*This is a continuation of last chapter, just a few years later.

Thanks everyone for the comments!*

There was a knock on the door. Sawyer took off his glasses, put the newspaper down, and got up from his chair. He opened the door just enough to see two people standing in front of him.

"Excuse me sir. I am Lieutenant Paul Hastings, and I found your niece attempting to shoplift at the corner marketplace. This is a warning, but if I ever see her doing anything like that again, I'm going to have to bring her in."

Sawyer gritted his teeth. "I understand officer. I'll take care of her. Thank you."

It had been hard of late taking care of Beth. As she approached 18, Sawyer had a difficult time holding her down. Like her mother, she was a runner and had a mind of her own. You couldn't control her. After Aaron went to college and Beth moved in with Sawyer, because of Claire's clinical mental instability, Beth began to go crazy. She would stay out late, shoplift, and get involved with the wrong crowd. He saw more of himself in her, and that terrified him more than anything.

Beth walked in the door, her back to Sawyer, knowing she was in for it. Sawyer closed the door and took a moment to process everything.

"What the hell were you thinking?" He spat.

"I…"

"How many times do we have to go through this, Beth? You have to stop trying to break the law."

"But…"

"NO. I know everything you do is for the thrill of it. I figured that one out a long time ago. But, I can't keep doing this. I know how you feel, and I know why you're doing this. I do. I was the same way. But, you have to stop this! This is no way for a girl your age to act. I don't care who the hell you are!" Sawyer's voice shook with anger.

"I'm sorry. I am. I don't know what's wrong with me."

"I know that you're angry. I know that not having adequate parents in your life has caused things to turn out poorly. But, Beth, I'm trying here. I told your mother that I would take care of you. And I have to keep my word…for her."

"Why? What good has she ever brought? Just because you are still in love with her doesn't mean she gives a damn about anyone. What kind of mother has a child in prison?" Beth yelled back.

"Hey! Don't you talk about her that way. She was in prison for a reason. A good goddamn reason! And she cared about you more than anything in the world. If you would go visit her, then maybe you would realize that."

And with that, Beth stormed to her room and slammed the door.

Sawyer was beside himself. He had no idea what to do with her. His only thought was to give her time and hope that she would cool off eventually.

Days later Sawyer went to the penitentiary for his monthly visit with Kate.

They met at the same glass window, once a month. It gave both Kate and Sawyer something to look forward too.

"Hey stranger," Kate said as she and Sawyer both sat down, phone in hand.

"Hello, beautiful. How's the jail life treating you?" Sawyer said with a chuckle.

"James, what is it? I can tell something is wrong?"

Sawyer just looked at her and stared.

"How is she, James? Does she want to see me yet?"

"I'm afraid your daughter has a little too much of you in her, Kate. I was hoping she would want to follow Jack's shoes and become a doctor, unfortunately that wasn't the case…" Sawyer tried to break the ice with a joke.

"James, I haven't seen her since she was 8. I miss her so much. All I want to do is talk to her," Kate pleaded.

"I'm sorry Kate, I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon. You might have to wait until she grows out of this stage."

"This is all my fault."

"No, stop," James consoled her. "You are the biggest hero I know, Kate Austen. You saved so many people on that island. I wouldn't have been here without you. And Aaron…Aaron wouldn't be at NYU right now. So don't say that."

Kate breathed in slowly.

"James, none of that matters now. The only reason I have left to live hates me. I am a failure as a mother."

"Things will turn around, I promise," Sawyer said with firmness.

"I sure hope so. For all of our sakes."

Little did they know that at that moment, Beth Austen was boarding a plane headed to Australia. She would never be seen by any of them again…

-Sorry this one was short. More next time!