Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Lost or anything associated with it, including the characters. The only characters I do own in this chapter are Maya, Lee, (Sun & Jin's children) and Marie (Aaron & Claire's second child).
Reviews- Thank you to J. Svensson, Orlando-crazy, nikki-da-latina, Foxy4ever, Draco's-Loyal-Longing, helaluvE, and special thanks to my Aunt Kim (MagicSwede1965) who got me started on writing in the first place and helps me with my grammar, and to DragonRider8, who has truly been my number one supporter (and reviewer, besides my aunt) since day one. (DragonRider8: Yes, you were right. Thank you for getting me to change my mind and continue the story. I don't know about annoying, but you are definitely a good persuader.)
A/N: Well, here it is. The last chapter. Just thinking about it makes me feel sad! Well, I hope everyone likes the epilogue! It starts with Jack, goes to Kate, and then ends up with both. This is dedicated to all of the reviewers! Enjoy!
Dream Come True
The Friday after Jack's visit...
Jack had left the prison that Tuesday, with the promise that he would visit at least twice a week. However, he had no intention of only visiting two days a week. Instead, Jack had talked with his boss about getting a two hour lunch break in exchange for working later. His boss, knowing Jack and how hard working he was, had readily agreed. Therefore, Jack would be visiting Kate every day for the next four years during his lunch break, except for the days when Sayid, Sun, or Sawyer were scheduled to visit. On those days, he'd probably call or e-mail her.
It was Friday, three days after Jack had visited Kate, and he had come home to check his messages before he traveled to the prison for his almost daily visit. Walking through the front door, Jack saw right away that the light on the answering machine was blinking. Going over to the machine and pushing the button, Jack waited, wondering who had called. Maybe it was Hurley, calling to update Jack on the reunion? But it was Sawyer's voice, not Hurley's that filled the air a few seconds later.
"Hey, Jacko. Went to see Freckles yesterday. Strange thin' was, she was actually happy. Hell, she was even smilin'. Now, I don't know what you might've done, but I have a hunch that her good mood might've had somethin' to do with you. So, whatever it was, just thought I should let ya know that it made Freckles happy. Well, got to go, hero. Oh, and doc? It's about damn time! Say hi to Freckles for me." Jack saved the message, and this time he knew why.
Three & a half years later...
"Jack?" Sayid's voice, accompanied by a light knock, floated through the wooden door. "Can I come in?"
"Hold on one second," replied Jack, adjusting his tie. Once he was satisfied that it looked presentable, he called back, "Okay, come on in."
The door opened to reveal his best man, already dressed in his suit and tie. "How did you get ready so fast?" questioned Jack. Sayid chuckled. "I am not the one getting married," he answered. Jack smiled ruefully.
"Having trouble?" Jack looked confused and was about to ask Sayid to clarify what he thought he was having trouble with, when Sayid glanced as his tie. Jack followed his gaze, wondering what could be wrong with it since he knew he'd just fixed it, and then he saw.
"Oh," said Jack softly, and he gave Sayid a sheepish look. Sayid laughed. "It seems you have a case of pre-wedding nerves."
Sawyer, Hurley, and Charlie chose that moment to walk into the groom's dressing room. As soon as they saw Jack's tie, they all stopped and stared.
"Um...Dude? Did you know your tie is, like, messed up?" asked Hurley, completely oblivious. "Yeah, mate," contributed Charlie, "I think it's supposed to go the other way. You know, the side with the tag? Yeah, well, usually, that's facing inward."
Jack flushed. "It's not my fault if the tie hates me," he returned defensively. "I could have sworn I had it on right."
Sawyer, who had been uncharacteristically silent, snorted and spoke up. "Somethin' tells me if ya had it on right, the tag wouldn't be showin', but would, instead, be facin' inward as the VH-1 Reject over here said."
"All right, that's enough," Sayid interrupted. "I'm sure Jack has enough on his mind without worrying if his tie is on the right way," he directed toward Sawyer. To Jack he said, "Just be glad we caught it before you went out there."
"Sorry, man. We weren't trying to tease you about your tie," Hurley apologized. "Yeah. Sorry, Jack. I know how it feels like to get married. We didn't mean to make you embarrassed. If it makes you feel any better, I almost walked out of the dressing room without any trousers on at my wedding, remember?" Charlie replied.
"Speak for yourself," muttered Sawyer. "I love makin' Jacko nervous. It's my favorite pastime."
Everyone ignored him, as usual.
Hurley laughed. "I remember that, dude! That was so funny!" Hurley exclaimed, referring to Charlie's mishap at his wedding to Claire.
"I didn't bring it up just so you could make me embarrassed!" Charlie said, blushing. They all laughed at him, even Jack.
"If ya didn't wanna be embarrassed, then ya shouldn't of brought it up in the first place, Tattoo," countered Sawyer.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but he has a point," Sayid pointed out to Charlie, who sighed. "I guess," he admitted. Sawyer looked pleased.
"Well, now that's settled, someone should help the doc fix his tie. Wouldn't want the groom lookin' like a fool now, would we?" suggested Sawyer.
Sayid nodded. "That's a good idea." Crossing to Jack, Sayid redid his tie. Looking over his work, he pronounced Jack ready to go. "Much better."
Jack grinned, still a little flustered. "Thanks."
There was a knock on the door, and after Jack called, "Come in," Claire, one of Kate's bridesmaids, poked her head in. "Just wanted to let you all know that you have ten minutes until you have to be at the altar." Jack and the rest of the men, with the exception of Hurley, nodded. Hurley had politely declined Jack's offer of being a groomsman, saying it would be weird for the groom to have a best man and three groomsmen, while the bride only had a matron of honor and two bridesmaids.
"Charlie Pace!" Claire scolded, spotting sight of her husband. "Why aren't you dressed yet? There's only ten minutes left until the ceremony begins, you know!" Charlie immediately set about pleasing her. "Sorry, luv," he said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll go change now." Nodding to Jack, Charlie headed off to one of the other dressing rooms that the groomsmen were using.
Claire shook her head, still ranting about Charlie and his laziness, when she noticed Sawyer wasn't changed either. "And you!" she cried, turning to him. "What's your excuse? Why aren't you changed yet?"
Sawyer, realizing there was no way to get out of this one, quickly decided that Charlie had the right approach. Claire was obviously not standing for any excuses today since she was in a mood, and Sawyer wisely replied, "Now, don't get your panties in a twist, Mamacita. I was just leaving to go change." With that, he was gone, taking the same route Charlie had just minutes ago.
"Men!" Claire muttered. Then, smiling to Hurley and Jack and Sayid, who were already dressed, she left the room.
"Whew! Dude, that was close! I thought she was gonna crucify me, and I don't even need to get dressed!" Hurley said, relieved. "Yes," Sayid agreed.
"Kate? Do you need any help?" asked Sun, her matron of honor, from outside the bride's dressing room. There was no answer. "Kate?" Sun repeated. Just as she was about to open the door, it opened on its own, startling Sun. She was met with the sight of Kate standing there in her wedding dress. The dress was traditional white, simple but elegant. It was off the shoulder and clung tightly to Kate, showing off her curves until it flared out at the bottom. There was also a slit on one side that ended just above the knee. Kate had decided to keep her hair down, and it flowed in soft, dark waves over her shoulders. Sun smiled. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you, Sun," Kate said, and returning the smile she asked, "Could you help me with makeup? I'd do it, but with my nerves I'd probably end up smudging it all over my face." Sun laughed. "Of course I'll do your makeup, Kate."
"Did someone say makeup?" asked Claire, just returning from the groom's dressing room. Sun smiled and nodded. "I'm going to do Kate's makeup for her."
It was then that Claire noticed Kate, standing in the doorway. "Oh, Kate. That dress is perfect for you!" she declared. "Jack's going to have a heart attack when he sees you!" Kate blushed, a little embarrassed by all of the attention. She allowed Sun and Claire to pass into the dressing room, and she followed them over to the dresser. Sun instructed her to take a seat in front of the mirror, and she complied.
"Just relax, Kate. This shouldn't take long since you don't need that much makeup," Sun told her. Claire laughed. "Are you kidding?" she asked Sun. "If you ask me, Kate doesn't need any makeup at all. She's already stunning." Sun smiled and agreed but added, "Kate wants makeup, and what the bride wants, the bride gets. It's common knowledge that you're not supposed to refuse the bride on her wedding day, right Kate?" Kate laughed and nodded. "Right, Sun."
Kate relaxed against the chair and allowed Sun to do her makeup. Meanwhile, Claire was trying to make sure that Kate had something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue, and she enlisted Kate's friend Beth, who was the other bridesmaid, to help her.
While Sun applied Kate's makeup, she occupied herself by remembering how she had come to be here. Ever since that Tuesday three and a half years ago, Jack had visited Kate almost every day, except for the days when Kate was expecting another visitor. Both of them had agreed that they would begin officially dating as soon as Kate was released from prison after four more years had passed. However, they hadn't needed to wait that long. Kate had been so surprised earlier that year when the Parole Board had granted her request to be released a year and a half early, because of her record of good behavior in prison. She had only served three and a half years in prison, and Jack and her had begun dating the very day she was released.
Six months after Kate was released, Jack had proposed to her while they were on a date, having dinner at a nice, upscale restaurant, one of the ones Kate usually hated going to. Much like the day when Jack had visited her at the prison in the visitation room, after Jack had gotten down on one knee and proposed to her, tears had gathered in Kate's eyes. Then, she had given Jack a huge smile, nodded, stood up from the table, and launched herself at him, hugging him tight. Jack had embraced her tightly back, and then, smiling widely, he had slipped the diamond and emerald ring on her finger, leaned down, and kissed her, only this time, they were in the middle of a restaurant instead of in the middle of a visitation room of a prison. Kate could still remember the cheers of the restaurant employees and other dining couples as they looked on. That had been the happiest day of her life besides maybe today and the first time Jack had visited her.
"Kate? We're done." Sun's voice interrupted her thoughts, and smiling, she opened her eyes to stare at her reflection in the mirror. Sun, true to her word, had not applied much makeup at all. She had used a light shade of eye color and just a little mascara to enhance Kate's green eyes and some light lip gloss to give her lips shine, but that was about it. Still, Kate looked beautiful.
She smiled at Sun. "Thank you." Sun nodded, replied it was nothing, and then Claire took charge.
"Beth and I were making sure you had everything. Something new is obviously the dress. Do you have something old?" she asked Kate. Kate pointed to her necklace, a gift from her father on her sixteenth birthday. It was a diamond star pendant. Claire smiled, glad to check one thing off of her list. "Okay. What about something borrowed?" Kate thought and then shook her head. "No, I don't have anything borrowed yet."
Claire and Beth seemed to be thinking, and then Beth handed Kate a pair of chandelier earrings. "Here, Kate. You can borrow my earrings." Kate was about to point out that she was already wearing earrings when Beth spoke up, sensing what her friend was about to say. "I know you're already wearing earrings, Kate, but these go better with your dress anyway." Kate sighed. Removing her earrings, which she handed to Beth, she put the chandelier ones in.
"Good," said Claire, obviously pleased. "Now we just need something blue." To her surprise, Kate spoke up. "I already have something blue, Claire," she said, pointing to her diamond and sapphire bracelet, a pre-wedding gift from Jack's mother. "That will do," said Sun.
"It looks like we're all set then," replied Beth. Claire nodded, agreeing. "We should probably get out there. I told Jack and the men to be ready in ten minutes. It's been about fifteen. I'm actually pretty surprised that no one's come to get us by now," she pointed out.
Right on time, there was a knock on the door. "Three guesses who that is," said Beth. "Come on in," called Kate.
The door opened to reveal a very flustered looking Hurley. "Sorry to bother you, but it's time," he told the women. He stopped short when he got to Kate. "Whoa. You um...You look really nice, Kate," he complimented her, blushing. Kate smiled, partly at the compliment and partly at the man's embarrassment. "Thanks, Hurley." He nodded in return and turned to go, but Kate stopped him. "How's Jack?" she asked.
"Jack?" Hurley replied. He burst out laughing. "The guy's going crazy. Seriously. He had his tie on backwards and didn't even realize it. I've never seen him so nervous!" he remarked, still chuckling. Claire giggled and readily agreed. "He did seem nervous," she told Kate. Then, she turned to Hurley. "Did my husband and Sawyer finally get dressed?"
Hurley nodded. "Yeah. All of the guys are dressed and ready," he assured her. "Well, I gotta go and get a seat. See you out there. Good luck, Kate and congratulations!" said Hurley, and with those parting words, he left.
"Shall we?" asked Claire, and once everyone had completed last minute checks of their dresses and Kate grabbed her bouquet of white and stargazer lilies and white roses, all four women exited the dressing room and headed toward the chapel.
The wedding was perfect, with all of the survivors of Flight 815, even the once missing Locke and Eko in attendance, as well as Jack's mother and Kate's father. First to come down the aisle were Marie and Maya, the two flower girls. Close behind them was Beth, and then Claire. Charlie looked on in wonder as his little girl, almost an exact replica of Claire, only smaller, walked down the aisle in her cute, lavender dress, scattering rose petals and then again as his wife approached him, smiling and looking lovely in a flowing, light blue dress that brought out the color in her eyes.
After Claire came Sun, looking elegant in a flowing, cream-colored dress, and then, it was Kate's turn. Everyone stood as the music changed and the Wedding March began to play. The doors to the chapel opened and there Kate was, being led slowly down the aisle by her father, who she hadn't thought would come. Jack's breath caught; she was beautiful. Charlie and Sayid glanced at him, afraid he would faint before Kate reached the altar.
Tears flowed freely down Kate's face as she locked eyes with Jack. It was as though no one else was in the room. Finally, they were standing in front of the altar. Jack was there to greet her, and Kate's father placed his daughter's hand in Jack's, nodding to his soon to be son-in-law. A silent promise seemed to pass between them. Then, kissing his daughter on the cheek, Kate's father sat down in the front pew.
The couple smiled at one another, and still holding hands, walked to up the small flight of steps to stand in front of the priest. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to recognize and celebrate the love of this man, Jack Shepherd, and this woman, Katherine Austen, who are to be joined in holy matrimony...If there is anyone here who can show just cause why they may not be joined, speak now or forever hold your peace." There was a pause. Jack and Kate, along with all of the other guests waited, fearful that someone would speak up and ruin the day, but no one did. So, everyone was able to let out the breaths they had been holding and breathe a collective sigh of relief, and the wedding continued.
The ceremony passed by in a blur, and all too soon, it was time for the vows. While Kate and Jack had been planning the wedding, Jack had mentioned the idea of creating their own vows to Kate, and she had agreed. Unlike when he had married Sarah, Jack felt no nervousness. In fact, he hadn't worried at all about his vows, because he knew what he was going to say. "Jack and Katherine have both decided to create and share their own vows," the priest began. Once he had finished talking, he looked at them pointedly, and they turned to face each other.
Kate went first. "Jack, I knew from the first moment that I looked into your eyes, right after our plane crashed on the island, that I felt something for you. I tried to deny it at first. I told myself we were just too different, that I was a fugitive and you were a doctor. A wonderful guy like you would never belong with me, and you deserved so much more than I could ever give you. I believed you were too good for someone like me, and that, if we got together, the only thing I would do is hurt you. But soon my feelings started to become too hard to ignore. I had already had so many bad experiences, not just with guys but in general in the past, and I didn't want to get hurt again. I didn't want to hurt anyone else again, either, especially you. You made me believe in myself again. You made me see that I'm not as bad of a person as everyone else and I seem to think I am. Most of all though, Jack, you made me feel safe, and I love you for that. You're a great guy, and I can't believe how lucky I am to be standing here with you today, ready to become your wife. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you, Jack." By the time she finished, everyone was crying, including Jack. Even Sawyer had tears in his eyes.
"Jack?" the priest motioned that it was his turn to share his vows. "Kate, you said you were lucky to be standing here, about to become my wife, but truth is, I'm the lucky one. I'm lucky to have such a beautiful, intelligent, determined, and amazing women like you that I am ready to spend the rest of my life with. You were always there for me on the island, whenever I needed help, putting up with my stubbornness, my pride, even my overprotectiveness. You saw me and accepted me for who I really am, not the perfect leader everyone thought I was and expected me to be. And I can't thank you enough for that. Before you, my life was plain, it lacked a real purpose. My life was my work. You gave it meaning. You saved me, Kate, and I love you for it. I love you for being you. I told you once that the things we did in the past didn't matter, that we had all died when the plane crashed, that being on the island was our chance to start over, and I meant it. No matter what, I'll always love you." Jack's vows just served to make everyone cry harder.
The priest then also recited the traditional vows and Kate and Jack said their "I Do's." Aaron, who Kate and Jack had chosen as their ring bearer, walked up to the altar with a little direction from his parents, carrying the small, satin pillow that held the rings. Both Jack and Kate took the specified rings, and Aaron walked back to his seat beside his younger sister and Hurley, who was watching both the kids. Kate and Jack exchanged their rings, repeating what the priest said, and then it was pretty much over.
"By the power invested in me, by the state of California and the Almighty God, I now pronounce you man and wife," finished the priest. Looking at Jack, he smiled and added, "You may now kiss the bride."
Jack, needing no further notice, took a step toward Kate, leaned in, and passionately kissed her. There was a round of applause and quite a few whistles from Hurley, Michael, Charlie, Sawyer, and Sayid. Finally, the new married couple separated, smiling, and the priest, also smiling, said to the guests, "Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Jack Shepherd," to which there were cheers all around.
A/N: So, there you have it! This officially completes the story. I could have written about their wedding reception or them having kids or something after the wedding ceremony, but that seemed like a good place to end it. Just to let everyone know: I'm not planning on writing a sequel, and Kate's father, who was mentioned in the story, is not the biological one (Wayne) but the other one, who she originally thought was her father (I can't remember his name). I hope everyone enjoyed it!
I'm thinking of doing a kind of spinoff fic that focuses on the reunion Hurley was planning that I mentioned a couple of time over the course of the story. I'd love to know what everyone thinks of the idea, and if I do decide to write it, it will definitely have some Jate (It will take place while Kate is still in prison, so you'll have to see how I'm going to incorporate the couple.) and PB&J.
Thank you to everyone that has reviewed and/or read the story! It's a pleasure to know that my story is being enjoyed!
Until next time,
LostObsession, a.k.a. Ana
