The next morning Kate woke from a horrible nightmare. Ever since she had gotten in trouble her nightmares usually were made up of visions of the FBI catching her, or her stepfather burnt alive coming back to get her though the ashes. Lately she hadn't been sleeping, nor dreaming much. Sometimes she would dream normal typical things that she wouldn't remember in the morning. Sometimes her dreams would be about the island…and the others.

But this nightmare was different. She dreamed she was standing in a beautiful nursery somewhere. She dreamed the windows were open and she could see the ocean. A warm breeze blew in blowing the beautiful curtains in and out. In the background the sound of crashing waves and birds crying filled the air. Kate looked around at the nursery before spotting the crib. It was handmade from beautiful white wood, a mobile hung above it with strange bird figures. Kate slowly approached it before she drew in a quick breath.

Laying there was her baby.

Somehow she knew just by looking…that it was hers. The baby was a newborn, bundled in blankets and sleeping. Kate's eyes glittered with tears as she stared down at it. Looking, all the worries of her past and of this island melted away. Just by looking down at the baby a sense of peace overwhelmed her as she controlled herself from not crying out with joy. Leaning down she gently picked the baby up and held it in her arms. She couldn't believe it. Smiling, she held the baby before it's eyes opened and stared up at her.

Beautiful brown ones…like Desmond.

She stood there, holding the baby and smiling.

She was a mother.

That's when Desmond in her dream came up behind her. His face was freshly shaved and his eyes were sparkling with happiness. Smiling, he wrapped his arms around her thin waist and rested his chin on her shoulder looking down.

"She's perfect isn't she?"

Kate smiled.

"She sure is…like a little angel."

That's when the horrible sound came. The same exact one from the hatch. Desmond's eyes looked up and panic washed over his face.

The mobile that hung from the crib slowly began to transform into flickering numbers turning into weird unknown red shapes. It began to count down and spin.

"No…"

"Desmond?"

He let go of her and by the time she turned he was gone. Searching the room she didn't see any doors, the sound became louder.

"Desmond!"

She yelled, scared out of her mind as the sound began to build. Looking down she nearly screamed when all she found in her arms were a pile of empty blankets. Scared, she looked for her baby.

That's when she looked down at her jeans and saw the blood stains soaking through.

That's when she began to scream.

Shooting awake, she snapped up and woke Desmond who had been holding her the entire night. Kate's eyes were wide and scared as they looked around the hut and at the opening that let in early morning sunshine. The sound of the ocean was still there.

"Whoa!"

Desmond said, his grip tightening on her. Kate began to breath heavy before Desmond made her lean back against him.

"Shhhh…it's all right it was just a dream…"

He softly whispered in her ear. Kate blinked a few times and finally truly came awake. Sitting there for a second her eyes adjusted to the new light and suddenly all at once the reality of what happened hit her all at once. Breathing heavy, she looked down at herself covered in blankets. She was still very sore and cold.

That's when her face crumpled and she began to cry.

She was awake now…

They were still on the island and in danger, she was still on the run…and she had lost her baby.

Completely breaking down she began to sob. Desmond held her and pressed his face against hers before kissing her cheek. Tears ran from her eyes as her helpless cries began to get broken up. The horrible truth of it all seemed to finally set in. She was awake now and everything was clear.

She had a miscarriage.

Thinking of the baby, she was ashamed to know that the entire time since she discovered she was pregnant…she hadn't wanted it at all. With everything that was going on a baby was the last thing on her mind…most of all from a one night stand with Desmond.

After she had told him she began to worry even more. She had no idea whatsoever for what she was going to do. She knew she couldn't have a baby…she wasn't meant to be a mother, and most of all on this horrible island. Besides the constant worrying, and thoughts of how messed up things were with Desmond…she hadn't really thought about it.

Other then the morning sickness and catching Desmond staring at her…she hadn't really thought of being really preprint and what that meant. Now none of that mattered.

The baby was dead.

She could feel she was still bleeding and a dull ache was coming from inside her. Still crying, she laid against Desmond as his hands laced around her and he kept gently kissing her cheek and softly whispering that she was all right. Finally once the tears stopped, she cleared her throat.

"The baby…"

"Don't Kate…save your strength."

"I…I lost the baby…"

"You didn't do anything…it just happened…"

Kate shut her eyes controlling any last tears she had, she felt too weak to really do anything else.

"It was my fault…I didn't care enough so I lost it…"

She began crying again as her words broke off, that's when Desmond held onto her even tighter.

"Kate it was an accident…it just happened…"

Kate felt helpless as she laid her head back against his chest and stared ahead as tears kept rolling down her face. Then a horrible cramp came and she cried out. Desmond's eyes became alarmed as she cried out and held onto herself.

"What's wrong? Should I get Jack?"

"No…it's just…"

The pain came again and the terrible thought came to her that right now in fact…she was still loosing their baby. Desmond's hand squeezed hers as he pressed himself against her and the two of them fought through Kate's terrible pain. The cramp began getting worst, almost like a contraction. Desmond pressed the side of his face against hers, both sweating and beyond exhausted. He whispered to her while holding her, saying that she would be okay. Shutting her eyes she began shaking her head. Finally the cramp began to fade and she settled down, letting her body relax. Laying there, she then heard Desmond crying.

He kissed the top of her head before her hand went into his and squeezed it. As another dull pain came she squeezed it even harder. Finally within a half an hour she had settled down.

Around that time Jack came, asking Desmond to leave…right away Kate held onto him, making sure he wouldn't move.

"No…I want him here."

Kate said. Right away Jack's eyes met hers before he nodded and looked away. Desmond meanwhile still sat in the same position behind her, holding her with tired and beaten eyes. Jack then lifted the blankets and checked her bleeding. Kate shut her eyes the entire time, she felt ashamed and dead. Desmond meanwhile kept holding onto her, watching Jack.

Jack who also found himself with shaken hands, cleaned Kate up and but fresh blankets on her. The cramps were dulling now and Jack told her before the evening they would most likely stop all together. The bleeding on the other hand might take until the night, maybe later. She had lost a lot of blood.

Bringing in some fresh fruit and water, he told Desmond to make sure Kate had some of this for her strength. After checking her over he came her some diced up green plants from Sun, which was supposed to stop the bleeding and ease the cramps.

Jack's then rough hand gently touched Kate's face and told her with straight eyes that she was going to be all right. Kate could barely look at him, instead she turned her head away against Desmond's chest and softly began to weep. Desmond meanwhile gently kept rocking her. Jack watched the two of them and felt depressed. Hope was beginning to fade away here.

Leaving, Jack said something about checking on her later with Sun and that she needed her rest.

Laying there in complete silence after Jack left, Kate opened her eyes and wiped her tears away. Desmond meanwhile simply sat there holding her and looking ahead.

After about an hour or so the cramps began to dull and Kate found herself able to sit up against Desmond. Without saying a word he gave her the bottle of water and a few pieces of fruit along with the plant Sun gave her. Kate slowly ate before finally dropping her hands and sighing.

"I don't even know you Desmond…but I really am so sorry."

Desmond sighed, he knew it was false hope with what happened with Kate. After everything that had happened to him, after everything he had lost, and how the hatch had changed him…he thought this was really his one last escape from the terrible pain that had filled his heart. He loved Penny, and would always…but he knew the chances of him ever finding her again weren't there. He prayed she was someplace happy with a family of her own…and maybe, just maybe had forgotten him.

He prayed he had left her heart.

He knew deep down inside they would never leave this island and he would in fact die here. Looking at Kate he wasn't really sure what his feelings about her were. He hardly knew her, nor paid any further mind towards her until that night on the beach. At first Desmond tried to tell himself it was a moment of weakness…that it was just plain sex.

But he began to have dreams…beautiful ones.

At first he thought this woman in his dreams was Penny, until finally she turned and he was stunned to see it was Kate.

In those dreams he was someplace wonderful. It wasn't the island…or home, it was someplace nice.

Someplace in which there were no numbers or death.

That's when he began to watch her form afar and knew that if he was indeed stuck here…that he had fallen in love with this stranger somehow. Thinking of the baby, Desmond's heart ached. Like he had said before he had always wanted children and had always thought Penny would have been the person he would have had them with. Instead here he was…

He did indeed think if Kate hadn't of lost the baby…he would have been able to show her how much he was willing to love her and their child. He didn't see it as a mistake, it saw it simply as a brief glance at happiness. Thinking of their baby and remembering that day when they stood together in the jungle alone. How he kneeled down in front of her and nuzzled his head against her flat stomach where inside his baby grew. He remembered how badly he just waited to feel some movement…any sign of life.

Desmond then kissed her against her face and sighed before holding her tighter.

"I'm sorry to…"

They didn't say anything that entire time, finally Jack and Sun came in and told Desmond to get some fresh air and maybe something to eat. Desmond's eyes remained on Kate, scared to leave her. Noticing that, Jack rested his hand on Desmond's arm and told her she was going to be okay. Slightly nodding, Desmond looked down at Kate and saw she was almost asleep again. This had taken a lot out of her.

"Come back in a couple of hours…after she's slept okay?"

"All right brother, thanks again…"

Desmond left the hunt and began walking down the beach. His head lowered and his hands stuffed in his pockets. Never before had he really felt this alone. His thoughts tried to think of Penny…but he pushed them away.

Approaching the camp he saw everyone was going about their day as if everything was perfectly normal. Watching them from afar Desmond saw Claire with her baby and his heart sank. For a brief moment he saw himself on the beach with Kate and his baby, laughing and teaching it how to walk. Shutting that from his mind, he took a deep breath and could all ready tell everyone would be looking at him differently.

That's when something in the sand caught his eye. Bending down he dug away some of the sand and almost gasped. Lifting it out, he dusted the sand away from it's cover and stared at it in awe. He read the title.

"Charles Dickens Our Mutual Friend"

Holding the book in his hand he nearly cried. Opening it, he was expecting to find Penny's letter. Instead he found nothing. Flipping through the pages he had no idea how on earth it got here. Standing there holding the book, he somehow felt a strange feeling of hope. Holding onto the book tightly he closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

He would fix things…and he would find a way to save them.

Just then Sawyer approached him with anger flashing in his eyes.

"Well, well, well…if it isn't mister buttons."

Desmond opened his eyes and saw Sawyer coming over. This was the last thing he wanted. Sighing, he simply stood still as Sawyer walked over to him.

"What's that you got here? Book?"

Desmond stared down at the cover, his thumb rubbing it with love.

"Yes…one of the greatest."

"Ever read it?"

Desmond look up and didn't answer, instead he sighed and walked past Sawyer and towards the camp. That's when Sawyer's hand grabbed his arm, stopping him. Desmond turned as Sawyer glared at him.

"Listen buddy…I don't know what your deal is but I want you to stay away from Kate you understand? You've done enough all ready."

"Since when did you become her keeper?"

Sawyer then swung his arm and punched Desmond straight in the face. Knocking him down into the sand he tasted the terrible copper taste of blood bleeding from his lip. Sitting there in the sand he looked up at Sawyer as he leaned down towards him. His voice lower and with hate…

"I'm glad she lost it…nothing good could of come out of that."

That's when Desmond's face crumpled up and he lunged at Sawyer catching him off guard. Screaming he began to throw him down onto the sand and punch him over and over again. Sawyer tried to defend himself but Desmond was going crazy. Screaming he kept punching away at Sawyer before two strong hands ripped him off him and threw him backwards into the sand. Taking a second to adjust, Desmond looked up and saw Sayid and Locke.

"What the hell is going on here!"

Sayid yelled. Sawyer sat up in the sand holding his bloody face before spitting.

"Son of a bitch you broke my nose!"

Desmond tried to control his breathing while wiping away the blood that had formed on his face as well. Both men glared at each other before Sayid took out his gun.

"Get control of yourselves!"

Sawyer stumbled to stand up before he pointed at Desmond who still was laying in the sand.

"Your next you bastard…"

Sawyer mumbled before walking away, his head down in defeat. Sitting there without saying a work, Desmond was helped up by Sayid and stood there brushing the sand off him. Touching his bleeding lip, Desmond had no more strength to fight. He was exhausted. Looking down he saw his fallen book and picked it up. Dusting away the sand, he held the book tightly before Sayid moved in closer.

"Desmond…nobody will say anything back at camp, I've all ready had a talk with everyone…it's not their business."

Desmond slowly nodded, he was thankful for that. He knew that everyone would be talking about what happened and about him behind his back. He could all ready see the pity filled glances and awkward moments after this. He knew nobody would look at Kate or himself the same again.

But he just didn't care. Shuffling back to camp, he could all ready see people looking. Hugo walked over, his eyes uncomfortable.

"Hey Desmond…"

Desmond went over to his tent, he wanted to sit for awhile.

"Hi Hugo…"

Desmond kept his head down as he walked.

"Saw you and Sawyer going at it…you okay?"

Desmond shrugged before taking a seat underneath his tent. Hugo stood there for a second trying to decide what to say next. Finally after clearing his throat he looked down at Desmond and sighed.

"Hey…I'm really sorry about Kate's baby."

Desmond looked up and saw that Hugo truly meant it. He had heard that there was a girl who had been killed by accident that he cared deeply for. Looking at him, Desmond saw that Hugo had a pure soul and really meant what he said.

"Thanks brother."

Hugo nodded before walking away.

Left alone Desmond sat back and kept staring at the book.

"All we really need to survive is one person who truly loves us…"

Desmond sighed looking out at the water and nodded. It was true, that's all anyone really needed.

A few hours went by but Desmond sat alone thinking. People past him, often glancing and softly whispering to each other. They were right…word did travel fast.

Finally Sun walked over, her eyes still filled with pity.

"Desmond?"

Desmond looked up before Sun stood before him.

"Kate is awake now, the bleeding has stopped…we just washed up and she want to see you."

Desmond nodded before getting up, taking his book with him. Walking with her the two didn't say a word, birds flew overhead. Finally Sun cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry Desmond."

Desmond glanced over at her and saw she was looking away. He understood why she was acting this way. She was pregnant…and watching a fellow friend have a miscarriage on this terrible island wasn't the best thing for one's nerves. Desmond tried to smile, some slight form of comfort Sun might see.

"Thanks sister…it means a lot."

They then reached the hut. Desmond went inside first.

Kate was sitting up now, the color had returned in her face. Still covered up with blankets, she was propped up against some airline pillows and drinking some water. Jack meanwhile sat beside her. Desmond right away stopped in the opening before Kate's eyes met him.

"Hey Desmond…"

Jack then got up, brushing away the sand that was on his clothes, he then looked closer at Desmond.

"Wow, that looks like a pretty bad cut…"

Jack was looking at his lip. Taking a second, Desmond then knew what he was taking about and touched the now slightly tender cut on his lower lip. Shrugging he tried to smile again.

"It's nothing really…"

Kate looked Desmond up and down with worried eyes. Jack looked as well before nodding.

"Well let me take a look at that later on okay?"

"Sure brother, thanks."

Jack nodded before leaving the two of them alone. For a moment they could hear Sun and him walking away. Kate simply sat there sipping her water while Desmond tried to think of the first thing to say. Finally she broke the silence.

"What's that you got there?"

Desmond looked down in his hands and saw the book, going over he sat down beside her and handed it over.

"Long story, but…it's pretty much my only hope I have left."

Kate looked at the book's cover and flipped through the pages.

"You like to read?"

"I love to read…awhile back I had gotten into some trouble, felt pretty low…this book gave me hope."

"What's it about?"

Desmond smirked.

"Well…I haven't quite finished it yet."

Kate looked up, her eyes sparking. Desmond then reached over and placed his hand on her arm.

"You okay?"

Kate looked over before biting down on her lip. Staring down at the book, Desmond first thought she wasn't going to answer. Finally her eyes lifted and she looked at him.

"I'm fine I guess…"

Kate sat up more before rubbing her arms, Desmond looked over.

"You cold?"

Kate slowly nodded. Desmond then went over to her, sitting right beside her and putting his arm around her shoulder. After a few seconds Kate settled in next to him and laid her head against his shoulder.

"Remember the first time we met Desmond?"

Desmond stared ahead before a dry laugh escaped his throat as he faintly smiled.

"Sure I do…I held a gun to your head."

Kate smiled as well before sighing and looking up at him.

"Well…maybe that was a sign."

"A sign for what…I was going bloody mad down there and I was scared…"

Kate shrugged.

"Maybe a sign to show that we shouldn't of been together."

"What?"

"I don't know…makes no sense, but that night on the beach…"

"Kate don't…"

"No…I have to…if I don't say it now I never will."

Desmond looked down at her, he saw how serious she really was. Sitting up slightly, she looked him in the eyes.

"Desmond…I don't really know how to feel about this…It happened so fast."

"You think it was a mistake?"

"Don't you?"

Desmond looked at her.

"You getting pregnant…that was a mistake?"

"Desmond come on, it was one night. I know you still love that girl Penny…and you always will."

"And what about you?"

"What about me?"

"Jack…Sawyer?"

Kate shot an angry look at him.

"They have nothing to do with this…I mean my entire past…"

"I thought we both said we were tired of looking in the past?"

"Desmond…look at where we are, I was taken by those people just a few months ago…people are dying left and right, things keep getting stranger…and I truly don't know if we'll ever leave this island."

"What does that have to do with us?"

"Desmond…there is no us."

Desmond just looked at her, any smile whatsoever that was in his eyes faded away. Kate looked at him before brushing some of her fallen hair away.

"Me loosing this baby…it's just a sign."

"For what?"

"That we're not supposed to be together…come on Desmond, you really didn't think we had something?"

Desmond looked down, trying his hardest to control his anger. Looking at her, his eyes seemed darker.

"What we had…was a baby, and just because we're both hurting doesn't let you talk that way."

"Desmond we didn't even get a chance to talk things out, maybe it was just meant to be…I mean I lost the baby, it isn't coming back."

That hurt Desmond worse then anything. Shutting his eyes for a second he sighed. Kate looked up at him worried, she was scared she went over the line with him.

"Desmond, listen I'm sorry…"

"I really would of taken care of you…"

Desmond was able to choke out, still not opening his eyes. Kate looked up at him, her eyes also filling with tears.

"I know you would have."

"Ever since that night…ever since you told me you were pregnant, I guess I was able to finally let go of things and look at the future. This island didn't seem that bad anymore…neither did my life, all I could think about was you and the baby."

Kate was touched, nobody had ever said anything like that before to her.

"I'm sorry Desmond…it just wasn't meant to be."

"Piss on that!"

Desmond snapped, his eyes now open. Kate watched him and could see he was upset. Her hand went over into his and held it tightly.

"I guess things just happened too fast, before we could even catch up with it."

Kate leaned up, trying her hardest to sit up. Moving in close she touched his chest through his opened shirt and felt his heart racing. Looking at him a strange odd comforting feeling came, a feeling she had never felt before. Remembering that night they had made the baby, all she could see were flashes of the stairs above them and him kissing her in the sand. She knew he was different…

He wasn't Jack or Sawyer.

He was special.

She knew that hatch had done something to him. She had heard some rumors since she had gotten back to camp that something had happened to him when the hatch blew. That he saw flashes or something like that. Not believing it, she now wondered if it was true. No other man could read her that well…and they were still distant strangers.

Distant strangers who had both lost a child.

Kate looked at him and she knew…

She loved him.

"Desmond…"

She softly whispered. She knew nobody else in the entire world other then Desmond would know the pain in her heart she was feeling right then. Leaning in closer she nuzzled up against his neck and felt his beard brush up against her. Desmond looked down at her with uncertain eyes before Kate rested her hand on his chest…right over his heart.

"Kate what are you…"

She then kissed him.

It was gentle and slow. Desmond was suspired as her lips softly touched his and then parted. Drawing back her eyes met his.

"I would of done anything not to have lost that baby…I'm so sorry Desmond."

Desmond stared at her and for a moment tried to remember what his dear Penny's face looked like. Instead all he could see was Kate, and knew she truly meant what she said. Leaning down he softly kissed her back before resting his forehead against hers. Their eyes locked before his hand went over hers against his chest. Smiling, Kate looked down at the difference in size and in color. Smiling, she sat there and even though at that instant all hope seemed to be lost, he was still here.

Desmond's free hand gently brushed up against her face and he smiled at her.

Shortly before sunset Desmond carried Kate out of the hut and further down the beach away from everyone. Kate was still pretty weak and simply laid in his arms with her arms draped around his neck as they walked. Birds cried overhead as the sky began to change color. Walking further towards shore Desmond kept looking down at Kate before laying her down with care and love. Sitting behind her he let her lay in-between his legs and lay against his upper half as they did in the hut. Sitting there in the warm sand both stared out at the crashing waves.

They sat there for awhile not saying a word, simply sitting together and watching the sunset. Kate daydreamed about what really would of happened if she hadn't lost the baby. So many different thoughts spun in her head it nearly made her sick. She still knew they were in danger, and it was only a matter of time before the others came for them.

But right at this moment, as horrible as yesterday had been…Desmond was here with her.

Taking her hand, Desmond began to kiss her fingertips and softly sing in her ear. Kate listened, faintly smiling before falling asleep again against him. By nightfall, Desmond carried her back to camp and watched her sleep.

Sometime in the middle of the night he went out of the hut for fresh air. The entire beach was silent and thin moonlight fell from the sky.

Looking up, Desmond held his book and prayed.

"Please God…don't take her away to…please…"

With that he went back inside and laid beside Kate.

He didn't sleep for a very long time.