The next morning Kate woke up to the sun shining directly in her face. Once she crawled out of bed she realized that she felt a little sick and proceeded to run to the bathroom. All this time travel must be getting to me, She thought. After feeling a little bit better, she left the bathroom and headed into the bedroom. Jack was still asleep. He looked so peaceful in his sleep. She loved to watch him. Watch his small, relaxed breaths go in and out. His serious and protective demeanor diminished into a helpless, beautiful man. Her man.

After Kate got dressed, she grabbed an apple and stepped outside. She walked over to Beth's house and knocked on the door. A few seconds later, the door opened and Kate caught sight of Beth's beaming appearance. Kate never really realized how beautiful she was. Everything about her was so familiar. It was like she had known her for years.

"Kate! How are you? You look happy this morning." Beth exuded.

"Hi Beth. Yeah, I'm doing pretty well. Jack and I are finally working things out, so I can't complain."

Beth grinned, trying to keep her happiness inside of her. She didn't want her secret to come out.

"I actually came over to see if you wanted to take a walk, again. I wanted to talk to you. About a lot of things actually."

Beth looked at her for a second, hesitant to accept the offer.

"Come on, it's nothing serious. I just want to talk about certain things in the future. You don't have to answer if you don't want to." Kate assured her.

Beth nodded and followed her out the door. The two walked through the jungle to a creek about a mile away. They sat under a shaded tree and waded their feet in the water. Beth didn't say much. Everything Kate asked her, she answered briefly and to the point. Nothing of substance was communicated. Kate was trying to chip away at her in order to get down to the important facts.

"Beth, what's wrong? I know there is something going on here that you won't tell me. You've been so quiet since we left, and I know this is not how you usually act."

Beth looked up from the water, over to the face of her mother. She thought about telling her the truth, but she couldn't. She didn't have the courage. Not yet. Not here. How would she take it? What would she think?

"I'm fine. Really." Beth said.

She got up and walked over to a tree and began picking at the bark, trying to keep herself occupied.

"You're lying to me. But I just can't figure out why. You're keeping something deep inside and you won't let me in. Let me in, Beth. I can help you with whatever it is. I know you want to tell me."

Beth, with her back to Kate, remained silent. She thought about what she wanted to say. She then blurted out, "I can't. You wouldn't understand. You're better off not knowing."

"Please, Beth…"

"No."

"I can help you."

"Damnit, Kate! Don't you understand? No, you can't! Everything that has happened will happen no matter what. You can't save me as much as you can save yourself."

Kate paused with a shocked look on her face. Both women stared at each other. Both clearly upset and dismayed.

"Beth, I have to know. Please."

Beth broke down. She couldn't contain herself anymore and began to weep. Now was the time. She was going to keep breaking her down until she told her, so it had to be now.

"Kate, what year was it when you decided to come back to the island for the second time?"

"2010, why?"

"It is currently 2030. 20 years later."

"OK?" Kate questioned. She knew what year it was. What was this all about?

"I am 20 years old."

" Right…what are you getting at?"

"Do you remember the story I told you? About my parents?"

"Yes."

"Let me ask you something Kate. Before you left for the island, did you and Jack have intimate relations?"

Kate paused. She thought back. Yes, in fact she did. She did out of anger at Jack for making her come back to the island. Her mind flooded. She took in all of the information that was presented to her and started to draw conclusions.

"Beth, what were your parent's names?"

Beth took in a deep breath, and after a brief hesitation she said:

"Kate Austen and Jack Shephard."

And with that, Kate's expression turned to utter shock and horror.