Kate woke up, still wrapped in Sawyer's arms. He was still asleep. She envied him for this. She hadn't slept much. She didn't think he had either. There was too much to think about.
She kept going over the previous night's events in her mind. They were faced with a problem, and they'd come up with a solution to it. At least, that was what they'd thought. It didn't feel like a solution anymore, Kate thought. It felt wrong.
It was strange, but over the last few hours she'd started to grow attached to the idea of having a child. Maybe it was the thought that she'd finally have someone in the world, who was a part of her, and who would love her no matter what. She'd always longed for a person like that. Maybe this was her opportunity. It might be her only opportunity. She couldn't just forfeit that chance, she realised. She couldn't get rid of it.
Sure, there was still a fairly good chance that it wouldn't happen. She knew the odds weren't good. But what if, this one time, things worked out right for her? What if there was a chance?
Sawyer woke up, interrupting her thoughts. From the way he was staring at her, she knew he'd come to the same conclusion over night that she had. Neither of them said anything, but and unspoken agreement passed between the two.
They were going to give this a try.
Later that day, they walked along the beach together. Sawyer still hadn't said anything. Kate wished he would. Eventually, she looked him in the eye, silently begging him to speak. She couldn't stand another day like the last one.
Apparently, he didn't want that either. This time, he spoke. "I can't lose you."
Kate was surprised. She wasn't expecting that response. She didn't know what to say to it. It hadn't occurred to her that this was his main concern, that this was why he'd reacted the way he had to the news.
She hugged him, trying to reassure him that she was all right. It seemed a little strange that she was comforting him, when she was the one in danger. Surely it should have been the other way around. At the same time, it felt so right.
Standing together on the beach, Sawyer held on to Kate tightly, as though he could protect her from all this, save her, if he just held her tight enough.
Kate hated that he was feeling so helpless. She tried to reassure him, but it was difficult. "We're on an island, remember? Juliet said that all the pregnant women died sometime in the second trimester. What are the odds that this'll last that long? I might still come out of this alive."
She had tears in her eyes as she said this. They were meant as words of comfort, but it was very half-hearted. She didn't want to think that she might lose the baby, but she forced herself to accept that there was a possibility. It might make it easier to deal with if it actually happened.
Sawyer stared at her. Completely uncomprehending of what she'd just said, Kate thought.
"When I said 'you', I meant both of you, Freckles." It took Kate a moment to fully appreciate the enormity of what he'd just said. When it hit her, she smiled, and laughed a little through the tears that were now falling freely. She buried her face in his chest. She was so relieved to realise that he was just as attached to this baby as she was. They were definitely doing this. She felt terrified all over again.
"I don't know how to do this." She wasn't even sure what she was referring to. It was as though she was looking into the future, and seeing a blank, empty space. There was nothing to tell her what was coming, or how to deal with it.
"We'll figure it out." Their roles had switched; Sawyer was comforting her now. She was glad. She felt like she was slowly falling apart, and she needed someone to catch her.
"It isn't fair." She had to say it. For some reason, she couldn't leave it unsaid.
"Nothing much is." Sawyer sighed into Kate's hair. She relaxed. She was starting to understand what Sun had said. She had to trust that things would be okay. There was no point in imagining anything else.
Together, they walked back to their tent. They were facing an uncertain future; they knew that. But in the here and now, they were okay. It was enough.
As Desmond watched, he wondered again what they were thinking. He wondered if he should tell them anything about what he saw. Maybe they'd be more optimistic if he told them about the daughter Kate was carrying at that very moment. Or about the twins that would arrive later on down the track.
But then, what if they started asking questions? How could he tell them that, despite everything, the three children would survive everything to be strong, capable and happy adults, but that they wouldn't live to see it? He couldn't. There was happiness ahead for Kate and Sawyer. He wouldn't ruin it.
Later, Desmond wasn't sure when, they would share their news with everyone. It would be taken as a sign of incredible fortune in a few months time, when Laura would arrive. It would give everyone hope. Only he knew the bittersweet truth. It would remain his burden.
So what, did you think?