Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.

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Author's Notes:

Please review if you still like where this story is going. Thank you.

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Carole was sitting down with Aaron. Cassidy and her fiancé were sitting with Clementine in the middle. Frank had arrived just a few moments ago and was also sitting down already. So did Ben, Richard, Miles, Desmond, Penny and little Charlie.

The room was fairly large, even though this wasn't a big crowd kind of wedding. Sunlight streamed in through the windows that were draped with a white fabric as well. The room was completely decorated in white, with white chairs. Red roses decorated the place, candles were burning. It was not like your typical wedding, it was definitely different, considering the groom was more dressed down then most of the guests.

But Kate had insisted on his attire. She wanted him to look good, but still like the James she knew and loved. His dark blue denims, white button-down shirt, and dark blue Sport Jacket locked just perfect on him in her eyes. Anything more would have looked weird on him, like he was trying to dress like Jack, she thought. He also didn't shave. Had his usual stubble on his face, just the way Kate liked it! Don't matter what everyone else thinks, this is the way both of them wanted it. This is how it was going to be!

The music played and Claire started walking down the aisle, her tiny arm wrapped around Hurley's. She looked very pretty and after having to cut her hair very short when they got back, it was finally getting longer again.

Hurley settled standing next to James. Claire stood across from Hurley, all eyes were now on the doorway down the room, waiting for Kate.

Finally, there she was. Kate walked in, holding onto her father's arm. All smiles when she met James' eyes. He never understood what the big deal was about weddings, and the whole blushing bride thing, but now he knew.

When he saw Kate walk towards him, hiding that pretty smile under that veil, all he could think was that she had never looked prettier. He could feel his throat close up on him, … he needed to remember to breathe. Right at that thought he took a deep breath and finally smiled back at her.

I am one lucky son of a bitch!

The music stopped and Kate's father took her hand and placed it into James'. Both men exchanged a look, before Sam settled down sitting next to Cassidy.

There they were, Kate and James holding hands, about to be married.

The priest started speaking,

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy matrimony…"

Both of them tried to look at the priest as much as possible, but couldn't help and look at each other every now and then.

Carole was wiping away some tears, as she squeezed Aarons hand. She knew about the island, heard a lot about those two 'kids' standing right there … by now she felt like they were part of her family.

While James and Kate couldn't take their eyes off of each other now, the priest went on with the ceremony and said,

"Katherine, do you take James to be your lawfully wedded husband to live together in marriage. Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep him. For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. And forsaking all others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?"

"I do."

"James, do you take Katherine to be your lawfully wedded wife to live together in marriage. Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep her. For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. And forsaking all others, be faithful only to her so long as you both shall live?"

"I do."

When the priest gave the signal, Hurley handed James the rings. He handed them to the priest, who blessed them. Kate handed her bouquet of roses to Claire, before the priest handed her the ring for James.

"Now Katherine, please repeat after me. With this ring I thee wed."

"With this ring I thee wed" She looked up at James, then down at his stretched out hand, carefully pushing the ring onto James' finger.

"James, repeat after me. With this ring I thee wed."

"With this ring I thee wed" and he slowly and clearly nervously placed the ring onto her finger.

They both smiled at each other. This wasn't so hard after all.

"And now that you have stood before me and exchanged these rings and these vows, and have agreed to be married according to the laws of the state of California, it gives me great pleasure to now pronounce you husband and wife." He looked at James and said, "You may now kiss your bride."

He slowly lifted her veil, still smiling at her. The first kiss as husband and wife … how crazy is this, he thought.

He leaned in pulling her into his arms. She framing his face with her hands, and they kissed. His soft lips touching hers. It was the perfect kiss.

Everyone started clapping, the music started playing and they walked down the aisle together.

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Two days later

"Where to next, Mrs. Ford?" He asked giving her a dimple smile.

She was sitting in the passenger seat, with the map unfolded onto her lap and covering most of the dashboard too. Biting her lip, undecided about where to go next.

"I don't know." She looked up from the map, looking at him now. "Have you ever been in Fresno?"

"Fresno? Can't say that I have, why Fresno?"

"Why not Fresno? We got however long we want to explore all of California."

"You're just itching to get this whole probation thing over with, aren't you, Freckles?"

She sighed, "Is it that obvious?"

"Kinda is, although I have to admit, I'm surprised you're willing to leave Claire and Aaron behind."

"I'm not leaving anyone behind, James. This is our honeymoon, so we're going to have some fun. And for the time being, the fun can't go past the California border."

"I tell you what, I'll take you on a road trip over the entire United States, maybe even South America if you like, when you're probations up."

"You promise."

"Sure, I kinda have no choice in the matter. Cause I got a feeling that if I ain't taking you, you might run out on me again."

She punched him on his right shoulder. "Ahh, what the hell was that for?" Faux shocked expression on his face as he rubbed his shoulder, pretending it actually hurt him.

"That was for you being a smartass again. I thought we agreed to start off with a clean slate when we got married. No more bringing stuff up from the past. That was the deal." Her face serious, too serious for his liking.

"You're right, that was the deal."

Both of them stayed quiet for a while, him just driving on.

"How about this, Runaway Bride." He reached over and pulled the map down, to make her look at him.

"How about we just drive for a while, and when we see something we like, we stop, get a bite to eat, get a place to spend the night. What do you say? Do it jungle style, make camp where we feel like it."

"Jungle style, huh?" She had a big smile on her face again, he's been doing that to her today. "Alright."

"Let me know if you see anything interesting, so we can find a place to stay. Thought maybe we can have a repeat from last night? I did have fun last night." He raised his eyebrows and smiled at her sheepishly.

She could feel her cheeks blush, trying not to look at him.

XXX

Later that night, they were sitting on a balcony, staring out onto the ocean. She was sitting on his lap, both of them just wrapped up in a blanket. He had a cigarette hanging from his lip.

"How the hell did we get here?" She said, almost whispering.

"We drove."

She rolled her eyes at him, he smiled at her before taking the last drag from the cigarette.

"You know what I mean? Not here here, but here, us, you and me?" She looked over, meeting his eyes.

"Life is like arriving late for a movie, having to figure out what was going on without bothering everybody with a lot of questions, and then being unexpectedly called away before you find out how it ends."

He did this all the time, quoting things. She liked that about him. Especially the fact that he could quote things word for word. She looked at him, waiting for what would ultimately come next.

He looked back at her, "What?"

"You know what. I'm waiting."

"Nope, I ain't telling you anymore. You need to start reading some books too, sugar. Ain't fair that you know all the quotes, but never actually read any of the books."

She almost looked offended, "I read."

"Sure you do. The O magazine, or good housekeeping? That's not really literature, Martha."

She pushed out her lip, as if she was pouting for a moment, while he slowly exhaled the remainder of the smoke in his lungs.

Without warning, she kissed him. "I'll get it out of you eventually; you know you can't resist me." She stated.

"Oh, is that so. I can't resist you? If I recall the last hour, it was you begging for more, for harder, for deeper."

She blushed, and he saw it, making him laugh out loud.

"I never said any of those things." She replied quick.

"But you were thinking them."

"Oh really, so now you can read my mind?"

"Sure can."

She pulled the arm she had wrapped around his neck and folded her arms in front of herself.

"So what am I thinking right now?"

"You're thinking that you wish you could read my mind, so you would know what that damn quote was from." He smiled wide, teeth flashing.

She tried not to smile, but couldn't help it. "You're an ass sometimes!"

"I know, but you love me anyways." He looked up at her self-assured. "So, what do you say, ready for round 2?"

"Oh, so who's beggin' now?"

"I ain't beggin', I'm askin'." And with that, he discarded the cigarette onto the tile floor of the balcony. Picked her up, while trying to keep them both wrapped up in the blanket. He carried her inside and both of them climbed back into bed, making love again.

X

A little while later …

Both of them still panting, she climbed up on top of him, to rest her head on his chest. He played with her hair, stroking her back up and down.

Neither of them spoke, just enjoying the moment. Completely happy, not a worry in the world at this moment. No Juliet or Jack to think of … or anyone else they'd lost. Just them, happily married in their 'unconventional conventional way'. That's what James called it.

He finally broke the silence by saying, "Joseph Campbell. Creative Mythology: The Masks of God 4. It's non-fiction."

She raised her head and met his eyes, in the almost completely dark hotel room. "I love you."

"I love you too." He replied without any hesitation, and then kissed her forehead.