"Speed limits exist for a reason Miles."

"You know, you really need to loosen up and live a little."

"First I have to survive this drive. Slow down before you get us both killed." He kept his gaze out the window but he knew Miles was rolling his eyes. The car, however, did slow down. "Thank you."

"Sorry, man. You're right."

They continued on in silence for a while before Miles tried to start conversation again.

"Hey, you know what you need?"

"To remember not to let you drive next time?"

Miles laughed. "No, that's not it. You need companionship."

That got Richard's attention away from the window. "Excuse me?"

"I'm just saying you've been alone for a long time."

"I was hardly alone on the island."

"You know what I mean."

"We are not having this discussion."

Miles just shook his head but let the subject drop. "You ever eat at a greasy spoon?"

"A what?"

"A greasy spoon. You'll love it, trust me."

"It doesn't sound like a place I'll love."

"You will. If you don't, I'll take you to the House of Pancakes."

"That's a comfort."

"Just...trust me. You'll like this place."

It wasn't much longer before Miles pulled into a parking lot and Richard found himself peering at the establishment in question. "This doesn't look bad."

"I told you you'd like it."

They went inside the half-empty diner and sat themselves in a corner booth. A waitress in her late 50's came over with two menus which she sat on the table. "Good morning. Mr. Alpert, nice to see you again. It's been a while. Can I get you both some coffee?"

"Yes, thank you," Richard said. As soon as she walked away the corner of his mouth turned upwards in a grin as Miles leaned forward.

"You've been here before? Why didn't you-"

"Here you are, sugar," the waitress said, setting down two cups of hot coffee. "You know what you want or do you need a minute to look over the menu?"

"I think we need a minute, Mari."

"Take your time."

Miles waited until Mari was out of earshot before continuing. "Why didn't you tell me you'd been here before?"

"How could I when I didn't know where we were going? And this is hardly a greasy spoon. Decide what you want to eat." Richard picked his menu up, still slightly grinning as he could feel Miles' glare through the laminated plastic.

After a few minutes Miles put his menu down and Richard did the same. "I cannot believe you've not only been here before, but the waitress knows your name."

"When I had to leave the island on business I would eat here. It's near Mittelos so it was convenient."

"Wait, is this place part of-"

"You two ready to order?" Mari asked as she came back over, looking to Miles.

"Yeah, I'll have the waffle combo with my eggs over medium and my bacon crispy."

"And you, love?"

"I'll have the blueberry pancakes and a side of eggs, scrambled."

"You got it."

Miles leaned back in the booth and glared at Richard. "This is part of Ben's off-island network, isn't it?"

With a slight sigh, Richard took a sip of his coffee before answering. "Yes, Miles, it is...or rather, it was part of the off-island network. Now I guess it just...is." And suddenly it was just one more reminder of the life that was and would never be again.

"Sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about. What's done is done."

Miles smiled slightly. "Whatever happened, happened."

"Exactly."

The door jingled as another customer came in and footsteps approached them.

"Well hell, how come I didn't get invited to breakfast?"

"Good morning, James," Richard said, smiling and turning his head in the direction of the man that was walking towards them.

"Morning boss. Morning Enos," he quipped as he reached the table. "Should I be worried?"

"No, no, of course not. Please, join us." Richard motioned towards the table and Sawyer accepted.

Miles scooted over so there was room for Sawyer to sit. "Haven't seen much of you since..." Sawyer left the comment to Richard hang, for some reason unwilling to finish it. "What's kept you busy besides breakfast with Miles here?"

"I've been fixing up the house I bought."

"You bought a house?"

"Yes, I...I thought I told everybody."

"You didn't tell me. Congratulations."

"Thanks."

"You need a menu, hon?" Mari asked Sawyer as she came over with the food.

"No thank you, ma'am. I'd just like coffee and a cinnamon roll."

"You got it." She put the plates down in front of Miles and Richard and left to get Sawyer what he wanted.

"Have you heard from Kate since you got back?" Richard asked.

"As a matter of fact, I talked to her on the phone last night. She says that they're all doing good, and Aaron is adjusting to Claire."

"I'm glad."

Miles had already started eating and Mari came back with coffee and a cinnamon roll for Sawyer so they all lapsed into a comfortable silence for a while as they ate.

"Can I ask you something?" Sawyer asked when he was done with his roll.

"Of course."

"You got any way of knowing what happened on that island? Any way of monitoring or anything?"

"No, James, I don't. The Looking Glass and the Flame were both destroyed so there's no way for me or anyone to be in communications with the island."

"Yeah, I figured as much but I had to ask."

He looked over at Miles, then drew in a breath. "Jack succeeded in saving the island, and Hugo and Ben are fine. Miles got a phone call from Desmond's wife. He's home with his family."

"Wait a second, when did this happen?"

"I just got the phone call this morning. Richard hasn't called back to talk to Desmond," Miles hastily explained.

"She said that Hugo's fine?"

"Yeah, said him and Ben were the ones that helped him get home."

"Well what the hell you waiting for? Call Desmond."

"To what end?" Richard asked, flustered. "What is it you want him to tell me?" Sawyer opened his mouth as if it to speak, then shut it again, and Richard's expression softened. They all needed some closure and maybe Desmond could provide it. "I'll call him later and tell you what he has to say. Unfortunately I left the phone number at home."

"Thanks. I don't really know what I want Desmond to say but...thanks."

"No problem." Richard managed a smile, and Sawyer did the same.

"That damned island is never going to leave us in peace, is it?" Sawyer asked.

"Maybe we're the ones who can't leave the island be."

"I guess."

"I'll call Desmond and then I'll let you know what he has to say."

"You, umm...you want me and Miles to go with you?" Sawyer paused again as though trying to find the right words. "You have no idea what he's going to say and ...trust me, there's some news you don't want to get alone."

He was touched by the concern in Sawyer's voice. He didn't remember anyone caring about how he would take bad news – and he had gotten a lot of it in his long life – and he found that he really didn't want to be alone. "Sure," he heard himself saying as he nodded his head.

"Thanks. You must think I'm crazy for wanting anything to do with that damn island but..."

"Juliet?"

Sawyer had been staring at the napkin in his hands but at the one word from Richard's mouth made his head jerk back up to look awkwardly at the other man. "I figured maybe...maybe Hugo saw her and she has some message to pass on or...I know it's unlikely but..."

"We all need closure, James."

"She's there on that island and I hate that."

There was no more conversation after that. They got up and left after Mari said she would add their meals to Mittelos' ongoing tab. James got in his car and followed Miles back to Richard's house, and all three of them entered.

"You do realize," Richard said as he motioned for them to sit in the living room, "that whatever Desmond wants to tell me could change everything."

"I buried the woman I love on that island and there ain't a damned thing I can do to get her back. I will never be able to let go of that island because every moment that I'm alive I'm reminded that Juliet isn't here because she died there. I get the feeling you aren't anywhere close to letting that island go either. I remember the look on your face when I gave you Ben after he'd been shot." Sawyer shook his head slightly. "Much as I hate to admit it, Ben saved our asses by having that walkie-talkie. Without it we wouldn't have known to get to the plane and get off the island. And he did save Hugo when he pushed him out of the way of that falling tree. Maybe Desmond knows some way we can get Hugo and Ben off the island."

Richard looked to Miles, who nodded his head. "Okay, I'll make the phone call." He was relieved when neither of the men followed him out to the kitchen where he picked up the slip of paper and dialed the number on his cell phone. After just a few rings, a female voice answered.

"Hello?"

Taking a deep breath, he replied. "Penelope Hume?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"My name is Richard Alpert."

"Let me get Desmond."