"Mom?"

"Shhhh!"

Adam stood on the windy beach at night with his mother completely confused and scared. For a boy who would turn seventeen tomorrow, he looked more like a twenty-five year old. He was build tall, and his face was very handsome and set like his father's. A stronger breeze screamed by, making Adam's hair blow away from his eyes that watched the darkened ocean. The only light came from the moon…and that green blinking thing in the distance.

"Mom what is…"

"Shhhh! Adam!"

Kate stood intensely watching water as the green light kept blinking. It was hard to tell, but she could see off in the distance there was a boat…a big one much like a freighter. Kate watched it, by tomorrow it would reach land. She knew it was fate working at this exact moment.

A smile spread across Kate's face.

"Their coming…"

Adam stared at his mother with a shocked and beyond worried expression. He had heard about life off the island his entire life and had never shared any interest in ever leaving his home. He was still very young, but as his father often remarked had a good head on his shoulders. He understood that the island was special and most of the time worked in very mysterious ways. He understood his parents were special, but didn't fully understand why and how this unseen force Jacob worked. All he knew was that this was his home and that he loved it here. In fact often whenever he was drifting off to sleep, he thought of even dying here. He didn't care about what the world had to offer him. He was in the most beautiful and wonder place he could ever dream about. He was popular, and slowly falling in love with Lee. He didn't question, he simply lived a very happy go lucky life.

Standing here on the beach, the moonlight faintly reflecting on the black surface of the water, the only sounds Adam heard were the waves crashing against the shore and the wind. He looked out in the distance and saw the green light and the outline of the boat. Right away he knew it meant trouble.

At that exact moment Richard stood in the doorway of Adam's darkened bedroom. It had changed a great deal over the years they had finally settled down here again, and staring in Richard felt a slight feeling of comfort thinking of his son.

Adam's room was very plain now that he was getting older. A single bed, a dresser, and a desk where Richard had given Adam five ships in bottles he had worked on long before he was even born. Standing there with his arms crossed he sighed deeply. He knew Kate was furious and most likely would never forgive him. Standing there, Richard remembered the last seventeen years in a quick flash. He remembered all those nights of kneeling near Adam's crib and watching the baby sleep before crawling into bed beside Kate and softly whispering how much he loved her. He remembered teaching Adam how to walk near the temples, how he loved tickling his chubby belly and making him laugh. He remembered all those nights of sitting up on the hill with Kate and watching the stars.

He had to explain himself. He could die…so couldn't she. He just had to have her know that he couldn't loose her when she had Adam. That he didn't think he could stand it and might have killed himself leaving Adam alone. He knew it was selfish but he needed her, he loved her so much it hurt. He wanted to let her know that he never wanted to hurt her. That all those long years alone and finally gotten to him. That nearly twenty years ago he remembered making love with Kate in the tent by the beach and how suddenly something felt very different. The confused expression in her eyes and how strange it all seemed. As if she wasn't fully all there until just then. He remembered finding her body washed up on shore and how much blood there was. How he carried her, telling Jacob he promised to take care of her. He remembered how quickly he had fallen in love with her, desperate to find somebody to love. He hated being alone so much, and after so many years of watching everyone grow old and die he didn't think he could stand another second of heartbreak. He knew the moment he laid eyes on Kate she was special.

He needed to tell her this. That he had just been scared. That he understood she didn't want to spent forever with him on this island. As much as Richard wanted to, he knew where Kate was coming from and would explain everything. It just ached his heart so badly to know that more then likely Jacob would never let him take his own life. He had tried several times before and each time Jacob had stopped him telling him it wasn't time yet. He only hoped he wouldn't stop with Kate. But the thought of going on after her and their son was dead seemed horrible. He truly didn't know if he could go on without her.

Just then thunder sounded and it began to pour out. Raindrops hit the windows and poured on the roof. Leaving out the front door, Richard watched as everyone scrambled to get inside. He saw the fires going out. That's when he noticed Lee all alone, running towards her house. Running out in the rain he stopped her.

"Lee!"

She turned.

"Where's Adam? Is he with you?"

"No, his mom dragged him off into the jungle about ten minutes ago, she seemed real upset."

The rain poured down on them, making Lee's brown hair hang in her eyes. Richard blinked away the water before nodding.

"Which direction did they go in?"

Lee pointed.

Back at the beach, Kate and Adam took shelters under one of the larger palm trees. Kate's eyes still didn't leave the ocean where the light was.

"Mom we should get back…"

Kate acted as if she hadn't heard him. Adam waited, biting the bottom of his lip when Richard came from the jungle soaking wet.

"Kate! Adam!"

Kate's eyes narrowed before she forced Adam behind her.

"Mom what's wrong?"

"Stay behind me."

"But mom…"

"Do what I say!"

She snapped. Richard slowly walked over, his hands up in defense.

"Kate, what are you doing out here?"

"Stay away from me you monster!"

Adam looked between his parents confused. Richard shook his head.

"Kate please let me explain."

"You've done enough! When did you expect me to find out? When Adam was sixty and I still had brown hair? Why did you lie to me!"

"I was waiting to tell you Kate! I knew how you would react!"

"I told you Richard! I told you I never wanted to be like you! I don't wanna live forever!"

Adam stared at his parents.

"Kate you can still die! So can't I! We'll go to Jacob…"

"I've had enough of Jacob! I've had enough with the lies and the pretending! How could you Richard? I put all my trust into you and I loved you…"

"Why do you think I even did this? You were dying in my arms Kate! I couldn't loose you…not after…"

"After all the other women who have left you or died? You're sick Richard…you're just a lonely freak that works for this island…my people were right, you're nothing but scum!"

"I saved you're life! I loved you! That's more then you're friends can say!"

"Then what about that?"

Kate pointed as Richard squinted past the falling rain. That's when he saw the blinking light and froze. Kate walked up to him, her entire body soaked.

"It's a boat Richard! After all this time a boat! Adam and I are getting on it and leaving you alone on this God forsaken island!"

"Mom!"

Richard just stared down at her.

"Then what? You don't know how to die…you'll live forever all alone like I did. You'll watch our son grow old and then you'll be all alone. I told you I had to make a choice Kate…it isn't forever, I swear to you…"

"Then why are you still here?"

"Because every time I did try to kill myself Jacob stopped me, telling me it wasn't time. That I had to live for something."

"And what's that?"

"You Kate…I had to live for you."

Kate just stared up at him before Richard took her by the shoulders.

"I love you Kate, and I couldn't loose you. I promise I would never put you through the kind of pain I've felt for so long. I've only done what I thought was best for you…"

"What did you mean by…you could die…"

"Not in front of Adam."

"Tell me Richard or so help me God me and Adam will start swimming for the boat."

Richard stared at her before pointing to his chest.

"Jacob said the only way I can die is through the heart…it stops beating, I stop living."

"Then after all these years of heartache you've never tried to kill yourself?"

"I have, plenty of times, but like I said Jacob stops me."

"Then how do you know it can work?"

"Jesus Kate! I'm sick and tried of this! I have been the only one who has been there for you! There is nobody else! It seems as though every couple of years once you get happy you get bored and then you try to find someway to hate me and leave…where will you go Kate? Where?"

Before she could say another word as the two stood in the pouring rain with Adam watching, a bright flare went off over the boat, lighting up the sky.

Richard and Kate turned watching it as the flare sparkled into the night. Kate heard distant humming somewhere over the lapping waves. Richard's grip became tighter on her arms.

"Their coming…"

Richard then looked over Kate's shoulder and motioned for Adam who stood underneath the palm tree, his bangs hanging in his face.

"Come on Adam."

Kate grabbed his arm.

"Where are you going?"

"To warn the others, we're going to the temple."

"But it could be my people."

Richard looked down at her, his eyes angry.

"Kate, it's been nearly twenty years…I don't think anyone is looking for you anymore."

Adam walked over, standing behind Richard. He looked at Kate confused and ashamed.

"But it could be…

"It could be anyone, maybe Widmore. We need to go now!"

"But…"

Richard turned, gritting his teeth. Kate had never seen him so furious as the rain poured down on them.

"I have saved you're life for the last time…if you can't see I did this for you then you're blind. I'm taking my son and we're going to the temple…wait and see who's coming if you like…I don't care anymore."

"Richard!"

But before she could say another word Richard and Adam were walking away. Standing on the beach, Kate felt tears begin to roll down her face. Richard was right. She had been her happiest here. He had protected her and risked everything to save her. Yet…she always tried to find a double side. Thinking of what Richard did she stared at her unaged hands and felt sick. What if she really did go on to live forever. What if that stuff Richard said about the heart wasn't true. What if the two of them lived together until the end of time? She loved Richard, but living on that long…watching Adam grow old and die seemed heartbreaking. She wasn't strong as Richard and knew she wouldn't be able to do it. Deep down inside she wished he had let her die on the beach that night she had Adam.

Pushing away the tears she stared at the boat and knew what Richard meant.

Someone was coming, but it wasn't good.

Running after them, she caught up right before they disappeared into the tree line.

"Richard!"

Richard stopped, the rain pouring down on the trees around them. Kate stood there for a second before looking at Adam and him. That's when she ran over and hugged Richard as hard as she could.

"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry!"

Richard said nothing for a moment as Adam watched. Finally he gently rubbed her back and pulled back.

"Let's go."

Without saying another word the three of them raced towards the temple to warn the others.