Thanks for the reviews. ;)

Chapter 40. Moving Forward

"You look beautiful, Kate," a voice behind her said, and Kate tore her eyes from her reflection, signalling for Claire to let go of her dress so that she could turn around.

Juliet was standing at the entrance of the tent they were using as a dressing room, clutching her purse in both hands as she waited to see how she would be received. "Jack told me you were in here," she explained, her smile tentative as she added, taking a step towards them, "I just wanted to say congratulations – I don't think I need to tell you how lucky you are."

Studying her expression, Kate searched her words for hidden contempt, but as far as she could tell, she was being sincere. "No, you don't," she agreed, her voice soft and affectionate, acknowledging Juliet's effort to put the past behind them by regarding her with a genuine smile. "Thank you."

"So I guess I'll see you both out there," Juliet said to break the comfortable silence that followed, fixing Claire with a polite smile as she ducked back out of the tent.

Though she'd agreed to invite her along with everyone else from the island, no one was more surprised than Kate when Juliet replied to say that she was coming; she had assumed that she would be like Sawyer, who'd returned his R.S.V.P form with a brief, scribbled note explaining that he had a commitment that day. She suspected that he was trying to save face; that he just couldn't bring himself to attend; so she hadn't called him on it, and neither had Jack.

When Juliet was gone, Kate returned her attention to the mirror, scrutinising her appearance one last time as Claire moved in to check the claps of her dress.

"You know, as much as I don't hate her, I'm glad it's you marrying my brother today," she confessed, her blue eyes warm as they found Kate's in the glass, sliding the comb that held her veil into her hair before stepping back to admire the effect. "Perfect. You're all set."

Turning to face her, Kate drew her into a brief, excited hug. In the year that they'd been free from the Hanso Foundation's control, Claire had become as much of a sister to her as she was to Jack; after buying a house with more space for their growing family, Jack had signed his apartment over to her so that they would be able to spend more time with her and Aaron.

"Almost," Kate agreed, moving over to the table that held the clothes they'd arrived in, as well as tubes of make up, hairpins and other bits and pieces they'd used to get ready.

There was a car seat at one end, apart from the rest of the clutter; Kate lifted her and Jack's four-month-old daughter out of it, kissing the tip of her nose when she stirred. "Hi, Sammie – you ready to go with Aunty Claire?" she cooed, shifting her into Claire's waiting arms.

"I think she might be the cutest flower girl I've ever seen," Claire said, admiring her niece, who was decked out in a pale blue dress that was identical to hers in almost every way except that she swam in hers.

"If not, then we at least have the cutest best man," Kate reminded her with grin, imagining the tiny tux she and Jack had had fitted for J.J.

At twenty months old, he was tottering around on his own, talking in what almost passed for full sentences; when the time came for her to follow Claire and Samantha, Kate's heart swelled with pride at the sight of him standing at the altar with Jack, his little hand encased in his to keep him from wandering off. He was still young to know what was happening, but after the role he'd played in bringing Jack back to her, she was glad that he was a part of it.

Still holding onto J.J., Jack turned as the music changed and everyone stood for her entrance, his breath hitching when she caught his eye and smiled.

He finally looked happy, like he was right where he wanted to be; as they continued to hold each other's gaze, his face split into the broadest grin she'd ever seen him give, second only to the moment their daughter was born.

After ridding himself of the demons of the past, he had stopped wanting to go back. Instead, he seemed content to keep moving forward: moving on, with her.

"You know, part of me hoped this day would never come," her father said, and as he stepped forward to meet her at the top of the aisle, Kate saw that his light eyes were shining. "At least when you were just living with Jack, I could still pretend you were my little girl."

"I'm still your little girl, Daddy," she assured him, her own eyes filling with tears as she reached up to peck his cheek. "I just grew up."

"I see that," he agreed, taking her in with approval, beaming as he offered his elbow for her to take. "Ready?"

Looking around the beach, at Jack, their children, Claire, and all of their family and friends, Kate grinned, slipping arm through his. "Like you wouldn't believe."

So that's it. I could have written a long, rambling epilogue featuring an endless string of cameos, but since that might be overkill, let's just assume they're all there, except Sawyer, of course. Since it's the end, I hope I can trust you to review -- it's always helpful to hear what people thought of a fic as a whole. Thanks again to those of you who have -- it means a lot. :)

For anyone who's wondering, aside from "Good News", my next project is an as yet untitled one shot I've been turning over in my head since Eggtown. I would have written it before now, but I was sure someone was going to beat me too it! But since no one has, that should be coming along in the next few days. I also have another longer idea, but I haven't got as much time to write at the moment, so we'll see how that goes... ;)