelf and picked up my cup of juice. I had no idea what kind of juice it even was, but it was great.

Desmond grabbed the jar of peanut butter and walked into the hall.

I panicked so much I nearly choked. "Hey! What are you doing with that?!" I hurried after him, standing in the hall in shock as he tossed the plastic jar back in the pantry then shut the door.

"Go." He ushered me down the hall and toward the exit. "You're eating us out of house and home. Don't come back until you make up with Jack."

"This isn't about Jack!" I exclaimed. "It's about the baby. Jack is the last reason I would stress out and overeat and always wind up in the hatch instead of around anyone else and…"

"Keep talking." Desmond opened the hatch door and waved me outside. "I'm sure Jack would love to sit on the beach with you and listen."

I spun around to face the hatch door once I was outside. "You don't understand. I need those pickles."

Desmond laughed. "You don't need them, Kate. Eat guava. Have Sun find you something that tastes like pickles."

"I need them," I insisted. The hatch door shut. "At least give me the ketchup!" There was silence. I huffed and drank the rest of my juice then tossed my cup on the ground and walked off.

"It's alright." I muttered to myself once I was several feet away from the hatch. "I can deal without pickles. Oh God, now I'm talking to myself." I shoved the rest of the pickle in my mouth and wiped my hands off on my pants.

"You know they say talking to yourself is a sign of insanity."

I jumped and quickly turned to the side. Locke and Boone were both staring at me with amused looks as Michael fidgeted and glanced around. I narrowed my eyes and swallowed. "How long have you been following me?"

"We haven't," Locke answered. "We're looking for Walt. Have you seen him?"

I shook my head. "Sorry. I'll keep an eye out though."

"Good. Good. I'm sure he'll turn up." Locke smiled then motioned Michael and Boone to follow him before walking away.

I frowned and shook my head. I wondered what would happen if Locke were to die. Bad though. I already had enough posttraumatic stress from killing Charlie. Jack had told me part of it was also survivor's guilt. I wondered how he sensed I was distressed because I never let it show in front of him; not that I was even around him much anymore anyway.

"You know they say talking to dead guys is an even surer sign of insanity." Jacob stepped out of the jungle with a grin. He held out the jar of pickles from the hatch - causing me to practically squeal in delight. "Thought you might be wanting these. Just be careful you don't get caught with them."

I took the jar from him and grinned at it. "Thanks. I'll be sure to hide them. You uh…you wouldn't happen to have the ketchup too, would you?"

He laughed and shook his head. "I'll make sure to grab that next time. Let's walk." He began heading toward the beach.

I walked beside him. He was the only one lately I felt joyful to see. I liked arguing with Sawyer and talking about kids with Penny and joking with Hurley, but they didn't really make me happy. Jack had always made me happy, but I was currently avoiding him - giving him a taste of his own medicine. I felt happy when Jacob showed up.

"I have a favor to ask you," he said. "It's why I brought you the pickles."

"So you're trying to bribe me?" I smiled. "Bring me food and I'll do whatever you want."

He smiled back and shook his head. "I'll keep that in mind next time I need something. I want you to meet someone in the jungle tonight. Just out of sight of the hatch. I'll get them here. Explain things to them."

I raised my eyebrows. "You're not trying to set me up with Jack, are you? Because there's no way in hell I'm explaining anyth-…" I turned around, but Jacob had disappeared. "Oh, come on!" I cried out. "You could at least have the nerve to stick around even if you don't want to continue talking!"

"It's not about not having the nerve." Jacob appeared on the other side of me.

I spun around with a smirk. "Yeah? What's it about then?"

"It just the easiest way to get away from your too many questions."

I gasped in mock offense. "I don't ask too many questions. Now who am I meet in the jungle tonight?" He didn't answer so I tightened my grip on my pickle jar and continued on toward the beach. "Fine. I'll just find out tonight then." Curiosity was trying to get the best of me, but I forced myself to keep my mouth shut.

Jacob wandered off and I thought about following him. Instead, I took the pickle jar to my shelter on the beach and hid it inside. I couldn't say I knew what would happen if Sawyer went through my stuff again, but it would definitely not be good for his health.

"Kate, are you in there? Could you lend me a hand?"

I poked my head through my shelter and frowned at Jack. "I'm busy." There was food calling my name and he really expected me to help him? He was the last person I wanted to be around.

"Stop acting like a child, Kate, and start lending people a hand." He crossed his arms for a moment then uncrossed them and shook his head.

"Just because I'm not helping you doesn't mean I'm not helping people, Jack," I said angrily.

"Right." He glanced away.

I was shocked to see him back down so easily and I was sure it showed by my expression. I stood there awkwardly for a moment then cleared my throat. "What did you need?"

"Sawyer has Claire's diary." Jack shoved his hands in his pockets and looked down at the sand. "Sayid thought it might help us to find her and I thought since you had such a way with him…" He looked up at me, staring me in the eye.

I couldn't hold his gaze. "Sawyer. Right." I almost forgot what a jerk Sawyer could be - oh wait; no, I didn't! Unfortunately, it was something I was attracted to in him though. My shoulder brushed against Jack's arm as I walked past him. I despised myself because I knew I did it on purpose for some kind of physical contact with him.

Sawyer was leaning against a tree near his shelter, diary in hand. "Well ,well, Freckles," he said upon glancing my way. "Knew they might get someone to do their dirty work but I didn't know you'd volunteer."

I smiled and crossed my arms. "Yeah, well, it seems like I'm the only one who can get through to you. So are you gonna hand over the diary?"

"What'd'you think?" Sawyer grinned and waved the diary slowly back and forth. "Whatcha got to trade this time, Sweetheart?"

"Depends what you want," I answered. I was willing to give him anything but the pickles stashed in my tent.

"A kiss sounds good."

Okay; anything but the pickles stashed in my tent and that. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Close your eyes," I said closing the distance between our faces. Once his eyes were shut, I shoved my hand against his mouth and grabbed the diary. "You're disgusting."

He chuckled and shoved my hand away. "Was worth a try, wasn't it?" He went to grab the diary back, but I held it out of his reach. "Don't worry, Freckles, you'll admit to liking me sooner or later."

Grinning, I shook my head. "Keep dreaming, Sawyer." I tightened my grip on the diary and walked away from him. My grin faded once I was sure he couldn't see my face. Honestly, I had been thinking about trying a relationship with Sawyer this time around. I didn't want to do it out of hurt because of Jack though like I had done so many times before - not that those times actually counted as a relationship.

I handed the diary to Sayid as I walked past him. Jack was further down the beach with Claire's luggage in hand. He was talking to some guy I had never introduced myself to. I found it odd we had been trapped on the island so long before and there was so many people I didn't even know the names of. Our group had always been pretty closed off. I stopped at my shelter and leaned against it, staring silently at Jack.

My mother's words ran through my head; 'You can't help who you love, Katherine.' It was the only warning from her I should have ever taken seriously.

So...who do you think Kate'll be meeting in the jungle? ^.-