MOVING ON - THE DIRECTOR'S CUT: THE FINAL MISSING PIECES
These are included in the main story - but I thought some of you might enjoy reading them on their own.

The Long Count

Juliet came home in the late afternoon after having lunch with Rachel and found Kate working in the garden. Kate was wearing an old pair of Juliet's jeans and a tank top. Kate looked up as Juliet stepped out the backdoor, "Hi. How was lunch?" At the instant that Kate finished the question Juliet noticed the sweat gleaming off of her arms. God, she has nice arms, Juliet thought. She was distracted enough to be briefly tongue-tied. Kate joked, "That good, huh?" Juliet shook her head to bring herself back to reality. "Sorry, yes, it was good." Kate smiled and went back to pulling weeds. "Need any help?" Juliet offered. "Sure … but I borrowed your jeans. So you're either going to have to wrestle me for them or just not wear any." Juliet laughed, "Based on our previous mud wrestling experience – I'd probably just get hurt." Kate stood up to grab her water bottle, "You're probably right. So pant-less it is." Juliet raised her eyebrows, crossed her arms, "Any particular reason you're trying to get my pants off?" Kate finished taking a drink, then laughed, "Because it seems unfitting for you to live in Miami – and have legs as white as they are." Juliet rolled her eyes then went inside and came back out wearing a pair of shorts, "If I get burned - you owe me … something." Kate handed her a pair of gloves, "Deal." An hour later, they were squatting next to each other and Kate accidentally flicked dirt on Juliet, who then flicked dirt at Kate. Kate gave her a teasing shove to the side – Juliet shoved back, harder than she meant to and pushed Kate over. When Kate started to push herself back to her feet, she somehow lost her balance. She awkwardly caught herself, "Ugh" she yelped as her back twisted – then fully laid down in defeat. Juliet tried to stop herself from laughing – but couldn't, "You ok?" she finally managed to say. Kate shook her head in disbelief to what had just happened, "Nope." She gave Juliet a playful glare. "I'm so sorry. Did you pull a muscle?" Kate put her palms on her forehead, "Likely." Juliet scooted toward her, "Think you can stand up?" Kate nodded. Juliet took Kate's arm and put it over her shoulder – then they stood up together. Kate winced, "Well - fuck."

Juliet lead her into the bedroom, sat her down on the bed, "Hang on a sec." Juliet disappeared for a minute and came back with painkillers, water, and an icepack. "Lay down on your stomach." Kate took the pills then complied. "What part did you pull?" she inquired. "Lower left side." Juliet gently pushed around until she hit the spot– Kate sucked in her breath. "Right there." Juliet pulled her shirt back down – then sat the icepack on the pulled muscle. "You're gonna be down for the long count." Kate sighed. "You should go back and forth between ice and heat for a while. Want to watch a movie?" Kate nodded. "I'm going to run to the store to get something for dinner – so I'll rent one. Do you need anything?" Kate grunted, "No. Thanks. I'm ok." Juliet returned later with a couple movies. "Comedy or Horror?" she asked as she removed the ice, replaced it with the heating pad. "Comedy." Kate replied, then carefully maneuvered around so she was lying sideways across the bed. Juliet put the movie on, "I'm going to start dinner. I'll come back and check on you in a bit." Kate smiled, "Thanks." Juliet continued, "If you want to change clothes – I can help if you need it." Kate raised an eyebrow, "So now you're trying to get my pants off, huh?" Juliet replied sarcastically, "I can't help it. It's a doctor thing … too bad I don't have any medical gowns." Kate scrunched her nose, "Is it also a doctor thing to laugh when their patients get hurt?" Juliet shook her head and smiled, "Nope, that's pretty unique between me and you." Juliet started to leave the room, Kate called after her, "I can take my own pants off, thanks." Juliet yelled over her shoulder, "… technically you'd be taking my pants off." Kate laughed.

Juliet came in and out, changing back and forth between the ice pack and the heating pad. Kate was secretly enjoying the attention. Juliet was secretly enjoying giving the attention. "You hungry yet?" Juliet said as she started setting up pillows so Kate could lean back against them comfortably. "Are we eating in here?" she asked as she turned her head to see what Juliet was doing. "Yep. Doctor's orders." Kate took off the heating pad and slowly sat up. Juliet left and returned with dinner on tv trays. They finished watching the comedy. "Want to watch the scary one?" Juliet asked as she put the trays on the floor. Kate yawned, "Sure." Juliet switched the movies, then crawled back in bed. "How's your back?" she inquired as she reached behind Kate and pushed around again. "Better – but it's still sore." Juliet could tell the muscle was still tight, "Lay across my lap." Kate turned her head toward Juliet and gave her a confused look. Juliet smirked, "… so I can massage it and you can still see the tv." She moved a pillow to her side of her legs so Kate would have a mostly level surface to lie across. When the movie started to get interesting Juliet moved on from just the sore sport to mindlessly rubbing all of Kate's back. The repetitive, soothing motions of Juliet's hands on Kate's skin put Kate to sleep. Juliet woke her when the movie was over, "It's still early. Do you want to keep sleeping or … " Kate interrupted her, "No, I'll get up." She carefully pushed herself off Juliet's lap. Juliet stood and held out her hand, "Feel better?" Juliet asked as Kate took it and slowly stood. "Yes. Much. Thanks." Juliet smiled. "So what should we do now?" Juliet asked. Kate thought for a minute, "Dessert?"

They decided on frozen yogurt – which they got to go and then drove to an overlook outside of the city. "Boys used to take me here in high school to make out." Juliet said nonchalantly. Kate smirked, "Is that why you brought me here?" Juliet gave her a playful glare, "Well last time I only had to go as far as the bedroom, so driving all the way up here would be an unnecessary effort." Kate laughed, then confessed, "Most of the boys I dated just took me behind the bleachers." Juliet took a bite. "I dated a few of those," she raised an eyebrow, "… I guess I married one of those." She shook her head, "Men. Ugh." Kate laughed again, "What about the gay one in college? Did he wine and dine you?" Juliet nodded and sighed, "He was so romantic. He'd leave me cute little notes on my car and write me songs and bring me flowers. But we pretty much just only held hands and cuddled. God, how did I not know he was gay?" They both laughed. Kate joked, "We pretty much just hold hands and cuddle." Juliet playfully threw her hands up, "Well at least I'm finding out sooner rather than later that you're a gay man. Thanks for telling me now before breaking my heart." Kate smiled and teased, "I would never break your heart."


Stormy Day Sex

They got back in bed as soon as they got home and then continued their cuddling exploration. "This would never work with a guy." Kate said as she rolled on her side to spoon Juliet. "Any time I've tried to just cuddle they always get turned on." Juliet laughed, "How do you I'm not turned on?" Kate smiled, then kissed Juliet's neck, "I guess I don't." She kissed Juliet's collarbone. "You can't keep kissing me and expect me to not get turned on." Kate stopped, then rolled over away from Juliet, "Then you better do the spooning." Juliet slid behind her and teased, "I've been turned on since the car ride, so I think you're out of luck." Kate smiled. Juliet bent her knee, pushed it in-between Kate's and whispered, "We don't have to do anything but lay here." Kate grabbed Juliet's hand. Juliet nuzzled Kate's neck. Kate was definitely thinking of all sorts of things they could do beyond just laying there but at the same time all she really wanted to do was just lay there. She wanted to be held, to feel safe – to take time to process what she could of everything that had happened since her arrival in Miami.

They laid around for hours – sometimes talking, sometimes just thinking. At some point they were facing each other with a hand on the others hip. "Craziest place you've ever had sex?" Kate asked. Juliet smiled, "Easy. The island." Kate laughed, "That doesn't count." Juliet thought for a minute. "The control booth of a rollercoaster – after hours. My high school boyfriend worked at an amusement park. You?" Kate thought for a minute. "Airplane bathroom – during my senior class trip to New York." Juliet looked surprised, "Really? People actually do that?" Kate smirked, "The fun ones do." Juliet playfully rolled her eyes. "Ok. My turn," Juliet said, "How often do you masturbate when you don't have a partner?" Kate was caught off guard. "Um, depends, I guess." Juliet continued, "Have you done it since you've been living here?" Kate raised a suspicious eyebrow, "Are you trying to turn me on?" Juliet smiled, started rubbing her thumb against Kate's hip. "No, but let me know if you are." Kate gave her a playful glare. "Yes, I have. Have you?" Juliet nodded. They revealed to each other the times that they masturbated while thinking about the other. "So while I was doing it in the shower, you were doing it in my bed?" Kate laughed and nodded. "Are you telling me that to turn me on?" Juliet teased. Kate leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. "I'm telling you because you asked."

Juliet had a mile long list of other questions she'd like to ask Kate. She knew isolated facts from reading her file years ago but she wanted the whole story – the reasoning, the intent, the emotion behind - everything. But Kate wasn't much of a talker and Juliet wasn't in a hurry. She could save the intense questions for the times when they seemed naturally pressing. For the time being Juliet was content just to be in Kate's presence – elated to be touching her. Juliet leaned over and gave her a quick kiss back, then another – then was surprised when Kate pressed her hip down, gently forcing Juliet to lie on her back. Kate pinned Juliet down with the side of her knee, then laid her head down on Juliet's chest and continued their questions game, "Favorite spot to be kissed?" She started playing with the hem of Juliet's t-shirt. "My hipbones." Kate pushed up her shirt a little, lightly ran her fingers across Juliet's hipbone. Juliet sucked in her breath. "Your collarbone, right?" Kate nodded and continued to run her hand under Juliet's shirt and along the top of her jeans. Juliet was having trouble determining whether or not Kate's intentions were sexual or still just exploratory – regardless having Kate's hand under her shirt and almost down her pants was driving her crazy in a very good way. "What are you thinking about?" Juliet asked. Kate sat up, rested her hands on Juliet's thigh and said a nonchalant, "You." Juliet smiled as Kate got out of bed and started to leave the room. "Where are you going?" Kate stopped in the doorway, turned around and smirked, "I'm going to get you drunk."

Kate was the one who needed the alcohol – mostly just to relax. She wanted to be able to make the first move but couldn't get past the better option of waiting for Juliet to make it. It was making her anxious. Juliet followed her into the kitchen. Kate grabbed them both a beer. "I don't have to be drunk to make out with you, you know." Juliet joked - then became worried that maybe it was Kate who needed to be. She watched Kate take a long drink. "Drinking and then making-out must just be something only fun people do." Kate joked. Juliet took a drink, "Like the ones who have sex on planes?" Kate nodded, then motioned for Juliet to come closer to her. She put her arms around Juliet's neck, "I don't want to make-out with you though." Juliet raised a concerned eyebrow. Kate smiled, "What I'd like to do is much more involved." She leaned over and kissed Juliet. Juliet broke the kiss, "… well, if I'm drunk – you're free to take advantage of me." Kate laughed then confessed, "I was hoping you'd take advantage of me. I don't know where to start." She took another long drink. Juliet smiled, "You are – I'm going to say it … adorable. And … " she chugged the rest of her beer, then grabbed Kate's hand and said as she lead her back to the bedroom, "… you already started."


The 'Toy' Store

They talked about trying a strap-on for a while before finally agreeing to at least take a look at some at the sex shop around the corner from the gay bar they went to from time to time. Juliet shook her head, "I don't think I want anything purple and sparkly anywhere near my vagina." Kate laughed, "Me either." She pointed out a more realistic option and asked, "Think that's a good size?" She watched Juliet contemplate the question. Kate was getting a kick out of how out of place Juliet seemed to be. She was surprised when Juliet turned to her and smirked, "Too small." Kate turned back to the display, scanned over it again and then picked out another option. Juliet shook her head again, "Too soft." Kate raised her eyebrows and teased, "Ok, Goldilocks. You choose."


Because of an Island

Kate had tried to not fall asleep but sometime after three in the morning, when she only meant to briefly rest her eyes, she dozed off. Drinking most of a bottle of wine might have had something to do with it. Juliet had spent the past four days at a conference in Boston and her late evening flight home had been delayed – later and then later – and when the taxi finally pulled up to the house the sun was thinking about rising. Juliet had spent her downtime in-between meetings mostly thinking about Kate. She called her from her hotel room after she arrived. Kate was in the bathroom, getting ready for bed. "You make it ok?" She asked. Juliet smiled at the sound of Kate's voice. "Yeah. What are you up to?" Kate turned on the bath water. "Getting ready to take a bath." Juliet sat down on the bed, "Are you naked?" Kate laughed. "Sorry. Fully clothed." Juliet laid down on her back and sighed, "Is it crazy that I already miss you?" Kate shook her head and teased, "I'll let you off the hook on the crazy thing – only because I'm exceptionally miss-able."

Kate called Juliet the following evening. "It's weird – sleeping alone." Kate admitted. Juliet agreed and added, "It's really weird waking up alone."

Juliet called Kate on her lunch break the following afternoon. "How's the weather there? Boston is chilly." Kate stepped outside, looked at the cloudless sky, "It's beautiful – almost as beautiful as you."

Kate called Juliet from the liquor store - Juliet was at the airport. "Want anything special for tonight?" Juliet thought for a second, "How about a bottle of wine and a commitment of at least four days of continual sex?" Kate laughed, "I believe I've already committed to a lifetime of sex – and because it's with you, the continual goes unspoken."

Juliet found Kate asleep on the couch. She took a second to admire the scene – the mostly empty bottle of wine, the cell phone on the coffee table, the empty take-out box, the late night infomercial background noise – and Kate in the middle of all of it. She used to be weary of waking Kate after she tried it once when Kate first arrived in Miami and almost got punched in the face. It was easy for Juliet to understand how years of always looking over your shoulder could make anyone a little jumpy. But time had passed and Kate hadn't done any sleepy punching in a long time – so Juliet sat down on the couch and woke her with a quick kiss. Kate opened her eyes, wiped them – smiled when Juliet came into focus. "Hi." Kate whispered as she sat up. "Hi." Juliet whispered back with a smile as she pulled Kate into an embrace. They held each other in silence for a minute – then Juliet pulled back, brushed Kate's hair away from her face and kissed her – really kissed her, then kept kissing. They kissed so long that eventually it became funny – and they the more they tried to keep kissing while laughing, the more they laughed instead of kissed. "I think I missed you more than I missed chocolate on the island." Kate joked. Juliet put her hands on Kate's shoulders and said sarcastically, "That's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me." Kate smiled and yawned, "You must be rubbing off on me." Juliet smirked, then raised her eyebrows while trying to keep a straight face. Kate playfully rolled her eyes when she realized what she said could easily be twisted into being sexual, "Did you always have such a dirty mind?" Juliet stood, pulled Kate up, "Nope. I think I'm making up for lost time."

Kate got into bed, laid on her back – and pulled Juliet down on top of her. Juliet tucked her arms under Kate's shoulders, stretched her legs out. "You feel – so – good." Kate said softly as she ran her hands underneath the back of Juliet's shirt. Juliet turned her head to the side, kissed Kate's neck. "You taste …" she kissed her neck again, "so …" she kissed her collarbone, "… good." Kate closed her eyes, "Mmm." She couldn't stop herself from thinking about how empty Juliet's absence had made her feel. It was a similar feeling to when she had gone back to Los Angeles after the Logan fiasco – like she had a missing piece and everything was slightly askew because of it. Juliet pushed herself up on her forearms and couldn't stop herself from yawning. She couldn't tell if Kate had a contemplative or just sleepy look on her face, "You ready to sleep?" she asked. Kate gave her a sleepy smile and nodded. "You ok?" Juliet wondered. Kate was silent for a second - then leaned up and gave Juliet a quick kiss, "I love you." Juliet leaned down and gave Kate a quick kiss, "I love you too." - then she rolled off Kate onto her side. Kate rolled over and faced her. Kate smiled and then began, "I know we've all ready committed to each other," Juliet interrupted and playfully reminded her, "For life." Kate smiled, "… that we're already committed for life. But it's more than that Juliet. Locke and Jack used to say there was a reason why we were brought to the island. I thought mine was to be with Jack, to raise Aaron but I was wrong. After all of it – after everyone that didn't make it, after all we know about the significance of what they died for – here we are, alive to remember it. You and I - together. Because of an island. I have no doubt that I was there to meet you, to fall in love with you." It took a minute for Juliet to process what Kate said. It was clear when she did because her eyes became glossy and at the same time - she smiled. "I take back what I said earlier. That – was the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me." Juliet whispered. Kate smiled and continued, "There were a lot of times when I didn't think I would ever really be happy – even when I thought I was happy. I felt out of place." Juliet took Kate's hand and laced their fingers together. "But now, I only feel out of place when I'm not with you."

Juliet took a deep breath and then leaned over to start what turned into the most passionate sex they'd ever had – and they'd certainly had a lot of sex. They quickly fell asleep afterwards. Kate woke up in the early afternoon and spent a good ten minutes watching Juliet sleep. Eventually she rolled onto her side away from Juliet and then lifted Juliet's arm up and over her – so that Juliet was unknowingly spooning her. She fell back asleep and woke to Juliet nuzzling her neck. "Good morning." Juliet whispered near Kate's ear. Kate smiled, looked at the clock. "Good afternoon, actually." Juliet pushed Kate's hair aside and kissed her neck, "Doesn't matter. The good part is you." Juliet trailed her fingers between Kate's breasts, then further down. Kate grabbed her hand, "We're never going to get up if you go any further." Juliet smiled, "That's the plan." Kate turned over, pushed Juliet on her back, then straddled her and sat down on her hips. Juliet raised an eyebrow, "Do you think crawling on me naked is going to get us out of bed any sooner?" Kate tried to think of a witty comeback but was distracted by Juliet's breasts. Juliet caught her staring and teased, "You can touch them you know – I guess, if you want to." Kate laughed. "Oh I definitely want to touch them but I'm also starving. Want to go to lunch?" Juliet ran her hands up Kate's thighs, "Like a date?" Kate looked at her hands then gave her a playful glare, "Exactly like a date where you go out first …" she put her hands on top of Juliet's "… and then touch later." Juliet pretended to contemplate the offer then said, "Date accepted. But we should probably shower before we go. Together." She then gave Kate one of the most adorable looks she'd ever given her - then took Kate's hands and put them on her breasts. Kate shook her head. "How does this always happen?" she wondered out loud as she couldn't stop herself from running her fingers over Juliet's nipples. Juliet arched her back and moaned. When Kate's stomach growled she was snapped back to reality. She jumped up before Juliet knew what happened and started putting her clothes on. Juliet rolled on her side and propped her head up with her palm and smirked, "Maybe if you stopped being the love of my life – I wouldn't want you all the time." Kate playfully threw Juliet's jeans at her and smiled, "Maybe you just need to masturbate more."