Summary Sawyer and Kate adjust to being a couple but they try to work around their doubts. A settling in chapter. The next couple should be a little more drama filled.

Chapter 2-Aftermath

He couldn't stop kissing her. No matter how badly he wanted to breathe, he wanted to kiss her more. Lips full and parted offering up a warmth and sweet taste just for him. He ran his thumb over her tender breast stifling a moan from her as he opened his eyes to look at her.

In the dim light, Sawyer couldn't exactly tell, but from the flush of her cheeks and the way she smiled, it looked like Kate was actually blushing. Sawyer smirked and kissed her tender mouth softly once more...

"You blushin Freckles? (His dimples deepened thinking it was very cute, but he wanted to toy with her just a bit more...) Didn't take you as the shy type..."

Kate smiled her crimson cheeks turning even redder. She knew with Sawyer, sex would never be just sex. Oddly enough she didn't want it to be. And it surprised her still that he could make love to her with such precision, such caring consideration, and such passion. She clenched her arms more tightly around him, but angled her face down so he couldn't see her expression, resting her cheek on his chest. Still uncomfortable with putting her feelings into words. But she knew they were there, and that she made the choice with her heart and not her head for once.

Sawyer wouldn't take her silence as an answer this time though and he tipped her chin up to look at him. His gaze filled with concern...

"You okay?"

Kate searched his eyes for any doubts any resignations for what they just did, but there was none, and she felt relief. She traced her fingers lightly over his chest and he cupped his hand around hers. Kate smiled at this small gesture and looked up at him.

"Yes Sawyer...I'm just trying to get my breath back..."

He smirked, looking back down at her...

"Yeah puddin pop...You and me both...The way you did that thing...and that other part...Woo boy, I never thought...(he acted mystified) and how did you bend like that?"

Kate's face was redder then a cherry and she smacked him on the chest...

"Stop that Sawyer!"

Sawyer smirked. He knew he was baiting her but it was just so damn fun to get a reaction out of Kate. Realizing her change in name for him...

"So its Sawyer again now is it?"

Kate knew now that she got more then she bargained for with him. He was far more then just a handful. She met his gaze nodding...

"Yes its Sawyer again..."

Kate decided that she would reserve the use of his real name for the special times. She was after all used to calling him Sawyer. In a strange way, it fit him. And not in the way he wanted it to. But she knew who Sawyer was now...and it wasn't as scary now.

Sawyer smirked...

"Well I don't care what you call me Freckles...As long as you keep doing to me what you just did, then you can call me Saint Jack for all I care..."

Kate cracked a smile and looked at him mischievously...

"Never know Tex...Maybe Id get off on that sort of thing..."

Sawyer's eyes shifted uncomfortably.

She beamed her Cheshire cat grin at him, suddenly feeling bad, because he genuinely looked like he had doubts about their success in the bedroom and Kate replied in an assuring tone...

"Of course Southern Perverts can be quite tempting to..."

Sawyer smirked, having a pretty good idea on what she was doing and he rolled Kate over onto her back...

"Well I guess well just have to test that theory out then wont we Sassafras..."

Kate lay under him opening herself up to him...

"By all means Tex, test away"

She closed her eyes in hungry anticipation as his fullness pushed inside her. Their verbal foreplay already making her wet and wanting.

Encompassing him, he moved slow finding his rhythm inside her. She could feel every inch of him as he sunk down further into her, till finally reaching the end as he started his incline back to the surface. The pleasure was agonizingly torturous for Kate and she moved under him frantically trying to get him to go faster, but he maintained his pace. She could feel her orgasm build up, but he was drawing it out. She had a feeling Sawyer definitely knew what he was doing, he was quite the heavyweight in the arena of sex as she clenched her jaw adjusting to his full size.

Sawyer watched Kate, her eyes were closed and her body was moving with him, locked with him as they pushed upwards, the pillows under her head pressing against the backboard...

Kate was starting to get light headed and she no longer could hear or see anything outside of her and Sawyers panting and heavy breathing. He was making her moan and she moaned louder and louder still as he hit her core over and over. Kate could feel the waves build up but they weren't getting any heavier, falling into the rhythm of pleasure with Sawyer she nearly lost consciousness the drawn out pleasure was so consuming...

Then she felt his mouth on her ear and he whispered as his lips brushed against her skin...

"Open your eyes Freckles!"

Kate did as he asked and she saw him hover over her, his sharp blue eyes catching everything her soft green eyes said. She saw into him, his lost tortured soul and the need and love in his gaze. And she shared that same need, the same feelings. It was all very primal and she had never watched someone so intimately before. It was as if their souls had conjoined along with their bodies.

He moved inside her a little faster now, finally wanting to give her the release he knew she so desperately craved. Kate's eyes opened a little wider when she felt his thumb press into her clit over his moving cock.

Screaming his name in excitement, she exclaimed...

"Sawyer!!!!"

It was as if heaven and earth collided and it was all happening inside her body. Kate had never felt anything so erotic, so consuming, and so unbelievably amazing.

"OH GODDD!!!!!!"

He smiled watching Kate have what was probably the loudest orgasm of her life. She wasn't as vocal in the shower and part of him was relieved she could maintain her modesty, cause this sure wouldn't have been a private show at the beach.

In her final clenches, Sawyer finally let himself go, taking the torch from her as he poured himself into her hot molten core. It was pure cosmic bliss. And his body coursed with pleasure.

Sawyer collapsed onto his side trying to catch his breath back, his body still vibrating. Kate was still radiating from his heat. She had never experienced anything like that. Her heart was beating so fast and she looked over at Sawyer in a balmy sweat.

He just flashed his dimples and replied...

"Still want to compare me to the Doc, Freckles?"

Her whole body was tingling and she felt like if he touched her, a small fire would ignite that exact spot. Shaking her head, breathlessly she answered...

"No...I think the test results were conclusive beyond reasonable doubt Cowboy!"

Sawyer smirked and smiled smugly over at her...

"Thought you'd say that..."

Kate smiled and reached up to kiss him, their bodies intertwined. Never wanting to leave the sanctity of his embrace.

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Sawyer chuckled once they were up again and dressing...

"So, you wanna make a date next time or will we have to wait for another escape from Alcatraz, blockheads demise, getaway canoe that would disgrace even Herby the love bug, 2 days of walking ending with a damn dart stuck in my shoe, and a rescue mission for Saint Jack, to do this all over again?"

Kate smiled at him. He sure did have a way with words, she thought. Deciding to put him on the spot she replied...

"I think a date would be nice actually? Where were you planning on taking me Tex?"

Sawyer looked over at her not expecting her to call him out on the date thing. But she did and now he had to do some quick thinking...

"Ah... (Deciding to cover up his tracks, he replied...) Well that's gotta be a surprise Sassafras...Wouldn't be any fun if it wasn't..."

He smiled at her flashing his award winning pair.

"Those are lethal you know..." Kate was referring to his dimples...

Sawyer smiled even bigger..."Yeah...I know Freckles..."

She watched Sawyer, who was finishing up the buttons on his shirt. Thinking how surreal this all was. Not even a month ago, she was helping him with his physical therapy. A month ago she thought she almost lost him. And even last week, he came so close. She couldn't let him come that close again.

"Come on" She replied.

"Lets get back to the beach...I'm sure Locke and Sayid have told everyone that Jack's not coming back by now..."

Sawyers smile faltered and he looked over at her curiously...

"What happened?" He asked...

A wave of sadness passed over her face and then Kate smiled back at him nervously. She couldn't stop thinking about what Jack had done and although she wasn't afraid of the island or the Others but she felt like his betrayal would definitely handicap them all. They were all without a leader now. Sayid told her that he was confident, Jack had an ace up his sleeve, but he was doing a very careful job of hiding it and Kate feared the worst--that he would abandon them all.

But Kate just shook her head...Sawyer creased his brow in frustrated worry. The worst thoughts running through his head. Was she regretting this again? Did something happen to her out there?

Suddenly her anger coming to the surface, she replied coolly...

"He sold us out...That's what happened! (Meeting Sawyers gaze, she added...) Just like Michael did... (Shaking her head) They found something that he wanted and they got him to work for them...That's how they operate Sawyer..."

When she wasn't in Sawyers arms, she saw the world differently. It was a cold and cruel world and one that kicked you out on the curb when you were naked and starving. She was used to that actually. Her parents, Sam and Diane treated her the same way. What's to say it wouldn't happen again? Jack, who she considered a friend and confidant, just did it. Could Sawyer be capable? Her heart had been broken before. She met Sawyers concerned gaze pleadingly. Would he do this to her to? Kate couldn't bear it if she lost him. She hadn't said the words yet. If she didn't say them he wouldn't leave her. Kate knew she was thinking irrationally, but she was afraid.

"I'm sorry he hurt you Kate" Sawyer finally answered.

Kate closed her eyes, thinking that Sawyer was doing everything right, right now, why was she so afraid? Her eyes were beginning to cloud up and she met his gaze worried if she didn't hold it together long enough, shed start sobbing.

Angry at Jack and tortured by his own thoughts Sawyer went up and put his arms around Kate. She buried her head into his chest, not allowing him to see her tears as she melted into him.

Sniffling a little she spoke in a soft muffled sobbing tone...

"I just don't know what we're going to do now...What will we do Sawyer?"

Sawyer hated to see her so distressed and it wasn't often that she fell apart like this. With creased brow he ran his hand over the top of her head stroking her hair in a soothing manner, but underneath it all, he was brimming.

Sawyer hid it well and kissed her temple though, replying...

"Come on Freckles...Lets go back to the beach...I'm sure Gandhi and Al Jazeera will think of something..."

Sawyer and Kate finally left the Pearl station and headed for the beach, but they were surprised to find out when they got there that Locke and Sayid had already left to retrieve Desmond's boat. Locke believed he saw a cave on the west side of the island near the others housing facility. He didn't have time to check it out, but if Desmond's boat was anywhere on this island, that would be the perfect spot to hide it.

Kate was disappointed that she had been excluded from this little excursion, but at the same time, she was dead tired. Deciding not to argue or follow Locke and Sayid back out, she finally gave up her fight, Kate wanted nothing more to just collapse and sleep forever.

She wasn't allowed to though when Sawyer had to step aside to make way for Hurley, who lunged at Kate, giving her a huge bear hug...

"Kate! Your back! (He looked over at Sawyer) See Dude, told you she would be okay!"

Sawyer smiled embarrassedly. Kate looked over at Sawyer smugly, wishing she could rub it in when she was ambushed by the other side from Sun...

"Kate, it's so good to have you back! I am glad you're safe..."

Kate smiled and nodded hugging her friend back. When it was all said and done and it was just Kate and Sawyer left standing on the beach, he exclaimed...

"You wanna crash at my pad Freckles? You look pretty wiped out..."

Kate smiled at him...

"Somehow I don't think Id get much sleep in your tent Sawyer..." She met his gaze coyly...

Kate wanted to take things slow. She needed this to progress naturally. It was after all the first Real relationship she had in a long time. Since Tom, and she screwed that one up. She didn't want to mess this one up like she had before.

"Touché" Sawyer finally replied.

Sawyer wasn't going to push her. He knew better than anyone that it would be like trying to get a horse to drink water, but part of him was curious to know what happened with Jack--The full story. He still had doubts about Kate's feelings for him and if she was still hung up on the doc. But that would be a task best left for another day. He watched her walk away from him this time, not feeling angry or upset, but hopeful.