Hey guys. Just a few things before you get into this delicious little chestnut. Of course it's rated M, for mature because of some things. Also this maybe a good time to remind you of my Canadian-ness. So serviette and cheque are used. So have fun with the many francophone words.

New Life

Chapter 3

Red

The restaurant was nice. Nicer than she thought it would be when he offered to take her out. The ambiance was romantic; the walls were painted an incarnadine color, with black velvet drapes accenting the windows. Directly between them on the table, a candle glowed faintly in the darkened room. It was a definite change between the usual fast food joints they frequented.

Despite the atmosphere, her mood seemed to sink deeper into a lull of depression. She swirled her fork around the plateful of food before her, racking it back and forth, doing everything, except actually eating.

"Something wrong Freckles?" he asked her from across the intimate table they sat at. When she looked up from her plate, his blue eyes were gazing at her from over a small bouquet of roses.

Placing the fork down, she stopped slouching and pressed her back into the chair, "Everything is fine," she told him with a half smile. It was the furthest statement from the truth.

Sawyer hadn't been home when she got back from meeting Jack. He worked until the earlier morning, when he arrived home he had a shower and then fell into bed next to her, getting what little sleep he could before he had to go back.

Folding her napkin and setting it in her lap, her eyes found their way to a wineglass before her. It was filled halfway with water, and three small cubes of ice clanked against the side.

She heard him sigh; the wineglass trembled when he placed his hands down on the table, "Are you upset about yesterday?" His voice was gentle, but when she looked into his eyes, for half a second she caught a glimpse of the old Sawyer.

Trying hard to keep a stoic face, her tone abandoned her when it came out bitter, "What about yesterday?" She was irritated, and she really didn't want to discuss the faults in their relationship in the middle of a restaurant, but she wanted him to acknowledge what he did.

Another spark of island Sawyer flashed as he rolled his eyes at her question, "Look, I said I was sorry Kate." His jaw was ridged, he was speaking harsher and his eyes began to narrow, "But I'm the one they count on to pick up shifts. I'm their go to guy."

"Well, who's my go to guy?" Her eyebrow arched and she watched as an expression of disbelief crossed his face, "Sawyer, you haven't been around at all lately. I spend all day alone, and when you come home," she paused shaking her head and fighting to hold back her tears, "It, nothing changes."

"Hey," he reached his hand across the table and placed it against her cheek, "I'm sorry," he whispered as his hand cupped the side of her face.

She wanted to end this right now. Right in the middle of the restaurant, with everyone watching. She wanted to wrench out of his touch, throw down her serviette, and stomp away. She could stay with friends and clean out the apartment when he was at work.

A small, but genuine smile graced his face, "I wanted tonight to be special," there was almost a sparkle in his eyes as he reached his free hand into a pocket on his suit jacket.

Her heart stopped. She didn't want him to propose. Not here, not now, not ever really. Because once he proposed, it was in stone. There would be no more running.

A wave of relief undulated through her body when she saw it was merely an ID card. His picture was pasted square in the corner along with his name and job position, "I got promoted." His face was bright and his smile wide, as if he'd just won the lottery.

Kate found her lips curling into a smile as well, "Congratulations."

The structure of his hand left her face as he returned the piece of identification away to his jacket, "The reason they phoned yesterday, well," he looked away from her, his mood suddenly changing, "Roberts, the guy who was in charge of our entire division, I guess he took a walk on the bad side of town because they found his body in an alleyway."

She often forgot exactly how dangerous Los Angeles actually was. There were stories on the news everyday, but some part of her mind was no longer able to separate fact from fiction.

The waiter silently crept up to the table and placed the cheque facedown against the raspberry colored tablecloth. Sawyer sent a glance his way, and then rummaged through the opposite pocket in his jacket to retrieve a pair of reading glasses. They still made Kate laugh.

"Anyway," he continued as he read over the receipt, "I got promoted to his old job, I make almost ten more dollars an hour." He reached into his wallet and pulled out a credit card, setting it atop of the bill he turned his attention back to her, "I work five days a week, nine until five."

"Nine to five?" her grin grew in authenticity. She moved forward in her chair, "Only nine until five?"

He chuckled and leaned into meet her in the middle of the table, "Yep," his voice had dropped to an almost seductive tone, "Monday to Friday, which means we're going to have enough money to get ahead, and more time together."

She pushed forward, capturing his lips with hers. It had been so long since they kissed and actually meant it. Well, since she meant it. He was smoother than Jack, he was more experienced, and the way he kissed her, the way he did anything to her always showed his love.

The car ride home was short, he sped through any lights that he could and he was practically undressing her in the elevator. He carried her down the hallway, lips locked the whole time, and he spent hours after looking for his keys that were found hanging from the ceiling light.

Despite all the excitement and rush, the sex was exactly the same. Like a dance, that once the steps were learned, no modifications could be made. Each partner had their own part, and made sure that the other did theirs as well. And after it was over, it was over.

It was identical to yesterday when they made love, except this tumble didn't end with a phone call from work.

Afterwards she almost jumped to get dressed, it was a habit now, but she held back at the last minute and allowed him to pull her against his chest. His breath was still quick, and his skin still glistened with a thin layer of sweat, "Freckles?"

Her eyes moved up to search for his in the darkened room, the unlimited number of lights outside their twelfth story window didn't help at all. She moved her body against his, purposely letting her hair tickle the exposed skin on his chest.

A chuckle muffled deep in his throat as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, "Want to start house hunting this weekend?" He tucked a piece of hair back behind her ear and began to caress her shoulder.

Her head tilted up as she pasted a generic smile to her lips, "Yeah," she kissed his lips, pulling his head down and his body on top of hers.

She felt the kiss deepen, as his body reacted to hers, "Feeling a little frisky tonight, Freckles?" He moved his lips to her neck as his hands roamed across her stomach.

When his hand stopped on top of her breast and his fingers began to clutch, she moaned, arching her back against his body. The second time around, it was still the same, a little more spontaneous, but once you learn the moves, you didn't forget them.

Now he was asleep, her back to his chest, his arm draped over her hip almost territorially. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest, and a weak snore emit from his mouth.

After the evening, the supper, the after dinner activities, there was only one constant thing on her mind. Jack, and the heartbreaking expression he always held on his face when she left.

I hope all you Sawyer/Kate fans enjoyed this chapter, I try to keep the tally even.
In the many chapters to come, a lot of surprises, including a big one next chapter!
Remember if you like it, then I like you, and if you like me, then review!