Author's Note – Just a short instalment this time, as Kate has her baby.

And to clarify something from the last chapter: I am NOT planning for Kate and Sawyer to get together. Her suggestion in chapter 2 was basically a very brief moment of pregnancy-hormone-induced madness, and should not be taken seriously.

Anyway, enjoy chapter 3, and please remember to review.

Six Months Later

Six months after the garden party, Kate was in the kitchen getting a glass of water one evening when she felt a pain in her abdomen, and dropped the glass. As it smashed on the floor, her waters broke and she cried out to Jack in the next room.

"Jack!"

He came running into the kitchen, wearing an old t-shirt and sweats. "Kate? Kate, love, what's wrong?" He saw her doubled up and leaning against the counter, and hurried to her side. "Did your waters break?"

She nodded. "Yes. Get me to hospital, Jack, now."

"Um, okay, I'll drive you."

"What about…. Chris… and Libby? You… can't leave… them… alone…"

"Yeah, of course. I'll, I'll take them to Claire's on the way to the hospital. She can look after them."

"Okay… my bag, it's by the door… Don't forget it, Jack."

"Sure, sure. Look, I'm going to go and wake the kids up. Will you be okay?"

"I can hold on… but hurry."

Jack ran upstairs, and soon came back downstairs with Libby in his arms and Chris following sleepily. He put them in the car and strapped them in, then went back inside the house for Kate, helping her out to the car slowly. He got her into the front passenger seat, then slid into the driver's seat. He looked back at the sleeping children on the backseat, then started to car and drove to Claire and Charlie's house.

When they got to the house, Jack jumped out of the car and pounded on the door until Charlie opened it, guitar in hand.

"Jack? What are you doing here, mate?"

"Charlie, please, I need you to look after the kids for tonight."

"Why? What's happened?"

"Kate's in labour, I have to get her to hospital soon. Please, can you take the kids?"

"Yeah, yeah of course mate. I'll put them in the spare room to sleep. They're in the car, right?"

"Yes, come on, hurry."

Jack went back to the car, and lifted Chris out carefully, passing the sleeping little boy over to Charlie while Jack picked up Libby and the bag he'd thrown a few of their clothes and toys into. They carried the children inside, putting them down on the sofa. Almost as soon as they were settled, Jack was heading back to the car. As he left the house, he told Charlie "I'll call you from the hospital. And thanks again, Charlie. I really need this."

Charlie didn't have a chance to reply, as Jack was already in the car, pulling out and speeding away towards the hospital.

Eight hours later, the doors of the delivery room opened as a nurse ushered Jack in. Kate was lying, exhausted, on her hospital bed, and there was a plastic crib at the side of the bed. Jack went over to her, taking her hand in his as he sat down. He reached up to brush a strand of hair away from her face, and as his fingers touched her skin her eyes opened.

"Hey."

"Jack. Where are the kids?"

"They're at Charlie's, fast asleep. They're fine. I'll call Charlie soon, let him know the news."

"Good." Kate was quite drowsy from the painkillers. "We have another daughter, Jack."

"That's great news."

"I don't have a name for her yet."

"Don't worry about it. We'll think of something."

"Okay."

"Hey, Katie, why don't I go and phone Charlie, and let you get some sleep. That sound like a good idea to you?"

"Uh-huh."

"Okay then. I'll be back soon."

Kate did not reply to that, as she was already dozing off, so Jack just kissed her forehead lightly as he stood up, and quietly left, so as not to wake either his wife or his newborn daughter. As he left, he looked at the baby girl in her crib, wrapped in the traditional pink blanket. She was asleep with a tiny hand near her mouth, but he could already see her mother in her.