He looked annoyed more than anything.

He obviously didn't understand that she was actually trying to tell him what happened in the hatch. He saw it as her trying to rehash the past again.

But the big fat tears streaking down her face were working their magic. He wasn't yelling anymore. He was still mad and annoyed but he couldn't yell at a crying woman. His crying woman.

"Look, I know I hurt you countless times, but this ain't about that now. I wanna know what's on the tape damnit." His voice had lost all the determination behind it.

She started to hyperventilate, a full blown meltdown happening right in front of him. She needed to run but she couldn't run and it was freaking her out.

Oh shit, oh shit. What have I done to her?

She looked like she was about to kill over ... heart attack or something of the sorts and it's starting to freaking him out now too.

"Kate!" He tries to get her to look up at him, grabbing her by her shoulders which seemed to only make matters worse and he took his hands off again quickly. "Freckles, you gotta calm the fuck down."

She looked at him for a second, her face grimacing, big fat tears rolling and she almost looks like a baby crying for her mother. And then she's breathing again like she's having an asthma attack ... only thing is, she doesn't have asthma! She looks away again, panicky and he wishes he could read her damn mind.

What did I do to make her this upset? He wonders. Ain't like he never yelled at her before. He snaps his fingers in front of her, afraid to touch her again, but still trying to get her to look at him. She doesn't. She just won't look at him again.

And he's scared shitless. Knows deep down that whatever this is will pass and she ain't gonna take any real damage away from it. Knows that this is just a little meltdown and it will pass, given time.

But he can't fucking stand it. To see her like this. It physically hurts him to see her like this. And then the baby pops in his mind ... in the midst of it all he'd almost forgotten about the baby. And he doesn't know shit about pregnancies and mothers-to-be, all he knows is from books and tv, but he's pretty damn sure they aren't supposed to freak out like that. Pregnant women are supposed to take it easy, ain't that what they always say?

And then it happens, as if she didn't look broken enough already, her knees seem to give out from under her. Or maybe it's just her that lost the will to stand up straight ... who really knows.

That's when he just reaches around her and grabs her. Pulls her in his arms obviously against her will. But he doesn't care anymore, she's a complete fucked up mess either way.

So he scoops her up in his arms. One hand underneath the round curve of her behind, the other arm curled around her with his fingers disappearing in her brown curly strands again, pushing her face against him. And he just holds her to him and let's her go on crying and sobbing and trying to fight him off. He's determined to not let go.

He's still mad himself - a little - even wonders for a second if this is just another attempt of her to get her hand on the tape.

The tape. The tape that he'd mindlessly dropped when he grabbed both her shoulders just a few moments ago.

He scanned the bottom of the net, and there it was. Right next to their feet. Wedged between the net and her boots. She could easily destroy it. One lift of her foot and she could smash it to pieces. But then again, she ain't even standing up right now on her own accord. Unlikely she'll smash anything to pieces, except maybe him if she doesn't get a grip here shortly.

What might have been only minutes had felt like hours to Sawyer as he tried his best imitation of a straight jacket. But it seemed to work and he sighed with relief when he noticed her breathing had become somewhat normal again. Her little hands were no longer balled into fists but where opened flat and seemed to reach for him now instead of trying to push him away.

He wondered for a minute if he should give her more time to calm down before he spoke at all. He decided against waiting, it was time to break the ice.

"Freckles, what the fuck was that?" He faked a smile, didn't know why he even bothered, not like she could see it.

Her face was resting in the crock of his neck, he could feel her breath on him, but she didn't say anything.

There was no reaction at all from her, or at least as far as he could tell. Then she nuzzled her nose against him, her voice was soft and so incredibly quite that he almost didn't hear her over his own breathing, "You can let go now."

Thank god, he thought. She seemed to be back to normal again ... well normal was a relative word. Her and him had never been the normal type to begin with. But just to test the waters, he tried his attempt at a joke, "You sure 'bout that, Sweetheart? Afraid you might bring this whole net down the way you just raised havoc." A bad joke, he thought after it left his tongue.

She didn't giggle, or snicker ... none of the sorts, just whispered, "I'm sure. You can let go."

Reluctantly he released her from his tight grip. The moment she left his arms he thought how havoc didn't seem too bad anymore if it meant she'd be in his arms again.

She still looked bewildered. The rim of her eyes bright red from crying, her cheeks and chest flushed in patches ... like her skin was just as irritated with her as he'd been just a little while ago.

There were several moments of silence. Neither of them spoke. Neither of them knew what to do with their hands. Her eyes downcast and it was obvious that she was embarrassed about her behavior.

He glanced down towards the tape. And as if on cue, she awkwardly bent down, struggling against the net and picked it up. She watched him out of the corner of her eyes before she spoke, "Why does this stupid tape mean so much to you?" Her voice sounded so tired and worn out.

He swallowed, hadn't really expected her to talk, nor to actually ask him such a question. "What makes you think it means anything to me?"

"You brought it and you were fighting me for it, that's two reasons right there." Her voice still wasn't her own, she still sounded like someone who'd just cried ... although she tried her best to sound 'normal', he could tell.

In a lame attempt to divert the question and to take half the blame for her little meltdown he said, "Freckles, I'd fight you over a damn lollipop if it meant I could get a rise out of you."

Finally, meeting his eyes for the first time. And even red as they were, they were the most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen. Silence hung between them as both of them were trying to read each others face.

The nagging question on his tongue again, "Why do you wanna get rid of it so badly? What happened in the hatch?" He just couldn't let it go. Too many unanswered questions hung between them from the past. Nobody ever got an answer, cause someone usually walked away. But here and now walking away wasn't an option and he wanted a god damn answer, just this once.

Neither of them budged, eyes locked on one another. He was hopeful that he might actually get an answer now. She on the other hand was fighting the urge to cry again.

Her voice was so quiet and soft when she spoke, "I saw a ghost too. In the hatch."

Boom. Just like that. It was out but yet explained absolutely nothing about her behavior. He thought about it for a moment, eyes still on hers the entire time.

His forehead wrinkled, brows shaped into a curious arch, "So ..." His voice wavered, "... you think the ghost is on the tape? That's what this is all about? Who did you see?"

She didn't know how to answer that, she was sure that he was on the tape, but then again he wasn't. Not really. "It wasn't like when you saw Jack, it was different." She tried to explain.

"Different how?"

"He didn't really appear, he ..." She broke the glance and looked away, almost as if she was looking for the right words to say. As if she could actually find them written on the trees surrounding them.

How do you say 'my dead father took over your body and then he choked me'?

He interrupted her before she could go on. His voice was forceful and demanding, "Look at me."

She did as she was told, but didn't even know why she'd listen herself. He seemed surprised too that she'd just do as she was told, not entirely sure if it was a good or a bad sign. He was mentally preparing himself for another oncoming tantrum ... just in case.

She looked in his eyes, and she could see honest to god concern there. She knew he really wanted to know what had happened, but she also knew that she wasn't sure how to explain it.

He sighed, and seemed frustrated again with her. Or at least that's how she took it.

He had a feeling he wasn't gonna get his answer now, and they had to get going before darkness took over the jungle. So he said with resignation in his voice, "How about a truce for now, Wendy? It's gonna get dark soon. So let's just get out of here, and decide where we're gonna make camp for the night."

He held out his hand and she gave him the tape without protest. But then he added with a lighter tone to his voice, "But don't think you're off the hook girl, I still wanna know what it is about this tape." He smiled, another lame attempt to lighten the mood that didn't work again.

She didn't smile back, just bend down and dug through his backpack, trying to find his pocketknife. Wondering already how on earth she was going to tell him what had happened that day in the hatch. How do you explain something that you can't even fully understand yourself? All she knew was that she had no doubt anymore that it was Wayne trying to choke her ... she just knew in her heart that it wasn't Sawyer.

She caught his and her backpack, one after the other and put them down beside her on the ground. Then she watched him in anticipation as he made his way down the tree.

The sight of him climbing down that tree still managed to bring a smile to her face. It had been a long time since she'd seen him climb down from a tree. It seemed like a million years ago now when he came to 'help' Sayid and her locate the source of Danielle Rousseau distress message.

As she watched him make his way out of the tree their conversation from then came back to her as if it had just happened yesterday.

'So what is it about that guy - Jack? What it is about him that makes you all weak in the loins?

Trying to be a pig, or does it just come naturally?

It's he's a doctor, right? Yeeeeeaaaah, the ladies dig the doctors. Hell, give me a couple of band aids, a bottle of peroxide, I can run this Island too.

You're actually comparing yourself to Jack?

The difference between us ain't that big, sweetheart. I guarantee you, if he had survived a few more weeks on this Island you'd have figured that out.'

Never in a million years would she have imagined that just one day later she'd be kissing him.

And now? Now she was his wife and possibly pregnant with his child. She touched her stomach with a smile on her face. But the smile disappeared when she realized the sad part about it all. That he really wasn't so different from Jack. Sawyer, just like Jack, had also surrendered to the notion that this island was his destiny. Something that Kate just couldn't wrap her mind around, no matter how hard she tried.

His voice startled her out of her thoughts, "You alright?" He'd noticed her hand on her stomach.

She looked up and realized that he was standing right in front her, "Yeah ... I'm fine." She dismissed the question.

He shook his head to himself, 'cause she damn sure didn't look alright to him, "Well, then I'd say we should head towards our beach?"

She looked up at him confused, "What? Why? I thought we were heading north?"

He sighed for a minute, then took a big swig out of his water bottle before he finally answered her. "Before the Doc disappeared I told him to let Hurley know that we'd be at our old camp. Told them to come and get us with the boat."

"Why didn't you tell me that before?"

"Didn't really think it mattered?"

He looked up towards the sky, then back at her as he screwed the lit back onto the plastic water bottle, "Don't think we'll make it all the way back to the beach by tonight, but we should at least make it to the creek. Set up camp there for the night. What do you think?"

She just nodded her head in agreement.

"Mind givin' me my gun back sweetness?" He grinned at her and added, "In case we come across something big, white and furry, or that damn hog that's got it in for me."

She tried not to smile, unsuccessfully. Then gave the gun back to him and he reloaded it. She dug hers out of her backpack and loaded hers as well. Shortly after that they got on their way towards their old camp, which inevitably would lead them to the creek.

Sawyer was keeping a steady and rather fast pace. He wanted to get there as soon as possible. Because once they made it there, they'd still have to gather enough firewood to keep a fire going all night. It didn't matter how hot it got on the island during the day, there was usually no telling what the temperature would be once the sun went down. Some nights were too hot to sleep, and other nights were too damn cold.

Despite the fact that she was just exhausted, she managed to keep up with him. Too stubborn to give Sawyer the opportunity to rehash the whole 'women are more fragile' argument. So she met him stride for stride and didn't fall far behind him at any given time. They barely spoke the entire way. She wouldn't have been able to keep a conversation going anyway, at least not while trying to keep the same pace as him.

It had already turned dark by the time they'd made it to the creek. Both of them collected firewood and got the fire started. And after eating some of the foot Sawyer had packed for them, it was time to settle down for the night.

Sawyer watched Kate prop up her backpack as some sort of pillow a few feet away from him. He was just mesmerized by the sight of her. Maybe it was because he hadn't seen her that much over the last couple of days, since she'd been trying to avoid him. Or maybe it was just because he loved her more than words could say. But either way, he just couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was just looking breathtakingly beautiful in the soft glow of their campfire. Always had been ... some things never change.

He eventually couldn't hold back anymore and with a wave of his hand he simply said, "Come here."

She just looked at him nervously ... as if they were on their first date and she wasn't sure of what to do next.

He repeated it again with a genuine smile on his face and a nod of the head, not bothered at all by her initial hesitation, "Come here." This time he held out his hand for her to take.

She reached for it, took it and he pulled her into his arms. With his back leaning against a tree trunk, he had her sitting in between his legs, both his arms wrapped around her. When he noticed how cold she was, he tried to warm her up. His callused hands rubbed her upper arms up and down, over and over again.

He nuzzled his nose in her hair and kissed the back of her head. Her hair smelled like sand and ocean water ... and he just loved it. It was such a familiar smell on her that it somehow managed to put him immediately at ease.

It's funny how a simple smell can take you back in time.

She knew she shouldn't make things this easy for him, but she just couldn't help herself. After the way this day had started out, with her being attacked in their little kitchen ... she just needed him right now. She needed his arms around her for tonight. And she was grateful that he asked her to come to him, because she would have never been the one to make the first move again. She would've been too stubborn for that. So being in his warm strong arms right now was the best thing about this entire day.

Feeling his chest softly rise and fall against her and having his warm arms wrapped around her ... it felt like home to her. Like right here is where she belonged. In his arms.

She was already half-asleep when she felt him pick her up to lie her down with him. Wedged between the warmth of the fire and the warmth of his body. She heard him mumble something about a good night kiss and felt his warm soft lips on hers, while he stroked some curls out of her face.

Tonight had turned out to be one of those 'nippier' nights. So he pulled her close to keep her warm, with her face flat against his chest and both his arms wrapped around her lithe body.

And she was already dozing off into dream land - hell, maybe she was already dreaming -when she heard him whisper into her ear, "Good night, sleep tight, don't let the polar bears bite."

"Funny." She mumbled back at him, eyes closed shut and trying to get comfortable snuggling against him.

A short time later both of them were fast asleep. It had been a long and exhausting day for the both of them. Their bodies definitely needed the rest.

A few hours after waking up they'd finally arrived at their old beach camp, along the way they'd stopped at the caves to refill all of their water bottles again, just in case rescue hadn't arrived yet.

Kate was in shock at the condition the camp was in. She hadn't really expected it to be the same, but it still looked worse then she would have imagined. Her eyes fell onto Sawyers tent. All the memories came flooding back to her, just like it was yesterday. How many times she'd seen him sit outside his tent, reading a book and pretending to be busy and annoyed when anyone came to talk to him.

As they walked further into their old camp, Sawyer and Kate both immediately noticed the footprints in the sand. They'd already been here.

"Son of a bitch." He looked up and down the beach.

Kate raised a hand over her eyes to shield them from the sun as she looked out at the ocean, trying to see if there was a boat anywhere still in sight. There wasn't.

"Why didn't they wait for us? I don't understand why they would come and then take off again if this is supposed to be the meeting point." She looked to Sawyer for answers.

He waved his hands up in defense, "Hell if I knew." He sighed in frustration, "But I'm sure they'll come back."

"And what if they don't Sawyer?"

He thought about it for a moment, "If they're not back for us by tomorrow afternoon, then we head for the Pearl Station. Hurley made sure that all the Dharma stations are newly equipped, so that anyone stuck out here can get in touch with security."

She didn't answer him, just gave him a weird look.

"What?" He huffed back at her annoyed. "You got a better idea princess?"

"Why don't we just walk? We just filled up all our water. We can gather some fruit to eat along the way. I know it will take us some time to get there, but at least we'd be at an advantage?"

He raised his eyebrows in confusion and irritation, "Advantage? What the hell are you talking about?"

Now she raised her hand in the air while she spoke, pointing south, the general direction of the other island, "What if Ben knew that those people would come to Hydra Island, and he left us there to be killed? What if Hurley isn't alright? What then Sawyer? What if leaving us wasn't about us 'making up'? What if it still is all about Ben wanting this damn island?"

He shook his head, more to himself then to her.

She folded her arms in front of her, "What?"

"Nothing!" he stated and drew a tiny stick into the sand that he'd been picking at while walking through the jungle. He was just about to turn around and make his way towards his old tent, when she spoke up, "Hey."

She grabbed a hold of his arm and spun him back around to face her.

"You have no opinion about what I just said? About Ben wanting the island. About Hurley not being alright. For once you have nothing to say? Really, James?"

"Oh, so now I'm James again?"

"What?" she looked up at him confused.

"Just a moment ago you called me Sawyer, now I'm James again. I'm just curious how you decide in that twisted little head o' yours when I'm worthy of being called James or when I'm just good ol' Sawyer."

She thought about it for a moment, then stammered on the words, "I-I ... I really don't know, it's not like I'm doing it on purpose." She paused and noticed his face was softening again. "But seriously, don't you think we should walk back ourselves? Don't you think calling them and giving them a pinpoint location of where to find us is a bad idea?"

"They have a damn pinpoint location right now, Freckles." He huffed out annoyed glaring at her.

He looked at her, waiting for her to say something else, but when she didn't he sighed again, walked towards her and put his hands on her shoulders, "Look Freckles, I get where you're comin' from and all, 'specially after that stunt Bug Eye pulled with us both last week. But the Doc could've only told the big man where we'd be. And seein' that the damn circus must've come through here ..." he pointed at the footprints that were all over the beach "... looks to me like Hurley's just fine." He paused for a moment and cupped her cheek softly with his palm, "I don't know why they didn't wait, but they'll come back and it'll all be alright."

She sighed in surrender, "So what now?"

"You hungry?"

She just nodded yes.

Both of them looked around, scanning their surroundings, when Sawyer said, "Help me find Jin's old fishing net. Then you and me go catch us some grub." He watched her in anticipation.

The shy smile of hers just melted his heart.

How will I ever get through the rest of my life without her?

He headed towards the tattered makeshift tents, looked back at her again, "Are you coming?"

She unfolded her arms and followed him in search of the net.

Kate was just about finished gutting and preparing all the fish they had managed to catch together, while Sawyer was still out collecting firewood for them. When she was done, she went into his old tent and tried to make it livable for the night. The entire 'roof' had caved in on it and she was trying her best to get it back to the way it used to be, over four years ago. She sighed in disbelieve that it had really been that long since she'd seen it last.

She'd decided to take a break and sat in the entrance of the old familiar shelter, stacking up the magazines and books that were scattered everywhere.

"Blast from the past, sweet pea?" His voice had startled her.

She looked up and saw him arrange the wood to get the fire started. Both of them smiled at each other for a moment. Everything that had happened seemed so long ago and yet moments like this brought it right back to the forefront of their minds.

She held up a magazine, and with a faux disgusted look she read the title of the magazine out loud to him. "Booty babes, James?"

He stopped what he was doing and looked over at her, trying hard to contain his laughter, "You're gonna go all wifely on me now? Besides, I had that long before we were hitched."

She crinkled her nose and with a big goofy grin on her face said, "Wifely? Is that even a word?"

"I took any kind of porn I could get my hands on back in the old days, honey. Can't be picky when you're crashed on a god damn island."

She raised her eyebrows at him questioningly, knowing for once she found a way to tease him, "Any kind of porn." She gave him a suggestive look and he immediately knew what she was getting at.

He raised his hands in defiance, "All right, maybe not any kind of porn." He chuckled and said, "Just because I've been to prison doesn't mean I dropped the soap in the shower. Nor did I wait for someone else to drop it."

He finally got the fire started, wiped his hands on his jeans and added for good measure, "I just don't swing that way Sweetheart."

"Good to know, considering I'm your wife." She grinned at him, she closed the magazine she'd been curiously looking through. Then she read over the cover of the magazine. Thinking out loud she said, "Where and what is the 'b'spot? Have you ever heard of the 'b'spot?"

Smiling she looked over at Sawyer who looked back at her and with his devilish charming smile he answered, "Can't say that I have but if you're game you know I'm always up for a challenge, Freckles. " His grin grew even wider before he added, "Found your 'g'spot on the very first try didn't I?"

She blushed and threw the magazine back onto the pile of magazines, tying to ignore his eyes on her now.

Flashback to over 4 years ago

She was stomping through the jungle again trying to have some privacy. Privacy to cry alone. Sun had just told her the news. Juliet had taken her to the medical station over night and now Sun knew that the baby was conceived on the island. Sun had confided in her about the other man and was happy that the baby was Jin's. But all Kate could think about was that that could ultimately be her death sentence.

But then again, who knew if Juliet was even telling the truth. Maybe this was just some lame attempt by Juliet to make herself seem important. After all, she was trying to fit in and to get people to believe that she was good. First she'd 'saved' Claire. And it had apparently worked with Sun too. She was now convinced that Juliet was in fact a good person.

Kate herself still wasn't convinced of that. She'll never forget that look in Juliet's eyes when she'd told Kate, "I'm sorry you couldn't help us." Translation "Sawyer is going to die." She will never forget the utter feeling of helplessness after hearing those words from Juliet.

Big fat tears were running down her face as she silently sobbed still walking rather swiftly through the jungle. Couldn't stand still, constantly moving. The faster the better she thought. The noise of her own footsteps and pushing leaves and jungle out of her way drowning out the noise of her almost silent cries and whimpers. She was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't even noticed that someone had been following her.

Until that someone spoke up, "What the hell are you running from this time, Freckles?"

She didn't have to look back to see who it was. His southern drawl and the nickname giving him away. She didn't stop, kept on walking and now wiped at her face furiously. She knew he'd try to catch up with her and she didn't want him to know that she was crying ... again.

Frustrated that she hadn't answered him or stopped he yelled after her, "Would you just stop for a damn second, girl?"

She sighed, stopped but didn't turn around to face him, "What do you want Sawyer?" She did a fairly good job at keeping her voice steady for the entire sentence. Sounding annoyed with him ... like her old self.

"I saw you talking to Sunshine back there and then you stormed off into the jungle, you seemed upset. Anything you wanna tell me about Freckles?"

"No." Short and sweet, hoping he'd get the drift and leave her alone.

"No? That's that?"

Finally she turned around to look at him. Maybe seeing that she was crying, he'd get the hint then and leave her alone. "Yeah, that's that. And since when do you care about Sun anyways?"

Surprised by her puffy watery red eyes looking back at him, he answered, "I don't, but I do care why it got you storming alone into the jungle, all upset and crying." And then it dawned on him and he spoke before she could even answer him.

"Look," he sighed looking completely defeated, "... Charlie wasn't supposed to hurt her. He was just supposed to drag her off a few feet and then leave her be. She wasn't supposed to end up with that bump on her head."

Her eyes grew wide now and she walked towards him, "What are you talking about?"

He realized that he'd just put his foot in his mouth, "Nothing, I'm talking about nothing." Deciding to bail now, he turned around and headed back towards the beach. But she grabbed his arm forcefully and spun him back around to face her.

"Charlie attacked Sun? And it was all part of your con? To get your hands on the guns?" It had sounded like a question, but she was really just stating a fact, but either way waiting for his reaction. When she saw how his face fell in sorrow, she got her answer. She raised her hands up to her face to cover her mouth in shock, "Oh my god." Tears started running down her face again, but for different reasons now. She loved this man and he'd just admitted to attacking her best friend.

She turned back around and started walking away again. He weighed his options for a minute. He could just let her walk away, turn around himself and walk back to the beach or he could face her head on. He had to do some control damage now, because he didn't want Jin to find out one way or another.

So Sawyer decided for the latter, "When I saw you crying just now, I thought Sun told you and that's why you were upset. Obviously ..."

She stopped, turned back around and interrupted him, "So Sun knows it was you and Charlie?"

He just nodded in shame.

"Does Claire know?"

He thought about it for a minute, then remembered how Claire had let him hold Aaron for the first time a few day back and shook his head no, "I don't think she knows."

Her eyes were still watery and red, but the tears had stopped flowing again, "So why hasn't Jin killed you yet?" She asked rather dryly, as if it didn't mean anything to her.

"Sun ..." he looked away, embarrassed to even look her in the eye, "She doesn't want him to know, I think. She didn't tell him and she said that she won't."

Kate just nodded her head in understanding. Jin had a temper and out of all the men in their camp, he was definite the most protective over his wife. It probably be better if he didn't know. For Sawyers sake.

As if Sawyer was reading her mind he asked, "Are you going to tell him?"

She swallowed, then shook her head, "No. That's up to Sun."

"Are you going to tell Claire?" His next question shot out without any hesitation.

"Probably not." She answered back just as fast.

He furrowed his eyebrows, "Why wouldn't you?"

She sighed and answered truthfully, "Because she'd hate you. And then eventually everyone would find out that it was you and Charlie. And then everyone would be hating you and forgetting all about Juliet in the midst of us. Making herself right at home." She paused for a second, then added, "I don't trust her."

"You and me both Freckles." He stated.

Both just stood there awkwardly, then he said, "Look, I ain't sorry that I did it, but I am sorry Sun got hurt. She wasn't supposed to get hurt."

Kate didn't answer, didn't even look at him, just stood there staring into jungle space.

He turned around and took a few steps back towards the beach. Then stopped, faced her again and said, "So why were you upset? What did she say that got you crying in the jungle?"

Watching her face closely he saw that tears were forming again, about ready to spill over. Then her chin began to quiver in that adorable but heart wrenching way. And his heart shattered into a million pieces right then and there.

He walked towards her and wrapped her in his arms. And to his surprise, she let him do just that. So they stood there in the middle of the jungle. After the tears had stopped again she looked up at him and whispered, "Pregnant woman die on this island." Her voice was still weak and breaking through her sobs.

"What are you talking about?"

"That's why Claire was sick, she had a late reaction to some medicine the others were giving her when she was with them. Juliet said that they were trying to save her, because pregnant woman die here."

"Claire is fine now. Charlie said Juliet took care of it, didn't she?"

Kate nodded, "But Sun's pregnant too."

Finally Sawyer started to understand, pulling her back into a big bear hug in an attempt to comfort her. "And Sun knows?"

Kate nodded, "Yeah."

"Jin?"

She shook her head, "No, I don't think so. Don't say anything."

"What the hell am I gonna say, the guy speaks Korean."

Several hours later that night, Kate stumbled into Sawyers tent again. Just yesterday he'd told her that all she had to do was ask, but she wasn't about to ask just that.

"Hey." He said when he found her standing at the entrance of his tent again. He was a little surprised to see her.

"Hey." She answered back.

He knew today had been rough for her, hearing the news about Sun. So he bit his tongue ... but it didn't last long, maybe a second or two.

He had shown her the softer side again today, and to even out the battle ground he had to make sure she knew he wasn't that easily tamed, "Doc had dinner with Blondie again, so you're back for seconds too?"

Sarcasm. And she hated it. "Forget it." She spat back and was just about to push the flap aside to get out of his tent again, when he grabbed her arm this time.

"Now hold on Sweetness." The endearment sounded like an insult. "I didn't say I mind. I'm always up for seconds if you are."

Things progressed fairly quickly now, both of them giving into the urge. The constant need of wanting to be closer.

Lips crushing into each other. Tongues playing seductively while clothes were carelessly tossed aside. In the middle of it all Sawyer managed to turn the lamp off he had sitting next to his makeshift 'bed'.

Hot skin on skin. Beats of sweat forming on both of them. Panting and hushed moans as limps were entangled. The rhythm of the two of them together ... still so new and yet so in sync already.

They were both approaching climax when she tried to slow him down, "James, wait?"

"I'll wait for you. No worries. Ladies first." He whispered into her ear in a raspy desired filled voice.

"You have to pull out."

"What?" he looked down at her, stopping all movement.

"I can't ... I don't wanna get pregnant, James."

He sighed, understanding what she meant, "Don't worry babe. I pull out before I come. Just relax. Trust me, Freckles." His lips crushed down to hers and he slowly felt her relax again in his arms. She trusts me, he thought bewildered. After everything, she still trusts me.

So he slowly started to move in and out of her again. He stroked hair away that was sticking to her temple lovingly. He'd never let anything happen to her. The need to tell her those three little words was almost overwhelming.

End Note: Please leave a review if you have a moment to spare, it's much appreciated. Thank you!