Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Author's Notes: Here is the new chapter. James is back and things are looking good for our favorite couple … but I have to admit that I've caught the PB&J bug, so some of this chapter will be focusing on Claire and Charlie. I hope you guys don't mind!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Cassidy was actually happy, or at least that's how she'd come across over the phone and Kate was relieved to say the least. They'd be back Sunday from their little getaway before the wedding, and would bring Clementine to the hospital in L.A. to meet up with Kate, so that Clementine could visit her daddy.

Clementine would get her dad back!

Richard on the other hand was a different story.

He seemed angrier than Kate could ever recall. He was usually a calm man, but having to deal with James had somehow pushed him over the edge. According to him this had not been planned. This was not supposed to happen yet and not like this at all.

A bit of trepidation ran through Kate just then as she once more clutched her cell phone in her hands.

Why did he do it? Why did James take actions into his own hands and went behind Richard's back?

She didn't want to think about it, not really. The thoughts that had consumed him in order to attempt this on his own seemed just too painful for Kate at the moment.

I miss him so much!

X

Everything just became one big blur from the moment Miles pulled up to the front door of the LA medical center and Kate jumped out.

There was police present and of course they wanted to talk to her, but she could barely hear anything they were saying over the sound of her own heartbeat drumming in her ear, because all she could focus on was that she was moments away from being reunited with James.

And nothing else mattered!

So after an elevator ride that seem to take forever and an equally long half-walk/half-sprint down a hallway, they opened a room door for her and there he was.

James.

She gasped at the sight of him lying there in a hospital bed, bruised and battered. It didn't help that the bright hospital lights made his injuries stand out even more.

She hesitated for a moment … only a short moment before she rushed over to his bed and crawled in right beside him. She got as close as she could while trying not to hurt him and rested her head into the crook of his neck, like she'd done countless times before.

"I missed you so much." She whispered into his shoulder as tears threatened to spill over and everyone and everything around her just disappeared when the sound of her own heartbeat was replaced with the sound of his heart beating beneath her ear.

She didn't notice the detectives leave the room, along with the doctor and nurse. Nor had she noticed Claire and Miles step into the room a little while later, just standing there in awe with the happiest smile on their faces.

X

"Kate?" Claire's small voice echoed in the small space but Kate didn't seem to notice.

She had her eyes closed, and for a moment Claire thought that she might be sleeping, but her breathing was irregular, not soft and even like that of a person asleep.

So, she stepped up beside her and gently brushed the hair off of Kate's bare shoulder, "Kate, you really should eat something. You haven't eaten anything since breakfast this morning … " Claire looked over her shoulder at the open door that lead out to the hallway to see if anyone was within earshot, before she leaned closer to Kate's ear and whispered, "It's not good for the baby, you really need to eat."

The baby!

Kate's eyes opened and she looked back at her friend who gave her an encouraging smile, "Okay, but I'm not leaving him."

"You don't have to; I got you a few sandwiches from the cafeteria downstairs."

Claire held out her hand and Kate took it, pulling herself up and off of the bed. Standing, she leaned over once more and brushed his hair back before she kissed him softly on the lips.

"I wish he'd wake up." She said as she sat on the chair Claire had pulled up for her.

Claire nodded, "The doctor said they gave him a sedative."

Kate raised her eyebrows, confused, "They told you?"

Claire shrugged, "No, they told you while I was standing right there, but I figured you weren't listening."

"Oh." Kate replied and began to unwrap her sandwich. "Did they say if he asked for me?"

"They didn't say, at least not while I was around."

Both women ate their food in silence, while Kate couldn't take her eyes off of her husband, waiting for any sign that he was waking up.

Claire brought her out of her thoughts when she spoke up, "So, what's gonna happen now?"

Kate looked at Claire, "What do you mean?"

"Well, it's just a matter of time before the press will find out, if they haven't already, and then all hell with break loose. And the police, they're going after the lab that did the DNA testing … I realize you didn't listen to anything they said to you earlier, but they want to excavate the remains."

Kate was just stunned and overwhelmed, "What do you think I should do?"

Claire stared at James lying there for a long moment before she looked back at Kate, "I think we should call Richard and do what he says, because … he's the only one that can make all of this work out the way it was supposed to."

"You're right." Kate nodded and wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin. She gathered up her trash and headed for the bathroom to throw it away. As she stepped up to the sink, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.

Oh wow!

Her cheeks were tear streaked and her eyes were puffy from all the crying. She washed her hands and knotted her hair in a bun to splash a bit of water in her face. She did so carefully, not wanting to leave water stains on her bridesmaid gown. She pulled a few paper towels from the dispenser and dapped at her face before she gave herself another critical look in the mirror.

Sticking her head out of the door, she looked sheepishly at Claire, "Is Miles still here with the car?

Claire nodded back at her, "Yeah, why?"

"I think I should get out of this dress before I ruin it, and clean myself up a bit."

Claire smiled and got up, sandwich wrapper in hand. "I can go get your stuff out of the car, if you want."

"That would be great." Kate smiled gratefully at her friend before she stepped back over to the bed and clasped James' hand.

Claire threw away her trash, washed her hands and reappeared, "After you're done changing, I can take this dress home for you and get you some things from you house, too."

"Really?" Kate looked up, "Thank you so much Claire … I know it's silly, but I-I just don't want to leave him."

"I don't think it's silly at all. I already called my mom and she's keeping Aaron for the night, so I can run some errands for you. And tomorrow morning I'll probably have to run back to Palm Springs with Miles to pick up his credit card that he left behind."

"Tell him I'm sorry about that." Kate answered, "And I'll pay him back, of course."

"No worries, I'll know you're good for it." Miles chimed in just then as he walked into the room, making sure to close the door behind him. "Jimbo make a sound yet?"

"He hasn't woken up." Kate answered and gave his hand a gentle squeeze with hopes of a reaction.

"It's the meds they gave him for the pain and stuff." Claire explained.

"They said he's got road rash all over his back." Miles said as he stepped closer to James' bed.

"Road rash?" Kate asked in shock.

"Yeah, you know, like motorcycle –."

"I know what it is." Kate interrupted him, "But how did he get it?"

Miles shrugged, his eyes went from an unconscious Jim back to Kate, and he swallowed hard before he lowered his voice and explained, "Look, you didn't hear this from me, but I overheard the Doc talking to that Cop that was snooping around and he said that it looked like Jim's been dragged by a vehicle."

"Oh my god." Kate gasped in shock and clasped her hands over her mouth as new tears sprang to her eyes.

"That's what you've been doing out there?" Claire spoke up, "Snooping around, spying on people?"

"Richard said we need to find out what they know, and the both of you've been too busy hovering over him all day."

Kate wiped away a tear that rolled down her cheek and her eyes connected with Miles' again, "Did Richard say anything else about what we're suppose to do or say? They want to dig up his grave to see who's really in there … should I give my consent?"

"He's alive and right here, I actually don't think they'll need your consent … since whoever is in that grave is obviously not your husband."

"Right. I didn't even think of that."

"But anyways, Richard said to keep him posted and that we should stick to the story."

"Which is?" Claire raised her eyebrows in question.

"We don't know shit … that's the story. All we know is that the cops showed up at her house," He pointed at Kate, "and told her that her husband was found dead in a cabin. That's the story and that's all we know."

Kate and Claire nodded in unison and Claire stepped closer to put a comforting arm around her friend, "At least he's home and finally safe, that's all that really matters."

Kate looked from Claire back to Miles and smiled through the tears, "I really don't know what I'd do without you guys."

X

Feeling more like herself again in a pair of jeans and an oversized top, Kate stood and stretched her sore limbs while the nurse checked his vitals again.

The nurse left and Kate pulled her chair closer to the bed once again to be closer to him. She sat like that facing him and ran her fingers through his hair and started to speak, "You know … this feels a lot like déjà vu."

She stared at him, wishing and hoping that he'd answer her with his raspy voice and his trademark southern drawl. It would be like music to her ears right at this moment, but he didn't make a sound.

She glanced at the closed door before turning her attention back to him and rambled on, "So, everybody knows … well, not everybody, but you know our friends, they all know that we're having a baby. Everyone seems to be really happy for us. Claire's real excited about going shopping for baby stuff … I think it's … you know, because she never got to do it with Aaron."

She leaned back and stood, "Speaking of babies, I discovered another side effect … I have to pee all the time now, so ... I'll be right back." And she disappeared into the bathroom.

Claire stepped into the room and looked around for a moment, noting the closed bathroom door she quickly realized where Kate was. She closed the door behind her, and put her purse down in one of the chairs, but as she walked closer to the bed James began to cough.

"Oh my god, Sawyer!" she exclaimed and rushed closer to him as he stirred and began to open his eyes.

"Kate." She shrieked loud enough to wake the dead, the bathroom door flung open and Kate rushed towards them.

"James? Can you hear me?"

He coughed and squinted against the bright lights that illuminated the room, "Son of a …" Then his eyes finally focused on Kate's face, "Freckles?"

She nodded and sobbed through tears, "Yeah, I'm right here."

He coughed again and Kate tried to help him sit up, while Claire quickly poured him a glass of water and offered it to him.

Kate helped him take a sip and put the glass back down.

James groaned in pain as he tried to push himself up to a full sitting position and both Kate and Claire ushered him to lie back and relax but he propped himself up anyways and grabbed Kate's arm rather forcefully.

He was afraid she might run and wouldn't hear him out and he's just not in the condition to run after her, so his fingers encircled her upper arm in a fierce grip that was likely to leave a bruise.

She was shocked by his roughness; he could see it in the way her eyes widen and stared back at him in utter confusion.

But the look of shock was quickly replaced by one of compassion when his words register with her. "I didn't cheat on you."

Claire's chin quivered with emotions and she took a step away from the scene to let them have this moment, and Kate leaned in closer as he loosened the grip on her arm when he realized she was not trying to get away.

Her hands came up to gently frame his bruised face and she leaned even closer to him. "I know. We're good. Everything's good now. You're home."

Her lips connected with his and his hands disappeared in her hair as he pulled her closer to him to intensify the kiss they were sharing.

Kate pulled back and gasped from the intensity of the kiss and her eyes met with his. She blushed and James smirked at her, his eyes sparkling with mischief and his dimples digging deep into his cheeks before he spoke. His voice still rough and raspy, "Damn, I missed you!"

She laughed, cheeks tinted pink and glanced shyly at Claire who looked back and forth between the two, before she stepped closer, "Well, I'm gonna leave you two alone." She leaned in and kissed James on the cheek, "Welcome home, Sawyer."

He smirked at her as well and nodded his head in reply before Claire grabbed her purse and disappeared out of the room.

"You should really lie back down, you know." She urged as she straightened the pillow behind him.

"Only if you lie down with me." He replied earnestly and the smirk had all but disappeared with the overwhelming need to be closer to her.

Without saying anything else, she climbed onto the bed with him and snuggled up to him.

Wrapped up in each other with her head on his shoulder, they lay there in silence for a long moment before Kate spoke up, "The paparazzi are going to have a field day with you rising from the dead for the second time."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead and ran his fingers through her unruly curls, "That's alright, Freckles … we'll survive that too … together."

XXXXXXXXX

"I think I'm gonna go lay down." Claire glanced over at Miles with a shy smile on her lips.

He met her eyes and nodded, "Do you want me to stay over, or …?" The sentence is left open ended and Claire knows he's waiting for her response.

Seeing Kate being reunited with James tonight and the undeniable chemistry they shared stirred up emotions in Claire that she'd been trying to hide, but simply couldn't anymore.

"Do you love me, Miles?"

"What?" Miles answered being caught off guard by Claire's unusual question.

They'd never said those three little words to each other.

Claire sighed, her eyes fixated onto the dashboard before her, "It's just, I like you … you know." She looked at him and their eyes met, "I really like you a lot, but –."

"But you're not in love with me." Miles interrupted and finished her sentence for her.

Claire nodded and Miles sighed in frustration and ran a hand through his hair before he admitted, "I like you too."

"But you're not in love with me either." Claire added on and gave him a sad smile.

His eyes met hers and he nodded in agreement, "But I'm okay with it. I'm okay with what we've got. What we've got is … its good, don't you think?"

Claire thought about it for a moment and shook her head, "I thought about it a lot lately, and seeing James and Kate tonight just brought it all back. Good enough just isn't good enough anymore, Miles. I keep thinking that I'll never love anyone as much as I love Charlie, but maybe I'm wrong … maybe if I don't settle for us being good enough and put myself out there again, maybe I'd find someone that loves me as much as Charlie did … someone that I'd fall in love with as much as I loved Charlie." A tear trickled down her cheek and she wiped it away before it dropped down her chin.

Miles shook his head in frustration. He might not be in love with Claire but he cared for her deeply, he cared about Aaron and he wasn't ready to lose them and what they had. "But what if you're wrong? What if there is no second soul mate out there waiting for you? What if this … us, right here and right now, is as good as it gets? What if … what if we gave this a real chance, then maybe we could love each other?"

Claire shook her head at that suggestion, "I like you so much. I really do Miles, and you've been great with Aaron too, but I just don't feel it, even though I really want to. I want to be happy and have my happily ever after with someone. I owe it to myself … I have to try to find happiness … I have to at least try."

She leaned in and gave Miles a kiss on the cheek and left him sitting in his car as she walked up to her front door and disappeared inside.

Claire toed off her shoes and walked upstairs to her bedroom. She fished her cell phone out of her purse to put it on the charger, glancing at it one more time to make sure she hadn't missed any calls.

She turned on the small TV sitting on top of the dresser for background noise and stripped out of her clothes on the way into the bathroom to take a quick shower.

Claire dried herself off and wrapped the towel around her wet hair before she pulled on an oversized t-shirt to sleep in. Digging in her underwear drawer, she reached into the very back corner and retrieved the folded up piece of paper and the ring.

She sighed and climbed into bed with both items clutched in her hand. Settling back against the pillow she unfolded the piece of paper and stared at it like she'd done a million times before.

The paper was tattered and torn, the words smudged and smeared by water, but it meant everything to her.

#5 The first time I heard myself on the radio

#4 Dad teaching me to swim at Butlins

#3 The Christmas Liam gave me the ring

#2 Woman outside Covent Garden calls me a Hero

#1 The night I met you

Claire carefully folded the paper up again and put it on the empty pillow beside her. She kissed the ring in her hand and slipped it onto one of her fingers, "Goodnight Charlie … I'll see you in my dreams."

XXXXXXXXX

At the same time somewhere in Australia – 3 pm in the afternoon

Liam knocked impatiently once again, when he heard the lock being turned and the door finally opened.

"Long time no see, baby brother." Liam said before he passed by him and stepped into the one bedroom apartment.

"I've been busy." Charlie closed the door again and turned towards his sibling.

The place was a mess. Papers with scribbling on them were all over the place. Gossip magazines and newspaper articles about the oceanic six and oceanic eight scattered throughout the small apartment, and dirty dishes and empty food containers piled up high in the sink, kitchen counter and other places throughout.

Liam shook his head in despair, stepped over a pile of junk to make his way to the fridge, "Karen made something to eat for you."

"Tell her thanks for me."

Liam placed the casserole dish into the fridge and closed it. "I have been trying to call you for days now."

Charlie sat down on the foot of his bed and took a long drag from his cigarette before he answered, "I have been busy."

Liam looked around, "Doing what exactly?"

"I've been writing." Charlie answered defensively, and with the cigarette hanging from his lip, he turned and reached behind him, picking up a notepad from his bed and threw it towards his older brother.

Liam caught it and turned it right side up to take a look at the scribbling on the yellow paper pad. He nodded his head in approval, "Not bad at all."

"Not bad?" Charlie raised his voice, "Those lyrics are bloody brilliant."

Liam pulled out a chair from under the small dining table and turned it to sit on before he tossed the papers back at Charlie. "Maybe they are … too bad you'll never get to sing them because the whole world thinks that you've died."

"No." Charlie exclaimed knowing where this conversation was heading. It was always the same with Liam. Every time he came around he tried to convince Charlie to come forward and reveal himself to the world.

"You're wasting your time, Li, and mine too." He said and began to pace around the small apartment, his fingers shook as he lit up another cigarette.

"There has to be a way, Charlie. Things are very different now. Karen doesn't understand but she goes along with it for your sake … and Megan. My baby girl – your niece – has a right to know that her uncle is alive and well and grow up not just believing that you are just one of her Daddy's friends. And what about her?"

He picked up a gossip magazine that showed Claire on the front page, "Almost four years ago you showed up and told me that you were supposed to die … you cried and said that you were supposed to have died so that she could have been rescued, but –."

"But I didn't die and she didn't get rescued." Charlie explained defensively again. "She got left behind because I didn't die when I was supposed to."

Liam stood now and stepped closer to his brother, "Look at this!" He held up the magazine with Claire's smiling face on the cover, "You said that you wanted to die to save her … then you said that nobody can know that you are still alive to protect her, but baby brother for heaven's sake would you look at her. She's alive and she is well and she still cares about you."

"You don't know that." Charlie questioned Liam's words.

"I do actually. She called me."

"She what … she called you? When?"

"A couple of days ago, that's why I've been trying to call you. I'm going to go see her. She sounds like a fine girl, Charlie. We talked for quite a long time … she told me I have a nephew. She said that the boy is yours, Charlie. Is it true?"

Charlie lowered his gaze and seemed lost in thought as he tried to make sense of everything his brother had just told him. "I wish he was." He finally whispered and his eyes connected with Liam.

X

Charlie sat alone in his bed and reached for his guitar. He mindlessly began to play until his eyes fell onto yet another picture of Claire on the cover of a magazine.

That's when he remembered a song he'd heard on the radio a few times. The lyrics had caught his attention, because they felt so true to how he'd been feeling for a while now … he could've written them himself.

So he began to play that song and quietly sang the words while his mind drifted to the only woman he'd ever truly loved.

"Incompatible, it don't matter though'

Cause someone's bound to hear my cry

Speak out if you do, you're not easy to find

Is it possible Mrs. Lovable is already in my life?

Right in front of me or maybe you're in disguise

Who doesn't long for someone to hold?

Who knows how to love you without being told?

Somebody tell me why I'm on my own

If there's a soul mate for everyone"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

End Notes: I feel like I could end the story here for James and Kate, or should I keep going? Also, what do you guys think about Charlie getting reunited with Claire? Anyone feeling bad for Miles? Please, if you have any thoughts at all, good or bad, any idea's what you'd like to see happening with either character, just let me know. Is anyone interested to see how Kate and James would raise a kid? Should I continue writing Skate? Please leave some feedback, it will only take a minute or two but it would totally make my day! Thanks! xoxo