"Kate…open your eyes."

Kate's eyelids slowly fluttered open as she stared up at the perfectly blue cloudless sky. Overhead tropical birds circled, crying out against the wound of the wind and the waves crashing up against the shore. Feeling the warmth of the sun, Kate lazily smiled before turning slightly on her side.

Richard laid there, a smile on his face.

"Morning."

Kate smiled before hiking herself up on one elbow and leaning over. Gently kissing him, Kate smiled through the kiss before looking out at the crystal clear water.

It was beautiful.

The wind blew, making the palm trees behind them slowly rock back and forth.

Kate was home.

The last few months Kate had tied up all loose ends and had finally made her choice. Claire had decided to keep her baby which was a little boy named Aaron. She was currently living with her mother raising him and seemed very happy. She didn't remember Kate, nor anything else. But Jack was part of her life now. Claire's mother and him had broke the news of their father and both had become very close now. Strangers still, yet family.

Charlie was in rehab and trying to get clean. His brother had met up with him and his band was in the middle of a comeback album. Hurley had met him at the airport claiming to be a huge fan and funded the band's return to the studio to start recording.

As far as she knew Boone and Shannon were back in the states. She hadn't really talked to Sayid, but he claimed that both were living together and trying to pick up the pieces of their life's, despite but Boone's mother thought. Sayid said his heart nearly broke when he saw Shannon, yet felt better she was alive and safe. He was back home now with the love of his life. Happy and at peace.

She didn't know about Eko, or Ana Lucia. But Hurley was seeing Libby, who had decided to have coffee with the friendly stranger who helped her with her bags the day she landed.

Sawyer and Juliet and met up with her just a month ago. They were married now and living in Florida. Both were very happy.

Jack was seeing someone, and was taking flying lessons again. He said his heart just wasn't there for being a doctor anymore. He seemed okay.

As far as she knew everyone was happy.

Kate made her choice when Richard came to see her one last time. He told her that the island would be moved again and for good. Nobody would ever find it again and nobody would ever leave it. Locke was becoming a very smart and kind leader and his people were slowly rebuilding themselves from the mess Ben had made.

Kate remembered looking into Richard's eyes and asking two honest questions.

"Who's Jacob…and is it true? Will you live forever?"

Richard answered that Jacob was the person who took care of the island, and that currently he was very happy and content with how fate changed. As for his curse, or gift…or whatever you would call it…he told her the truth. He didn't know if he would live forever. Only that he had been this way for a very long time and had been waiting for someone to stand beside him after all those long lonely years.

Kate then made her decision. Jumping into Richard's arms and kissing him, she told him she would go.

"But you can never go back…"

Kate smiled pressing her face against his and laughing.

"My place is with you."

So she returned to the island, side by side with Richard.

Now all this time after, she was perfectly happy and now knew what Heaven must be like. This was her home…this was how fate wanted her to be. Laying in the sand with her husband, she held his hand and smiled before his hand gently touched her perfectly flat stomach. She was pregnant. Their baby would be the first of many. The new generation of the others. Thinking of that morning so long ago while standing in the surf, Kate kissed Richard again and smiled. The wind blowing, they held each other.

"I love you Richard…till the end of time."

And like it was said before.

It all began on a warm calm night.

And it all ended on a windy morning at the beach.

The End