Three months later

Kate found herself sitting on the beach early one morning while the sky turned a beautiful shade of pink and hazel before her eyes. The tide was in, and the sound of the ocean seemed soothing to her ears. It was all ready warning up as a light breeze blew against her. Smiling and digging her feet into the warm sand, Kate tilted her head back and deeply sighed.

Just then she heard ticking.

Kate opened her eyes and looked around. It was still early out and nobody were out of their tents yet. In fact, she had snuck out of bed, slowly slithering out from Richard's arms in order to watch the sun rise and enjoy the quietness of the early morning.

Looking around, slightly puzzled she right away thought of Richard's wrist watch. Usually he took it off before sleeping and left it on the nightstand beside the lantern and his reading glasses. The ticking had been a peaceful sound Kate had gotten used to as she slowly drifted off to sleep each night. But somehow this seemed different…the ticking almost seemed louder then usual.

"Hello love?"

Kate's eyes widened at that voice. A voice she hadn't heard in years. Slowly turning, her heart leaping into her throat she looked up and saw Desmond standing there in the exact clothes he was wearing them they all first left the island in the chopper.

Kate blinked, unable to move.

Desmond grinned, his handsome eyes flashing at her.

"Des…Des…"

Kate couldn't speak, she felt as though somebody had thrown a bucket of ice cold water on her. Desmond smiled before kneeling down to eye level. Reaching out and brushing a piece of her hair away he stared right at her.

"It wasn't a dream love, the bomb worked."

Kate just stared at him as he softly laughed.

"I guess Jack wasn't crazy after all."

Kate finally found her voice, she felt as though she was going into shock.

"Desmond?"

He smiled at her as birds overhead cried.

"I'm sorry I left you love. It's just you were right…my heart belonged to Penny. I'm sorry if I ever hurt you."

"What are you doing here Desmond?"

"I wanted to let you know the truth…and that I'm sorry I never got to see my daughter. I would like to someday…I heard she's beautiful."

"Sydney?"

"I."

Kate felt tears of shock behind her eyes as she shook all over.

"Desmond…what's going on?"

"I think it might take a bit too long to explain that. But what I need you to do now is to wake up."

"What?"

"Wake up Kate."

"Desmond wait…"

"Wake up!"

Just then Kate's eyes snapped open.

She had been dreaming.

Taking a second, she stared up at the roof of her tent. The tent Richard and her had been sharing together whenever they set up camp on the beach or in the fields. Feeling the early morning heat, Kate right away felt uncomfortable. They were planning on heading to the beach next, but as of right now they were all camped out in the valley. This was the area on the island Kate disliked the most. There was little shade and they were right out in the open.

"Kate?"

Kate's mind, still thinking of the dream…how vivid and real it seemed slowly began to fade away. Her heart jumped a few beats before she heard her name again and she came back to reality. Turning slightly, she looked and saw Richard laying there, staring at her and smiling.

"You awake honey?"

Kate blinked and looked around their tent. She remembered it had been an awful hot night, in fact the weather had been very humid lately and Richard had slept in his boxers, while Kate slept in a very thin nightgown that billowed down to her knees. Looking over, she then heard the ticking.

She saw Richard's wrist watch laying on the night stand like it always did. Turning back, she looked at her husband's handsome face and came back to the safe and comfortable world that the dream had shaken for a moment. Laying there, Kate smiled before nodding.

"Yeah I'm awake."

"You were mumbling in you're sleep…like you were having a bad dream."

Kate thought back at Desmond, kneeling down looking at her. How nearly every memory that had begun to fade over the past year all came back at once.

"The bomb worked."

His words rang through her head before she blinked again, Richard laid looking into her eyes. Right away that safe feeling returned, and her heart fluttered with the amount of love she had for this man.

"Was I?"

"Yeah…must have been a pretty good one, baby is kicking up a storm."

Kate looked down at her perfectly round stomach that was underneath the thin fabric of nightgown. She was exactly nine months now and awaiting labor any day. The more the days crawled by the more nervous Richard and her had gotten. Everyone at camp seemed to be holding their breath for the new arrival. The pregnancy in total had been hard, but after the beginning of the sixth month things seemed to calm down. Richard was on edge as always, jumping anytime Kate made a noise or said something in the slightest was hurting her. She thought back at how wonderful he had been and smiled. The last month they had really begun looking forward to the baby. Locke had build them a crib in which stood empty on the other side of their tent. Waiting for their baby to fill it.

Kate felt very uncomfortable being this pregnant. She always had to shift to change positions, and the baby always seemed to be on the move. She felt huge, and very sore and tried whenever she was on her feet for too long. Richard had her mostly on strict bed rest and watched her closely.

Now they were just waiting for the baby to come.

The truth was…Kate was scared.

Looking at Richard's tattoo on his chest, her hand went out and rubbed the side of his shoulder.

"Yeah…I can feel it."

Richard's hand went on her stomach and waited as the baby began to kick even harder. Richard smiled. The latest thing had been whenever Richard placed his hands on Kate's stomach the baby would begin kicking like a madman. Kate joked saying the baby all ready knew who it's daddy was. Richard laughed rolling his eyes anytime this happened, but she saw the amazement and wonder in his eyes whenever it happened. In fact, whenever they were in private he would talk to her stomach, smiling and kissing it.

This made Kate feel proud, knowing how much Richard loved their baby.

The baby started kicking right away by Richard's touch. Kate had been holding back in telling him how uncomfortable this felt with the baby moving so much, but didn't want to ruin that look that came across Richard's face whenever he felt it.

Richard laughed, looking at her stomach before he leaned over and kissed Kate. Smiling through the kiss, Kate wondered why Richard was so excited for this baby? Was it really because this was his first child? She knew that wasn't true. He had told her back when he was his original age his young wife from Spain had died during childbirth along with the baby. She remembered the pain in his eyes when he told her this. And then the rumors. Did she really believe he had an affair way back in the 1970s? She really didn't know. It was possible. Maybe Richard finally saw this as his chance to have a child…to be a father and for once feel normal. She knew he loved her with all his heart.

But Desmond's words kept ringing in her mind.

"I wanna go to the beach today…sit in the sand and watch the ocean."

Richard looked at her.

"It's too far of a walk."

"Come on Richard, I'm going stir crazy…it isn't that long."

"I don't think you're in the right state to be walking across the jungle."

Kate wrinkled her nose while giggling.

"Don't be such a sore sport…come on let's get dressed."

In seconds she was up, holding her stomach as she slipped into one of her tan sundresses. Richard sat up in bed watching her before smiling. Grabbing his wrist watch from the nightstand, he slipped it one and kept watching her. Thinking how beautiful she was.

A few hours later they had reached the beach. By then Kate's feet were throbbing and she needed to sit down. Richard shook his head as he set down his pack.

"I told you it was too long, come on."

Richard lead her over to a soft spot of sand underneath the shade of a palm tree. Having her settle down he gave her some water and rubbed her stomach.

"How are we doing?"

Kate looked out at the ocean before nodding.

"Good…just wanna sit for a while with you, come on."

Kate motioned beside herself as Richard sat down. Slipping her hand into his, the two leaned against the tree and watched the water in silence.

"Do you remember the first time we met?"

Richard dryly laughed.

"How could I forget."

"Near the temple…"

Richard's brow wrinkled before he shook his head.

"What? The first time I met you was when we shot the military and promise you the chopper…remember you cut Ben loose?"

Kate nodded.

"Oh yeah…sorry I thought that was near the temple."

Richard watched her closely before putting his arm around her. Laying her head against Richard's shoulder, Kate drifted off to sleep again. She had been exhausted lately and the heat wasn't doing any better for her.

When she opened her eyes it was dusk. Richard had his torch all ready out and was in the process of getting it ready to light. Kate shifted, feeling the baby move as she yawned. Richard looked over his shoulder at her.

"What time is it?"

Richard checked his watch and then looked up at the sky.

"Almost dark…I feel asleep…and lost track of time."

Kate looked at how beautiful the sky looked and how the stars were all ready coming out.

"It's beautiful out here…"

"Yeah well I don't really like the thought of you walking in the jungle when it's dark out…you might trip over something."

Kate held her stomach smiling.

"We could always just spent the night here?"

Richard looked back at her and smiled as he began working on getting the torch lit. Kate looked around before getting herself up.

"Excuse me for a second, I need to pee."

Richard laughed as Kate went a few feet away and into the bushes. A few seconds later Richard heard her scream. Jumping up, Richard ran over.

"Kate?!"

Kate was standing, holding her stomach as what looked to be water dripping down her legs and into a puddle onto the ground. Richard looked her up and down, his jaw dropped and his eyes big.

"Richard…I think…my water just broke…"

Her words were spaced out as she tried to breath. Seconds later she snapped her eyes shut clutching herself.

"Oh God!"

Richard ran over, holding her.

"What is it?"

"It hurts!"

Kate cried, Richard lowered her to the ground as she began trying madly to catch her breath. Richard held onto her, looking scared to death.

"Richard…the baby is coming…"

Richard looked around helpless.

"Now?"

Kate's nodded as sweat began rolling off her, huffing in and out she looked up at Richard before holding her stomach and snapping her eyes shut.

"Oh God help me!"

"Hold on!"

Richard jumped up running to get his pack and the torch. Running back he saw Kate sitting up against another tree, holding her stomach and crying out. Lighting the torch as quickly as he could, Richard stuck it into the ground so he could get enough light. Kate shut her eyes again crying.

"It's never been this bad before! Something is wrong!"

"Shhhh, it's okay Kate just breath."

Kate kept crying, her face turning red as she held onto herself. Richard looked around the dark beach and knew there was nobody to help them. Positioning her, he made her spread her legs as he kneeled down and took her hands.

"Kate how far apart are the pains?"

"Their coming quick! It's coming!"

She cried out before looking right at him.

"Help me Richard! Please help me!"

Richard felt himself shake, looking at his wife's pain filled face in the flicking light. Using his hands, he could feel the baby and saw there was all ready blood…a lot of it.

"Okay Kate, I need you to squeeze my hand and start to push."

Kate shook her head.

"No…I can't."

"Come on Kate push hard! Now!"

Kate bore down, snapping her eyes shut before pushing with all her might. Clutching onto Richard's arm she cried before stopping for a second and trying her best to gasp for air. Richard rolled up his sleeves and tried to get a better look.

"Okay Kate again push!"

"It hurts!"

"I know it does baby, but push! Push for me!"

Kate pushed again, this time even harder. All the color now out of her face. Crying, she clung onto Richard before trying again. Her cries filled the empty night air before she tilted her head back.

"Something is wrong…I can feel it."

"Nothing is wrong Kate, keep pushing…come on!"

Kate pushed again, Richard saw more blood.

Feeling the baby, he knew in just a few more pushes it would be out. Kate kept gasping even harder for breath. Looking at Richard, she tried her hardest to focus. This was their baby that was coming. But Desmond's words kept coming back, playing over and over again in her mind.

"The bomb worked."

"Push Kate!"

Kate pushed again, this time with all her might. Screaming, Kate bore down and then gasped out for air as the baby slid out into Richard's blood soaked hands.

Right away it's cries filled the air. Richard looked down amazed as it squirmed and began crying at the top of it's lungs. Speechless, he stared down at it before lifting the baby and showing Kate.

"It's a boy!"

Kate tried her hardest to look at it, but the pain seemed to be getting worse, she felt herself getting short of breath and a horrible ache was coming from inside of her. Much like Ben's mother nearly forty years ago…Kate knew right away she was dying.

Richard held the baby, amazed with tears of joy in his eyes. Looking down at Kate, he saw all her color was gone, her eyes were half open and very cloudy.

"Kate?"

"It hurts Richard…it hurts…'

Richard looked down and saw more blood, a lot of it in fact, it was everywhere.

"Kate?"

Kate's eyes kept fluttering open and close, Richard right away knew in his heart what was happening. Trying his hardest to hold the baby, he tore his shirt off and wrapped it in it before seeing the cord. Grabbing into his pack, he took his buck knife off and quickly put the baby up to Kate.

"Kate?"

She was hardly moving.

As hard as he could, Richard slapped her face making her eyes open.

"Kate hold the baby as tight as you can."

"Richard?"

"Can you do that?"

Kate slowly nodded as more blood appeared on the ground. Placing the baby in her arms. Kate's limp hand tightly went around it. Her eyes drifted down at the newborn still crying at the top of it's lungs. Richard quickly stood, throwing his back over his neck and knowing right away he couldn't carry her and the torch at the same time.

Kate gazed down at the baby, the pain getting worse.

Right away the most wonderful feeling filled her heart. The same feeling she had when she looked at Sydney. Smiling, she felt like crying. This was it…this was Richard and her baby.

"Hi there…"

Richard scooped Kate up, shifting her in his arms before making sure she was holding the baby right. Taking off down the beach, Richard ran as fast as he could. Kate meanwhile clung onto the baby as she kept bleeding. Midway there, Kate looked up at Richard.

"Name him Adam…that's a good name for him."

Richard looked down as he ran.

"Stay with me Kate!"

Kate looked over at the baby and smiled.

"He's beautiful Richard, he looks just like you…

Richard kept running before he looked down and saw Kate's eyes were no longer open. He couldn't tell if she was breathing or not, only that her grip on the baby was still holding tight. Running as fast as he could, he finally saw the statue. He was lucky they had gone to the beach so close to it. Gasping for air, Richard hurried before climbing up the rocks. The baby was screaming even harder now as Richard tried his hardest to make sure it wouldn't fall. Backing up against the stone wall he gritted his teeth and pushed up against it with all his might. Moments later he was back inside and nearly stumbled to the ground.

Jacob simply sat there, the fireplace going as his eyes danced along with the flames. Richard burst in, holding Kate and the baby, blood all over his bare chest. Jacob right away looked up.

"Richard…I believe your son has come tonight."

The baby kept screaming before Richard walked forward, sweat beading off him.

"Do what you told me you would do."

Jacob slowly rose.

"But she didn't want it that way…"

Richard shook his head.

"She's dying…I can't be without her, do it now."

Jacob smirked.

"My…how curses turn into gifts."

"Please Jacob!"

"You do understand…she'll be just like you…forever?"

"Just do it, please!"

Jacob smiled before the fireplace slowly flickered out, leaving Richard in the darkness holding Kate as their son kept crying.