Author's Note: I wanna start out by saying that I'm sorry it took me so long to update. I have this story in my head, I know how it is going to end and yet it seems incredibly difficult to put it all down the way I've envisioned it. It had gotten so bad that I had actually deleted it all and started fresh in hopes that the right words would come easier that way. They didn't. So anyhow, this was supposed to be the last chapter of this story, but it's not. There will be one more after this to finally put this one to rest. I hope you enjoy it anyhow and I hope you aren't disappointed with this. So here it goes ...

"You know, I'm a little offended by this." Kate said while she proceeded to dump the box full of clothes out on Sawyers bed.

"Offended by what?" Sawyer glanced over his shoulder as he buckled his belt closed.

"This!" she nodded towards the clothes that she was looking through to find something to wear to her doctor appointment. "Hurley just bringing my clothes over to your place while we were gone, as if it was a sure thing I'd forgive you."

He walked up behind her now, wrapping his arms around her middle and letting one hand slide under the towel she was wearing. Kissing her neck, then whispering into her ear, "You did forgive me."

She untangled herself out of his arms for what seemed like the hundredth times within the last thirty minutes and scoffed, "He didn't know that though."

Stepping around the bed to the other side, she sat down and pulled her black lace panty up her legs, stood back up and pulled them all the way up with Sawyer watching her from across the room. She dropped the towel now, and while pulling on a bra she looked back over her shoulder at him, "It's sort of offending that Hurley just assumed I was giving in to you again."

Sawyer began to button up his shirt without taken his eyes off of her, and a smug dimpled grin spread across his unshaven face, "Can't blame the man for assuming the inevitable."

"The inevitable?" Kate repeated sarcastically, shooting him a look as she pulled on a clean pair of jeans.

Sawyer sat down on her side of the bed, pulling socks and boots on, looking up at her, still sporting that smug grin when he said it again, "Yeah, the inevitable! With you and me, Freckles, it's inevitable that we get back together, don't ya' think?"

Kate rolled her eyes at him as she pulled her shirt down and smoothed it out over her abdomen.

Sawyer tying his other boot now, had seen her rolling her eyes at him and said, "I'm serious though, hon', I mean hell, just look at our history for a sec."

He stood up and casually pushed his hands in the pockets of his jeans, stepping towards the open door to lean against the doorframe, waiting for her to get her shoes on, "If our past together is any indication as to how you and me will go down in history, I'd say the odds are in our favor."

She looked up at him from her position on the floor while tying her shoe, "How you figure that?"

Those dimples digging deep into his cheeks again, his eyes sparkling with mischief, "We fight some times, ain't no denying that. We scratch, claw and scream at each other."

He pulled his left hand out of his pocket, running a rather raw and un-bandaged looking hand through his still damp hair when he added, "But somewhere somehow we end up with either you on top of me or me on top of you, still scratchin', clawin' and screamin', but now for completely different reasons. And that, babe … that's always been the inevitable."

She got off the floor and threw the towel she had wrapped around her hair at him, but he just chuckled, "You're just mad 'cause you know it's the god damn truth, Freckles."

"Oh zip it, James." She huffed as she pushed past him and out of the bedroom into the hallway.

Walking down the hall, she looked back over her shoulder at him following her, "And if you don't wipe that smug look off your face I promise the inevitable won't happen this time."

"We'll see." He quipped back still smiling as he followed her out of the front door.

After pacing the small room like a caged tiger for the last fifteen minutes, Sawyer finally took a seat in one of the chairs in the waiting area of the recently remodeled infirmary. Tapping his fingers nervously on the armrest of his chair, he found himself restless, and in dire need of a cigarette … again.

He had so many different thoughts running through his mind at the same time, and most of them weren't pleasant ones.

For one, there was the imminent one about the kid. Now that Kate was actually in there and getting checked out, he found himself wondering if that MRI might have done some damage after all. The liquor he wasn't too concerned with, but he'd lied to Kate when he pretended that he wasn't worried about that MRI. But if that doc would find anything wrong, he'd beg Hurley – on his knees if he had to – to fix it, someway somehow. With his voodoo-island-magic, surely there would be a way to fix the kid. The only problem with that notion was that Sawyer had nothing left to bargain with. He'd already sold his soul to this place to keep Kate alive. And that's how it worked, you don't get island-magic for free.

Second, he was upset that he had less than twenty-four hours left to spend with her. Of course he'd make the trek to the Orchid with her. Spending every last second he had with her, but he could already feel his heart breaking just thinking about letting her go. Watching her disappear right before his eyes.

Then he was also worried how she'd fend for herself in Tunisia, and anywhere else for that matter. How would she find her way back to the states? And most of all how would she do that unnoticed, when her face had been on every god damn tabloid and tv screen for the past four years?

What would happen if she got caught? Would she be send back to prison for violating her parole terms? Would she end up giving birth to their baby in prison, and then with him presumed dead, would the kid end up in some orphanage like he had?

Fuck!

What the hell is taken so long in there?

Right when that thought crossed his mind the door flew open, he jumped to his feet and with a wave of her hand Dr. Cross let him know that he could come in now.

Nervously and with sweaty palms he made his way past the female doctor and into the room.

He wasn't entirely sure what he had anticipated to find as he walked through the doorframe. Suppose he thought Kate would still be dressed in some ugly hospital gown, hell maybe even with her legs still up in those stirrups. But what he hadn't anticipated was for her not to be there at all.

Almost panic stricken he turned around, questioning the doctor that had just closed the door behind him, "Where is she?"

"She's getting dressed again, she'll be back in a moment." The woman said with a friendly smile on her face.

Wearily Sawyer looked around the room. He'd never been in this room of the infirmary before. The walls were covered with posters. Baby growth charts and the like. One poster describing in details how the female cycle worked, while another described how an iud was inserted and removed. And Sawyer found himself completely out of place, especially without Kate right here with him.

And right then, a door that Sawyer hadn't even notice opened and Kate stepped back into the room. She wasn't exactly smiling, but she wasn't frowning either, and Sawyer decided for himself to take that as a good sign.

"Hey," he said almost shyly. He was completely out of his element here. Being with his pregnant wife – Kate – at the OB GYN check up on the island … hell, never in a million years would he have anticipated this day to come. Especially not since he left L.A. and her behind.

"Hey," she answered as she walked towards him, when the doctor interrupted their awkward reunion.

"Well, Mr. and Mrs. LaFleur, let's have a look at that baby." She said with an overly enthusiastic sounding voice.

Sawyer was just dumbfounded, and Kate couldn't help but smile at the helpless expression that immediately crossed his face.

While the doctor was busy turning some machines on, Kate reached for his hand and pulled him along to the side of the examining chair she was about to sit back on.

Leaning back in the chair, she pulled her shirt up, resting the fabric right underneath her breasts. Then wordlessly unbuttoned her jeans and pushed them and her panties a little bit down too, while the doctor pulled on some latex cloves over her hands.

That's when Sawyer couldn't take it anymore, "So, the MRI she had … It didn't do no harm to the kid?"

His eyes focused on the doctor who looked up at him when he voiced his concern.

"No, I'm positive the MRI didn't do any harm to your child. As a matter of fact, if a pregnant woman is in need of a scan, MRIs are the only safe option to do so, whereas CT scans or x-rays are not allowed and potentially harmful to the fetus."

Sawyer let out a sigh of relief, meeting Kate's eyes he took a step closer to the examining chair, resting his left hand on her shoulder, while his right hand found hers and held on tight.

The doctor turned towards Kate with a bottle in her hand, "Now this will be a bit cold, so brace yourself." And with that she squeezed some of the clear contents of the bottle onto Kate's lower abdomen.

Sawyer didn't know what to think or feel. He'd only seen these kind of things on tv. In some chick-flick Claire and Kate 'made' him watch, where the expecting parents would get all happy tears when they see their baby for the first time.

But never had he pictured himself in this setting or scene. Never like this. His hands sweaty and he'd bet his last dollar that Kate could tell.

And he also couldn't deny nor control the quickening of his heartbeat when the doctor began moving the instrument across Kates stomach and grainy images began to display onto the screen before them.

The room filled with an odd sound. Like underwater footage of something and at first he saw nothing. Nothing recognizable anyways. But suddenly there it was, a perfect profile view of a tiny … someone. And he could feel his heart clench inside his chest. Painfully, retracting and releasing … over and over again.

"There it is." Dr. Cross announced, with her free hand pointing towards the screen, "There's the head, torso, arms and legs. That right there is the spine." Pushing some buttons and then pointing again, "And that right there is the heart, beating nice and steady."

And with that the room filled with the sound of their babys heartbeat.

No words, just looks were exchanged between Kate and him. Utterly speechless at the sound and picture before him. And he feels lightheaded all of a sudden. Has to steady himself against the chair, his fingers digging into Kate's shoulder and squeezing the crap out of the other. The emotions too overwhelming … his mind going back to those chick-flicks which always seemed too sappy but now don't even do justice to the way he feels right now.

Finds himself helplessly looking at Kate for answers, wondering how it is possible to feel so much for someone you haven't even met yet. Someone so tiny and helpless and utterly clueless. Someone who doesn't even know what he or she is in for with him as the father.

Then the question shot out before he even knew what he was saying, "Is it a boy or girl, doc?"

The woman smiled at him, "It's too early to tell, Mr. LaFleur. But whatever it is, it looks healthy."

"That's all that matters, right?" Kate's voice startled him. And when he looked at her he saw a tear run down her cheek, but she was smiling and clearly relieved that their baby seemed to be okay. Happy tears.

Sawyer nodded, fighting back that lump in his own throat, "Absolutely." And with that he leaned in to wipe her tears away with his big sweaty thumb and kissed her.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, my hair."

"Shit, sorry Freckles." He mumbled as he tried to untangle them both out of the sheet.

The sheet and their skin damp from their love-making. Slumping back down onto his pillow with a heavy sigh, his chest still heaving, he pulled Kates naked form snug against his again.

She propped herself up on one elbow, leaned forward and kissed him. First a few innocent pecks, but then her hand disappeared in his hair and she pulled him in for a long passionate kiss, which he returned willingly.

The kiss let up and he raised an eyebrow, "You trying to kill me, gurl?"

Smiling rather sheepishly at him, "Can't keep up with me, huh?" She settled down and got comfortable, her head resting on his shoulder with her hand drawing lazy circles on his tanned chest.

Sated silence, and she looks up at him, wondering and waiting for a comeback that doesn't come, but instead she finds his eyes fixed on the ceiling, staring into space and clearly lost in his own thoughts.

She stills her hand flat on his chest and closes her eyes, wondering what he's thinking about. Hooking one leg over his middle to get more comfortable and begins to drift off, relishing the perfectness of the moment. Wishing that time could stand still just like this for a little while.

Sawyers mind on the other hand was beginning to worry when the high from their love-making began to simmer down again. After seeing that little grainy image of the baby – their baby – he suddenly can't help but think about Clementine. His little girl. His perfect little girl that barely even knew him.

He's never been a guy that was good with kids. He'd never made the effort, until he was stuck with Aaron for a while. He'd also never wanted any of his own, and after he'd found out about Clementine's existence he was convinced that she would be better off without him involved. All of that had changed because of Kate.

It wasn't until Kate … it wasn't until he met this beautiful strange woman that seemed to care about him – in-spite of knowing the truth – and fell in love with her, that he'd begun to ponder the thought of looking Cassie up and getting to know his little girl.

But truth be told, Cassie wouldn't have let him within a hundred miles of her daughter if it hadn't been for Kate. And he couldn't really blame her for it either. But Kate insisted that he should keep trying and apparently used her friendship with Cassie to help his cause. So he got to meet his daughter, because of Kate.

Glancing sideways at her sleeping form in his arms, he thanked his lucky stars for her. For all the good memories he'd made with her and because of her.

But still, as he kissed her hair and held her tight, his mind went back to Clementine. She is too old and too smart. Not a baby anymore. No, not at all. Yet still so trusting and innocent, the opposite of what he was after his parents died. But then again, she's younger too. He knew he couldn't just go back and see her, spend time with her and hope that no one would find out about it. It wouldn't be fair to his little girl. Wouldn't be fair to put her through such an emotional rollercoaster.

But unlike him, she still had a parent in her life. And despite all the bad blood between him and his ex, he had to admit that Cassidy was a good mom. A really great mom.

And the 'not-so-new' new guy. The fiancée! Paid Gordy another small fortune to have him checked out too. Worst thing he found on that s.o.b. were and a few speeding tickets over the years. Nothing in his past that raised any flags … good enough to raise his daughter. And surely Kate would keep an eye on him too. He had no doubt about that. Kate would look out for his little girl and her mama too.

Pondering those thoughts he saw no other choice then to let Clementine believe he was still dead.

And then he wondered about this kid. Their kid. Can't help the involuntary image of a little blond haired, blue eyed boy before him. Reasons with himself. Telling himself it could be a little freckled faced girl in there, but every time he thinks what this kid will look like this picture of a little boy appears in his mind.

And his mind began to wonder. How often would he get to see his son? How much of his life would he miss? What would he be to him? Mommy's special friend? Or would she introduce him as daddy? And if so, how long would it be before the kid learns to talk and spill the beans about it all? And then what? How long would Kate and him be able to keep their secret meetings secret? What was Kate's plan to begin with? Was she going back home and telling Cassidy what he'd done? Would Cass pull Kate back in and make her believe he didn't really love her, 'cause he's bailing on them too?

Fuck! His heart breaking at the thought of that happening again!

And he can't help but go there in his mind. To that dark place, where he is no good for anyone. It's like a fail-safe for him. Always playing with the possibility that the people he loves are better off without him. Thoughts of bailing on the whole deal he'd just made with Kate and Hurley cross his mind – because wouldn't it be better for her? And better for the kid too? Wouldn't it be better if he just stayed on the island and let her move on?

She's still young, beautiful, rich and involuntary famous too. She could meet someone. Someone with a nine to five job. Someone who could love her and this baby too. Someone good. Someone decent. Someone that would be there for the whole deal. Not just the now and again but the forever and ever part.

His heart physically hurts, as if someone is ripping little bits and pieces off and he's fighting for air now. Sighing heavily as his chest rises with the sharp intake of air. Has to blink the image of her in bed with some other guy away. And it's strange how that other man – in Sawyers mind - always seems to have a striking resemblance with the good old doctor. Always some Jack-look-alike getting busy with his girl. His wife!

The thought of her with another man is killing him – literally – like someone just struck him in the chest with something sharp! Emotional pain transforming into physical pain … undeniable the effect she has on him, it's not just all in his head!

He can't stop himself now from nudging her awake. Needs to be reassured … pathetic as he is when it comes to her. Grown ass man but insecure when it comes to this girl lying naked in his arms. Turning onto his side, hooking his leg over her now, his hands traveling her body and caressing her. A smile forming on her lips with her eyes still closed and she murmurs something, he can't really make out the words. His nose nudging hers, as he places little sloppy kisses on her lips. Little wet lipped smooches, making a smacking sound every time, and her grin grows wider and wider with every kiss from him.

His heart is racing again, and he thinks it might explode if he doesn't get this off of his chest right now. Kisses her again, and mumbles "You awake?" as his lips finally retreat from hers.

Her eyes open in slow motion and she has to blink a few times at the brightness in the room. After all, it is the middle of the day.

But the serious look on Sawyers face gets her attention. Her hand lifts off his chest and brushes his messy hair out of his face. Gently. And he just feels it in those innocent touches. Feels how much she loves him. It reminds him of all the times she took care of him, cleaned his wounds … the love for him so much more evident in those simple touches then all the times she fumbled with his belt and buttons.

His eyes are glued to hers as he returns the gesture, brushing her hair back with his long fingers. "I-I …"

And he chokes on the words. Him. Macho-man cowboy Casanova fucking chokes. But it only takes him a second to recover. A moment to man-up, "… I love you!" He finally brings out those three little words for lack of better wording. Wishes he hadn't overused those words with so many others, back when they didn't hold the same meaning as they do now. Now with her … Kate! Wishes he could think of something more to add, something that makes them stand out for her. Wants to make this crystal clear so that Cassidy can't make her think otherwise.

His hand fumbling with the sheet now, moving the white linen sheets aside and traveling down to her naked barely-there-bump. Her eyes following his hand as it rests just there on her lower abdomen, "And I love you too."His voice just barely above a whisper, but he can't fight the smile that creeps across his face at the sound of his own voice. Feeling just a tad bit like a dumbass for being so overly sappy today – if Miles could see him now – but he's rewarded with the look on Kate's face following his words of love to their unborn baby.

Kates smile is brighter then the room filled with sunshine. She's practically beaming, and he swears again that she never looked prettier … but then again, he'd sworn the same thing time and again before.

And now she's rendered speechless. Afraid to talk, knowing all too well that she'll just end up crying again like a damn waterfall. Hormones.

Yet the look on his face, longing and hopeful all the same, makes her change her mind. Her hand reaching up again, touching the side of his cheek. "I love you more."Her chin quivers, but she keeps the tears at bay, mainly due to his immediate reaction.

A slow smile … no, a grin with dimples on his scruffy cheeks, rolling himself on top of her, bracing himself above her on his arms, a demanding "Proof it" as he begins kissing her neck causing her to giggle out loud.

And then he just wraps himself around her, skin on skin, holding on tight, nuzzling his nose into the crook of her neck, smelling her, taking in her scent. Not kissing anymore or trying to seduce her, just savoring her. Engulfing her.

And she finds herself completely wrapped up in him, his strong masculine body pinning her to the mattress beneath her. Taking in his scent and feeling the warmth that's radiating from his body. The heat contagious and infectious. His breath on her skin and the sound of his breaths in her ear making her feel all warm and tingly inside.

Right then in that moment she has this epiphany about how much being with Sawyer has changed her after all. The old Kate would've felt trapped underneath this massive six foot man. Had it been any other man she would've panicked by now. Panicked for being helpless … easy prey. But there had always been something about Sawyer … something about James.

So instead she's at peace. She finds herself calmed by the weight of him. Shelled from the outside elements. Protected, like anything and anyone would have to go through him first to get to her. Like a body armor of flesh and blood. And she knows it isn't the first time she's felt this way around him. But it's the first time she found herself acknowledging it to herself that she truly trusts him. That even though he's hurt her emotionally, he'd never hurt her physically. Never do anything she didn't want him to do. He'd never be forceful with her. He'd never raise his hand to her. He'd never be like Wayne.

They'd managed to spend the entire day in bed making love, only interrupted by the occasional nap here and there. But mostly just wrapped up in one another, savoring every touch and every kiss as if it was their last.

They didn't talk. No, not really. Although both realizing they probably should talk at some point, but neither of them wanting to break the love spell they'd found themselves in, completely oblivious to anything that was happening outside Sawyer's bedroom walls. Oblivious to the fact that their last day together was slowly coming to an end.

Sawyer pushed the sheets aside and poked his head out from under them, listening.

Kate pushed herself up on her elbows, looking at him confused, "What?"

He shook his head, "Nuttin'", reached back to pull the sheet back over them, grinning, "Now, where were we?"

Kate giggled as she let herself fall back into the mattress and Sawyer began kissing her as they both disappeared back under the sheets.

This time the noise was louder and when Sawyer pushed the sheets back and perked his head out, Kate said, "I think someone's at the door."

"Yeah."He huffed annoyed as he climbed over her and out of bed.

Kate pulled the sheet up to her chest and watched him with a smile as he pulled his jeans up and buttoned them, turning and grinning at her, "You stay right there and keep the bed warm." He bend down to kiss her, "And I'll get rid of…" A loud knock interrupted him and he huffed annoyed, "Whoever that is."

Kate watched him disappear through the open bedroom door when another knock was heard throughout the house, and Sawyer yelled, "Hold your horses."

She heard the door open and snapped up in bed to a sitting position at the sound of Rose's voice. Holding her breath and straining her ears to hear what was being said, but to no avail. It only took her a second to climb out of bed, wrap herself in the sheet before she followed the voices to the front of the house.

Peeking around the corner into the living room, when Rose spotted her, "There she is."

Sawyer turned his head to look what caught Rose's attention, and a smile spread across his face at the sight of Kate. Her hair a complete and adorable mess, her cheeks tinted bright pink and her lips were swollen red from all the kissing they'd been doing. Not to mention the lack of clothing was something worth noting.

Kate pulled the sheet a bit tighter around herself, she hadn't anticipated to be seen. "Hi Rose," her voice sounding strangely shy to him, considering he'd had her moaning loudly and unabashed not too long ago.

"Hi there Sweetheart." Rose said as she pushed past Sawyer and walked into the house, clutching a casserole dish covered with aluminum foil in front of herself. Walking into the kitchen, clearly unaffected by the state of undress she'd found the young couple in. She turned back to Sawyer, "You can shut that door now, honey. Wouldn't want the whole neighborhood to see her just wrapped up in a sheet, now would we?"

Sawyer rolled his eyes at the older woman's remark, shutting the door and letting out a sarcastic, "Why don't you come on in?"

But Kate just smiled shyly, trying to think of an explanation for the way she looked that didn't sound as embarrassing as the truth, but coming up with nothing, she just shyly pushed a stray curl behind her ear.

Rose shot Sawyer a look at his sarcastic invite, then looked back at Kate before she spoke, "As I was just telling James here, I fixed you guys something for dinner." Her eyes moving from Sawyer's approaching form back to Kates, then she continued with a grin, "I figured you guys might be otherwise occupied ..." Kate cheeks flushed anew as she glanced sideways at Sawyer who seemed unaffected by Rose's words. Then Rose placed the Casserole dish into the oven, turned it on, and said, "… since you're leaving tomorrow. It's nothing big, just lasagna. Takes about 20 minutes to reheat."

Kate looked at Sawyer, unsure of what to say "Oh … that's very sweet of you, thank you so much."

Rose waved her hand in the air, "Don't worry about it, honey. Like I said, check on it in 20 minutes, it should be hot enough by then." And with that she opened the front door to head back out, turning towards the couple one last time as she reached for the handle, "Now you guys have a good evening, and don't you head out without saying goodbye to us, Sweetheart."

Rose disappeared and pulled the door shut behind her before either one could even utter a response.

They both stood there as if frozen in place for a moment, before the unavoidable smile appeared on their faces again. She sighed, "I'm actually pretty hungry, you? We sort of skipped lunch."

"I'm starving." He said as he wrapped an arm around her waist to guide her back to the bedroom. "You wore me out."

"Guess I should put some clothes on then." Kate said with a grin as they both arrived at the bedroom door again.

"Or …" he drawled grinning back at her mischievously, "… we could see what we could get done in twenty minutes." And with that he grabbed and tossed her onto the bed with Kate letting out a loud shriek that could probably be heard all the way down to the beach.

"Son of a bitch!" was all Kate could hear from the kitchen.

And right as she was untangling herself from the sheet, Sawyer stepped back into the bedroom.

"What happened?" She asked when she saw that scolding expression on his face, and he just held up his hand.

"Burned myself getting the damn food out of the oven."

She noted the red mark on his finger, reaching for it, "Let me see."

Like a child graving the attention, he held completely still as Kate examined his 'wound' and kissed it.

A flash of sorts crossed before his eyes, how she would be with their child. How she would kiss their baby's pain away, when he or she got hurt. She'd be a great mom, no doubt.

"James?" She looked up at him confused, cause he wasn't listening, "Did you hear what I said?"

"What?" He answered, coming back from his daydream.

"I said, you should put ice on it, or at least hold it under some cold water."

He just waved the suggestion away, "I'm fine, baby. Anyway, let's eat."

He turned to leave again, as she said, "Can I borrow a t-shirt?"

"Yeah, sure. Top drawer." He pointed to his dresser, and then said, "I'll go set the table."

Sawyer left the room and Kate dropped the sheet, sauntered over to the dresser, pulled the top drawer open, retrieved the biggest t-shirt she could find and pulled it over her head quickly.

She closed the drawer again, and was just about to turn and leave when she noticed a tiny piece of orange fabric sticking out of the second drawer. Absentmindedly she pulled the drawer open just a gap, pushing the bit of clothing inside and had already shut the drawer again and turned towards the door, when her brain had caught up with her eyes and what she'd just glimpsed at.

It couldn't be, or could it?

She turned back towards the dresser, pulling it open rather quickly and stood there frozen in place, staring at the contents of the drawer in complete awe.

The orange fabric was a shirt she'd found in the wreckage and had worn several times while they'd camped out on their beach. Next to it laid a hairbrush – no correction, not just any hairbrush, her hairbrush – the one she'd traded Sawyer for shortly after the crash, still with some of her hair in it. A water bottle that used to belong to her. Her plain old faded cotton bra, along with some panties. A stack of photographs, from their wedding, honeymoon and other occasions, all wrapped up in her blue garter she'd worn on their wedding day.

Then her eyes fell onto something she thought she'd never see again. Tom's little toy airplane.

She reached for it, picked it up, turning it in her hands as if she was looking at it for the very first time, "That's impossible. Where did he find it?" She whispered to herself.

And just when she regained her composure, her eyes fell onto something else in the back of the drawer and she was awestruck once again.

He'd set the table for them. Had actually found a blue linen tablecloth in the cupboard, along with matching napkins. Two plates, silverware, cups, the lasagna. And some bread too, cause he remembered how she likes to clean her plate with a slice of bread, soaking up every last bit of sauce.

And when he actually puts two candles on the table and lights them even though it's not even dark outside yet, he wonders to himself when he'd turned into such a girl.

But then he remembers that it's their last night together for god knows how long. Their last dinner together, and those thoughts make the nicely set table all worthwhile.

Then he looks down at himself, wearing nothing but a pair of boxers as he mumbles to himself, "Maybe I should've put some pants on."

With that thought he walked back down the hall, hollering, "What's taken so long, peaches?" as he reaches the bedroom to pull on a pair of jeans himself.

The sight of her stops him in his tracks. Finds himself speechless standing in the doorframe staring at her in surprise. Never had he imagined to see her like this again.

The thin spaghetti straps of the flower print summer dress were completely hidden by her long curly locks. It was like she'd stepped out of one of his dreams. The one where she's brought to her cage with tears in her eyes, and he was too big of a coward to ask her what they'd done to her.

"You okay, Freckles?"

"Ja, you?"

"Just swell. I requested that cage, but whatever?"

"Nice dress."

"They made me wear it."

Those words stung like it was yesterday as they come back to the forefront of his mind, but then he also remembers how he'd managed to get her to smile at him and offering her his very first fish biscuit.

But now she stood there. Here in his bedroom like this. The only thing missing was a pair of flip flops on her feet to complete the picture. It's been over four years since that moment, and in awe he realizes that she hasn't changed at all.

With her in that dress, she looks exactly like she did on that day and yet she's so different. They both are. He's her husband. She is his wife, carrying his child. It doesn't get any more different then that.

She startles him out of his thoughts once again when she finally speaks up from the other side of the room, "Where'd you find it?"

"The cages." He answers truthfully.

She smoothes down the fabric of the skirt, eyeing it like a long lost treasure, "You washed it? It smells real nice."

"Yeah, … couple times actually. Some stains wouldn't come out." He speaks almost in a whipser, she just took all the fight out of him, the moment he saw her in that dress. Fuck!

She steps towards him, "Ready to eat?"

Sawyer just nods, and then remembers that he came here to put some jeans on. Reaches for his pants on the floor, steps into them quickly and follows her down the hallway while zipping up his zipper.

A smile spreads across her face when she sees the lit candles, and she turns to look up at him. He returns her smile and then pulls out her chair for her as if they were in some nice restaurant in L.A. instead of barefoot in Dharmaville.

They begin to eat. In silence first but then slowly begin to talk about everything but her upcoming departure, the baby or the dress. They share endless looks with each other across the table, an undeniable tension building between them with every passing second.

After they're done eating, Kate insists on cleaning up even though Sawyer keeps telling her he can do that later. But she's determined to not leave a mess behind for him and proceeds with rinsing off the dishes before she puts them in the dishwasher.

Sawyer stands just a few feet away, leaning against the kitchen counter, unable to take his eyes off of her. The tension in the room so thick, that it could be cut by a knife, a fact that doesn't go unnoticed by Kate.

She shuts the dishwasher, takes the dishtowel and wipes down the few water drops that have splashed onto the counter around the sink. Unable to hold back any longer, she turns her attention to Sawyer and asks, "Why do you keep looking at me like that?"

His feet crossed by his ankles, and his arms crossed across his bare chest, he tries to laugh it off, smiling, asking back, "How am I looking at you?"

"You know ... like that." She pauses to assess him and then herself, then adds, "It's the dress, isn't it?"

He swallows the lump in his throat, cocks his head to the side, his face grows serious and he realizes after a long moment that he hasn't answered her yet. Then he just admits, being caught off guard, "It looks good on you!"

Her shoulders slump in a surrendering notion as she throws the dishtowel onto the counter haphazardly, "I shouldn't have put it on." She almost stutters, "I-I … I just … I was just so surprised that you had this drawer full of my stuff, and then I saw the dress and …"

Her words are cut short by his lips on hers. So fast and furious, she should be used to this by now, yet she hadn't anticipated this at all.

The kiss! So slow and passionate and sexy … another thing she should be used to by now, but she hasn't build a tolerance to his kisses yet. It seems to last a lifetime and Kate can feel herself get dizzy from the impact his kisses still have on her. The only thing keeping her on her feet at the moment are his strong arms holding her to him.

She has her eyes closed, and all the while his lips and tongue are still working their magic, she can feel her feet no longer touching the ground and he's moving her across the room. She's secretly hoping he's bringing her back to bed, but that wish is cut short when he stops, and releases her lips.

Reluctantly she opens her eyes to find herself right next to the dining room table. Sawyer leans past her and blows the candles out, so fast that little splatter of hot wax land onto the linen tablecloth. And as if she hadn't guessed his intentions by now, they are made perfectly clear when he shoves the candles out of the way in one quick swoop of his arm. The metal part of the candle holder makes a loud noise as it hits the hardwood floor beneath them, at least it sounds loud in contrast to his and her breathing.

Her eyes lock with his and he grins back at her, his intentions written all over his face. Her head is spinning when his hands grip her waist on each side and lift her onto the edge of the table. Pressing himself in between her legs, one hand on her breast while the hand with the still bloody knuckles disappear in her hair, forcing her lips to his one more time.

It's moments like these when she doesn't even recognize herself anymore. It's moments like these when she's so overcome with emotions and the need to feel him even closer that she can feel herself blush with the dirty thoughts that are running through her mind. Thoughts that she'd never admit out loud, but thoughts none the less that always resurface when he looks at her a certain way, or touches her like this, or kisses her like that. It's like she has a switch somewhere and he's found it, knows how to activate it and make her own actions not her own anymore. Like her body isn't her own anymore, she's under his spell.

It's exactly that thought that crosses her mind, when her hands travel down Sawyers bare chest and find themselves opening his jeans.

But then she has to smile against his lips, when he gasps the very moment her hands push down his jeans and slip into his boxers, quickly finding and retrieving what she was looking for.

His massive erection in her hands, she strokes him and he growls this low throaty sound that turns her inside into mush. She looks up at him and bites her lip at the way he throws his head back and his lips part again moaning. And she's mesmerized because she can do that to him. Her actions, her hands are doing that to him, and it empowers her beyond believe. Gives her a boost of confidence she desperately needs when she's going head to head with the master of seduction.

But before she knows it, his lips are back on hers, both fighting for the upper hand.

From then on it's just a whirlwind of emotions and touches. One of his hands snaked beneath her dress and found it's way between her thighs. She moans at the first contact which only spurts him on to continue with his caresses. She finds herself pressing into his hand, wanting more needing more.

Breaking away from his kiss just long enough to meet his eyes. She moans a whispered "Love me." And that is all it takes for him to hike up her skirt. Then with one hand on her ass to keep her in place, he nudges her thighs even further apart as he guides himself into her in one fluid motion.

They both moan in unison at the first contact, and with every thrust from him thereafter. He lowers her down onto the table, her hair falling like a halo around her head while he keeps on thrusting into her with perfect rhythm. Her entire body is rocking back and forth in front of him, her perfect round breasts moving deliciously along, threatening to spill out of her dress at any second. Her mouth agape while looking up at him, holding his intense gaze, as they both move closer to succumbing ecstasy.

Then he reaches down, his hand reaching into her hair and pulling her back up towards him. He keeps on thrusting while he adjusts his and her position. She wraps her arms around his neck, longing to kiss him and moaning even louder at the new angle he's found for them. Bliss!

It is over too soon. He carries her to the couch where they both lie spent in each other's arms. His back against the back of the couch, her back against his bare chest, along with the rest of her body flush against his. His arm curled around her waist with his hand resting on her flat stomach, holding her tight, as if he's afraid she'd vanish if he didn't keep his hand on her the entire time.

And for the first time she dares to bring up the topic they've avoided since they'd began making love earlier today.

"I'll miss you so much." She says, without even turning around. She's too afraid she might start crying if she looks at him right now.

He sighs audibly and pulls her even closer to him, "Me too, Freckles."

And unbeknownst to them, they are thinking the same thing in the same moment. Both of them wishing they didn't know what it was going to feel like … but they both do. They both remember vividly how much it hurts to be apart from each other. They both had lived with that pain and longing for each other already for three long years.

End Note: So, what do you all think? Too sappy, too fluffy for all you skaters out there? Is anyone even still reading? Please let me know what you all think and if you care to read how this story ends. Thank you!