Summary Sawyer and Kate spar again about Kates feelings of jealousy over Jack and Juliet and Kate gets a surprise too.

Note: This is the last chapter. Hope you have enjoyed the story thus far. Sorry about the long wait. Have been dealing with personal things and anticipation for the show. I hope you like it and please review. Thanks much.

Chapter 5

It was in the early hours of morning and she could smell the saltiness coming off the morning tide. Kate was facing Sawyer. Despite their best efforts, they couldn't part ways for the evening and Sawyer ended up spending the night in her tent.

Kate smirked watching his peaceful sleeping face. The strong bridge of his nose, connecting his perfectly arched brows, and the other half, a pair of smooth warm and inviting lips. Slightly full, but tasted like the perfect mix of salty and sweet. Kate ran her tongue over her own lips trying to remember how he felt, how he tasted. Closing her eyes, she imagined his arms around her, her legs clenching his hips, how exquisite they felt together.

She opened her eyes again to look at him. His face was so calm and serene. In sleep Kate noticed that he looked much younger. She wondered sadly if that was the only place he ever found peace, or perhaps his nightmares gave him little relief as well. In fact she new that he had them.

She put her hand in his hand and he started to stir, but was still visibly asleep. Kate leaned over, not being able to resist his presence next to her and kissed his shoulder lightly. His skin was warm and sun kissed and she began to work her way up to his collarbone, placing a trail along his neck, till finally their lips met.

She opened her eyes watching his to see if he was awake yet, if he could feel her body move over his or her hands run through his hair, but there was no movement.

Kate moved to the other side of his neck and kissed him lightly. She thought she felt the slightest tinge of movement through his body, but when she looked up; his eyes were still tightly closed.

Kissing his jaw line, Kate's eyes shifted. She knew she felt movement that time and judging by the faint line of a smirk on his face, she had a feeling her southern pervert was playing with her. Two could play at this game she thought. Kissing one dimple and then the other, her lips met the side of his mouth, and she decided to get more adventurous.

Moving her hand down in-between them to his abdomen she held her palm flat and pushed down. Teasing him, she brushed her fingers over his thighs, and then came back up.

Kate could see the dimples deepen on Sawyers cheeks and she knew she had him right where she wanted him. Going in for the kill she gripped her fingers around his cock as her tongue grazed his bottom lip.

Kate heard a gasp as Sawyer was finally forced to open his eyes meeting her mischievous smirk.

"Wasn't sure if you were up yet" She musingly replied as he rose to attention in-between her thighs. Kate was already getting wet in anticipation of feeling him inside her.

Sawyer smirked back at her and glanced down at the visible small space between them...

"Looks like I am now..."

Kate moved her knees down to the ground on either side of his hips and straddled him lengthwise. She teased him allowing him to press his hardness against her opening as her naked breasts pressed up against his chest. Kate almost had to bite her lip to maintain her control over the situation. She had been fantasizing about this for too long already. Playing with him further she used her words...

"Well if you wanted to sleep in all you had to do was say so, I don't have anything pressing going on right now..."

His dimples deepened enjoying the verbal foreplay, as did his body, as he moved his hands to grip her ass pulling her to hover directly over his raging erection. Kate let out a soft moan.

"Well I wouldn't want to keep you from anything important Freckles...Far be it from me to take up too much of your time..."

The pull was getting to be too much for both of them and Sawyer could feel her press up against him. His imagination running wild as her smell intoxicated him. And then Kate plunged her tongue in his mouth...

"Good morning Sawyer" She stated breathlessly breaking the kiss.

"Morning Sunshine!" He replied back with a smile, plunging his tongue into her depths.

Kate moaned as he pulled her ass over him. She was so wet, like a dripping fountain tap, she was ready and waiting for him. When he finally made contact his hardness penetrated her core easily. Pulling herself up to a sitting position, feeling the intense pleasure, she started to rock over his length. Pulling out and clenching in she began to find a rhythm, starting slow and then moving faster. Every thrust brought painful pleasure and agonizing gasp from her and a groan from Sawyer as he infatuatedly watched her breasts bounce, her hips move, her slickness thrusting over his pulsing cock, her long mane of hair, her eyes--It all mesmerized him.

Sawyer was nearly gone and noticed Kate clenching harder around him. He knew she had reached her climax. If he let himself, he could have come, but intercepting he turned the tables and flipped Kate over onto her back.

Her eyes were glazed pools of emerald green waters and he was lost in them. When her quivering stopped he began to move again. Thrusting his hardness into her slowly. And she opened herself up again to him fully. Arching her back, her hips met his hungrily bringing her legs up around his hips. Navel to navel, breast to breast, conjoined together in the sacred act of making love. Sawyer could feel his control slipping, and before he let go completely, he plunged his tongue into Kate's mouth once more. She ran her hands through his hair, and one down his back, her fingers settling into his other set of dimples.

He could feel her grip tighten as she clenched around him, her climax finally at its peak. Sawyer tried to keep the battle going moving faster as he held onto her tight, but his grip was loosening and he could feel the pressure build as his final thrust buried her head in his pillow below them and Sawyer finally surrendered, letting it all go. Bringing them both into a spiral of milky whiteness.

Lying in a balmy heap, once their heavy breathing subsided and heart beats went back to normal Sawyer looked over at Kate and gave him one of his smirky smiles...

"Damn Freckles...You sure know how to wake a man up..."

Kate smiled and explained...

"I didn't think I could drag you out of my tent so decided to try something more constructive..."

His dimples deepened and he pulled her body next to his. Hands caressing her navel as he brushed his way upwards, grazing one breast, then the nipple. The numbness in Kate's body, turned into a tingling sensation as he woke her up again...

"Is that so Peaches?" He growled into her ear. And she smiled tilting her head down almost laughing as his soothing Southern drawl tickled her ear drum.

"Well maybe part of its true" She confessed as he trailed kisses down her neck. Her breath skipped and Sawyer replied...

"Well Darlin...For the record...Anytime you want to drag my ass out of bed...Pretty much everything you just did will work..."

Kate purred back, her body still humming from their previous encounter...

"Mmmm...Ill have to keep that in mind then..."

Sawyers hand roamed finally resting in the vee between her thighs...

"You do that Freckles..."

Letting out a small gasp, in that moment his fingers dipped into her, Kate couldn't help but turn around and kiss him on the mouth. It was warm and inviting, and would be absolutely perfect if she didn't have the little nagging thought in the back of her head that was telling her she needed to talk to Sawyer. Damn that conscience, she thought irritated.

"What's goin on in that pretty mind of yours Sassafras?" Sawyer asked.

Kate flinched realizing that he must have noticed her pause. She had to do this carefully. Very carefully, or she could risk losing Sawyer. Something she wasn't willing to part with. She would have rather remained here in his arms, making love till the sun came up, or went down, whichever came last.

She turned back around to face him meeting his curious gaze with a serious one of her own. Kate wrapped her arms around his body tighter just to feel his closeness and she blinked looking back up at him...

"I need to talk to you..."

Sawyers smirk faded and his expression turned slowly to one of genuine concern as he gazed into her green eyes.

"What is it?" He asked hesitantly, not sure if he wanted to know the answer.

Kate met his gaze and answered matter of factly...

"It's about what happened. While I was away...What they did to us..."

"What did they do to you?" He asked questioningly.

Kate put her hand over his wrist and met his gaze pleadingly...

"If you don't mind, Id rather talk about this someplace secluded where we know we aren't being watched..."

Sawyer was a little worried, and he really wanted to know what was bothering her so much, but he didn't have much choice in the matter. He wanted Kate to open up to him, and it was something he was willing to wait for. Nodding his head in answer, Sawyer replied...

"Why don't we meet at my tent in an hour then?"

Kate nodded her head in agreement.

"Okay." She replied.

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Forty five minutes later Sawyer was reading outside his tent. Covertly reading that was, while he was really apprehensively waiting for Kate, making it look like he was busy with his book when he heard raised voices coming from the other end of the beach. When Sawyer looked over to see who it was, he was amazed to see that Jack and Juliet were indeed having a lovers quarrel. Or he could only assume it was since they were practically attached at the hip now. Sawyer thought it was very odd, and he didn't trust Juliet more then he trusted not being bit by a snake that was just hosed out of its hole. And these days he didn't know what to think of the doc either.

But he kept his thoughts about that to himself. His activities with Kate had kept his suspicious nature at bay. He knew other people like Sayid felt the same way about Jack and Juliet though, and strangely enough, that put his mind at ease. That he wasn't the only one who thought this way.

The only thing he didn't know was how Kate felt about all of this.

Dropping his book he swiped an empty bottle and went over to the water tank to get a closer angle to the argument. Unfortunately Sawyer just caught the tail end, Juliet replying "fine" as she stomped off in his direction and Jack yelling "fine...do it your way!" as he watched Juliet walk away.

When she came close enough to Sawyer he could see that she was fuming. Wanting to test her reaction he commented as she passed him...

"Don't blame yourself Blondie...The Doc seems to have that effect on all the girls..."

Juliet turned around apparently taken off guard by Sawyers comment and stepped up closer to him...

"What would you know about it James?"

Juliet looked at him questioningly and Sawyers smirk faded. He didn't like her challenging stare. Sawyer just replied nonchalantly...

"I wouldn't know...But I would think someone who was staying here under hospitality of a group of people who were here against their own will, who didn't beat their guest and make her break rocks might want to be a little friendlier..."

Juliet just shook her head and smirked at him...

"And you're the one lecturing me on being nice James?"

Sawyer just shook his head and held in a snarl. Wishing he could take out his 9mm and waste her right here. But that action would have consequences. Consequences that she wasn't worth paying for.

"Suit yourself Mary Jane, but just know your cock and bull act aint foolin all of us. St. Jack can't save you every time...Sooner or later... (Adding coyly) And my moneys on sooner...Your silence is not gonna be tolerated...And rest assured...Ill be there when that time comes..."

Juliet just rolled her eyes and turned to leave, but before she did, added...

"Ill be sure to give Kate my condolences...Cause if it hadn't been for Jack, you would have died James...If it hadn't been for me...You would have died too...Play this revenge game with me and my people--3 times the charm...and I'm sure after it happens she'll wish she'd picked Jack too. You don't think her mind was on you the whole time she was back at our camp do you? (noticing Sawyers expression of self doubt Juliet chuckled) The two of us were even free for a whole day, and you'd never guess who she was fighting with me to go back for that whole time…"

Juliet smirked as Sawyers face straightened. Her work was done here. Thinking to herself, turn them on each other and the wont give her the time of day.

Kate watched it all from afar. She was nervous about telling Sawyer what had happened. As Juliet walked away, Kate approached the brooding Sawyer. She had seen Juliet talking to Sawyer and the idea of it made her feel uncomfortable. Worried about what the women had said to him.

"Hey..." She said softly.

Sawyer barely looked up at her, his face a contortion of deep concentration, and Kate continued...

"What did she want Sawyer?"

Kate was really worried now, since Sawyer wasn't responding right away, and she tried to meet his gaze pleadingly...

"Sawyer?"

Sawyer just looked back at her coolly and replied...

"Why don't you tell me Freckles? Seems Blondies a lot more forthcomin about what went down back there then you have been!"

Kate creased her brow...

"Sawyer, there's no way I can explain myself if I don't know what you're talking about..."

She was about to say more when Sawyer cut her off meeting her gaze he demanded...

"Are you jealous of them?"

Kate looked at Sawyer confused, and Sawyer explained getting angrier...

"The Doc and Nurse Betty!"

Shaking her head she replied...

"What? Sawyer..."

But Sawyer wasn't going to back down...

"It's a yes or no question Kate...Are you jealous???"

Kate looked visibly upset, not knowing how to answer that. She met his cool stare feeling more closed off now then ever and simply turned away. Her silence speaking volumes.

"Yeah thought that's what you'd say!"

Thinking this whole time Kate had gone back for Jack because she had feelings for him. He was just her sloppy seconds. Taking her answer as a yes,

"I guess its better that I found out now...Now we dont have to trade secrets...Your off the hook Freckles."

Sawyer shook his head and glared at her looking physically hurt as he turned on his heel as steamed off.

She hated that look of his. The truth was, Kate didn't know how she felt about Jack and Juliet. She didn't know if the fact that she didn't like to see them together categorized as jealousy or not. Maybe it did, maybe she was jealous of him...Maybe a small part of her always wanted Jacks allegiance and for him to put her first. And what he did to her back there hurt. But Sawyers cutting words just now hurt her even more.

Kate felt more alone then ever. Not realizing how much she had grown to depend on Sawyers friendship and his love. Him closing her off like he had was like a slap in the face.

Kate saw Claire with Aaron down the beach and thought she would be a welcome distraction. She needed some time away from everything. Catching up with her friend, she found out a lot more had gone on since she had been gone. It seemed Sawyer had not told her everything. Surprised to hear about Nikki and Paulo's deaths. Kate remembered a few brief words she had exchanged with the pair over the few months they had been here, but nothing memorable or meaningful. She was sad for the tragedy and wondered how it happened. It all seemed so strange.

But then again, everything on this island was strange. Claire asked Kate about her and Sawyer now.

She wasn't quite sure how to describe their new relationship with an uncomfortable look on her face; she gave Claire an answer that possibly only a mime could understand.

"I just don't know Claire...Things are complicated at the moment..."

Claire nodded her head in understanding. Kate thinking to herself that was the understatement of the century, wondering if the fire she had shared with Sawyer while maintaining its high flame for so long had finally burned out. After all, there was only so much they could put each other through. Kate knew she couldn't keep doing this with him. She was afraid to get too close, but at the same time, afraid to lose him. She was worried; they could tear each other apart.

Claire asked Kate if she could hold Aaron for a minute and Kate took the baby from her. Holding him in her arms she commented...

"He's getting big isn't he?"

Claire nodded and smiled proudly...

"Yeah...I'm sure in no time I will be chasing him all over this island..."

Kate smiled and nodded in agreement looking at his happy face, which in turn caused her to smile...

"I'm sure you will..."

Claire turned to get a fresh cloth out to change his diaper when Kate's smile faded as she noticed something red on Aaron's neck...

"Claire?" She asked her voice crowing concerned.

Claire turned around to look at Kate and Kate peeled back some of the fabric from Aarons blanket as she exposed the red mark....

"I think he's got a rash or spider bite or something..."

Claire took a closer look and nodded her head looking at it like it was a common thing to see, explaining...

"Yeah, he's allergic to some sort of pollen here. Jack gave me a bottle of something before but we ran out...Ill have to get more from him..."

Kate nodded volunteering...

"I can get it from him if you want"

Claire nodded her head...

"Sure...If you want to, that would be great...Sun says aloe works almost as well too...So I can try that in the meantime..."

Kate nodded and smiled at Claire saying her goodbyes to Claire and Aaron and she headed out in search of Jack.

It was starting to get dark now and as Kate combed the beach with out any luck she realized Jack may have gone back to his tent for the evening.

Making her way back her eyes subconsciously scanned the area for Sawyer, but like Jack, he was nowhere to be found outside.

Kate approached Jacks tent and heard laughing coming from inside. It sounded like Juliet and she scowled angrily approaching quietly.

"Jack?"

Kate asked, but there was no response. She heard more chuckling, this time it was from Jack. Curious as to what they could be laughing at, it was very rare to see him laugh; Kate called his name again...

"Jack? (she heard some shuffling wondering what the hell was going on in there Kate lifted the flap of his tent part way, her head was down as she ducked in to ask him for the medicine) Jack, Claire asked me to..."

But Kate's voice trailed off as she took in the scene before her.

Juliet was laying naked in Jacks arms with a blush on her face. It was obvious Jack had just yanked up the covers for obvious reasons, but Kate would never forget the expression on his face. It wasn't one of embarrassment or getting caught red handed. Jack seemed genuinely angered and annoyed by her presence. Kate swallowed and shook her head...

"I'm sorry it can wait till morning..."

And with that Kate hightailed it out of there as quickly as possible. She found herself on the end of the beach looking out at the ink black ocean water. Pondering what had just happened, how she felt about walking in on Jack and Juliet like that.

The weird part was, she wasn't thinking about how mad or upset she was over seeing another woman in Jacks arms. The cold harsh reality of the situation had forced her to see so clearly what she couldn't see before. Seeing Juliet there didn't hurt her, there were no pangs of jealously this time; it was more like a splash of cold water. One that allowed her to release that part of her being. For the first time seeing the situation as clear as day. Jack was a friend to her but nothing more.

And the only thing she wanted to do right now was find Sawyer and tell him about it, knowing he would surely enjoy the latest island gossip.

How messed up was that? She wondered. She just walked in on Jack and Juliet and the only person she was thinking about was Sawyer. And after the way things happened today, Kate wasn't even sure if Sawyer was speaking to her right now.

Looking out to the horizon she found a spot on the beach and gazed out at the stars above. They were just starting to come into view. Laying her head back in the sand she found some of the constellations with her finger. Orion, the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia....

Remembering her days as a young girl and camping out with her father, Sam, and how he used to show her which stars were what...

The memories made her homesick. The ironic part was that even if she went back, there would be no home to go back to. Her memories were all she had. Good and bad, bad and good. It made her nostalgic, but at the same time sad.

Realizing in the 4 months she had been on this island how she had sometimes forgotten about home. Most of those times, she noted, were when she was with Sawyer. But strangely enough, he felt familiar to her too. Like she knew him her whole life and this island was just a conduit to her reunion.

Shaking her head with a smile she told herself...

'Look at yourself...You never get time alone...You never get time to think about things...And the one time you do...Who are you thinking about?"

The answer came to her clear as day.

Kate knew now what her heart had been trying to tell her all along.

She loved Sawyer.

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Deciding to remedy this quickly Kate went out in search of Sawyer. She went to his tent first but he wasn't there. Her eyes worriedly searched the beach, but he wasn't a part of any of the bonfires that were lit down the beach. She decided to search a little ways into the jungle. What if he was hurt? she thought worriedly. Kate started on the jungle trail towards the site of the old hatch. But before she even got close she collided into what she thought was a tree...

"Son of a..."

A tree that talked apparently.

Kate smiled as she recognized his voice and took in his appearance.

"Out setting traps for the boogeyman Sawyer?" She asked playfully, releived to see him.

Sawyer just grunted and tried to step past her...

"Went for an evenin swim if you must know, now if you'll excuse me Freckles...I got a can of beer waiting for me with my name on it back at the old bachelor pad..."

Kate rolled her eyes. Men! She thought.

"Bachelor pad huh? Bet you got a whole line of women waiting outside to get in too huh?"

Now it was Sawyers turn to roll his eyes...

"Beat it Freckles...Go ask the Doc if he'll scratch that itch..."

It took a moment for her to register his last comment, but when she did Kate's eyes blazed in fury at what he was suggesting. Sometimes Sawyer made her so mad. Stepping closer she sucker punched him in the gut and swept her leg behind his leg, so he was laying flat on his back.

"Take that back Sawyer!"

Kate said as she pinned him down. Sawyer just smirked, noting the position he was in with Kate sitting on top of him...

"Getting nostalgic for the old days Freckles?"

"Take it back!" She demanded.

Glaring into her eyes he retorted...

"No!"

He shook his head...

"Its true aint it? You'd rather be sitting here with him instead of me?"

Kate grabbed his shirt and pulled him up to her growling back...

"No it's not true..."

Sawyer rolled Kate over onto her back so he was in the dominant position, both of them getting leaves and dirt in their hair as they sparred.

"If it's not true then prove it!" Sawyer challenged her with his eyes. And Kate flipped him back down so she was sitting on top of him. Not quite sure where to begin. Smashing her lips over his mouth forcefully.

When her mouth met his there was a burning passion there, raw and filled with venom the kiss stung, but it also felt so good. She looked back at him with her eyes still ablaze...

"You were right Sawyer...I was jealous...(she bent down to bite his lower lip as his hands cupped her ass hard, both of them taking thier aggressions out in their sexual actions) He made a deal with them to buy Juliet and him a ticket off this island...Ben was going to let him go home!"

Sawyer flipped her back over and plunged his tongue into her mouth angrily. So far her story wasnt sounding very promising...

"Why should I believe you?" He demanded.

Kate was frustrated with his stubborness. Wanting him to listen to her, she Snaked her ankle around his knee and turned him over again knocking Sawyer back flat on his back, secretly enjoying this fiery game they were playing.

"Because Jack loves Juliet, and not me..."

Her nails raked under his shirt over the taught tan skin....

"And I don't love him... (She kissed Sawyer and he couldn't help but not kiss her back) I'm not jealous anymore (she explained breathlessly)"

Sawyer grabbed her jaw and made her look at him.

"Your not jealous cause you Lost him Kate" Sawyer reasoned, but Kate just shook her head plunging her tongue into his mouth as they continued, gasping in-between breaths she exhaled....

Then she started to unbutton his shirt.

"I'm not jealous anymore cause I saw them together and I wasn't angry...Im not jealous anymore cause there was only one person I wanted to be with this whole evening...Im not jealous cause..."

Sawyer met her gaze apprehensively watching, but not daring to break it, and Kate's fumbling hands finally at rest, she paused for a moment before continuing...

"I'm not jealous because I'm in love with YOU Sawyer!"

Not wanting to blink, he just looked at her awestricken and Kate watched him apprehensively. She was nervous about his reaction to this. Would he shut her out again, would he take back his earlier pledge to her?

Sawyer smirked and watched her with that twinkle in his eye, noticing a self doubt there, a humbleness. His dimples deepened and he reached his hand down around the waist of her top...

"Baby it's about fucking time!"

There undeniable sigh of releif from Kate and she smiled at him. Sawyer smiled back and pulled her down to him once more.

"Now c'mere!"

He replied as they both stripped one another like their lives depended upon it. Kate smiled back kissing him, the relief strewn across her face. She didn't spontaneously combust, although they would probably come close in a little while as Sawyer worked his way around her body.

They ravaged one another right there on the jungle floor. Nothing but the wild bird calls and crickets to provide background music. Much like their first kiss. A time when neither one of them new what they were getting into, but the collision shook up their world, to the very core. When Kate screamed his name, his real name into the jungle this time, Sawyer fell into the abyss with her. Both of them spinning into a mystical world that they now shared.

When it was all over and Kate finally peeled herself away from Sawyers sticky skin she grabbed his hand and pulled him up to stand with her. Both of their naked bodies drenched in the soft moon light and he kissed her lips gently. She breathed him in sighing in perfect bliss as her body tingled.

He pulled away and asked her...

"So now you gonna finally move in with me?"

Kate gave it some thought for a moment , smiled and shook her head, replying....

"No!"

He tried not to look hurt, fixing his gaze to the ground, but Kate was just staring at him. He looked confused and Kate continued raising her eyebrows as she met his crushed gaze...

"But you can move in with me James!"

And the lights of hope in his eyes were back. Kate smiled and she kissed his lips softly. Shoving her legs back into her pants, she grabbed her tank top and started to rush past him, Sawyer could barely take in what she was doing before she looked back and chided...

"C'mon Sawyer...Race you home!"

Shaking his head Sawyer rolled his eyes and grunted. He hadn't even gotten one foot in a pant leg yet.

It was just like her to race ahead of him without warning. Sawyer realized the outcome of her little race was inevitable, and he didnt even have a chance with Kates head start. But when she said home, he knew he didnt need to worry about whos tent they ended up in. Her words still ringing in his head "C'mon Sawyer...Race you home!"

"Not if I'm already there" He replied quietly under his breath. Watching Kate's brown mane flop off into the brush.

She was home to him.