bonboni - Kate is roughly...8 weeks right now. And Aaron is...2 years old.
SassyLostie - Well hey. A death can mean anyone. So never rule out - or rule only - one person.
Mathildou - "If Sawyer weren't there, what would Kate do?!" Go whine to Jack.
Chapter 19
Before anyone could even think to blink, the week had passed by. It became the night before the wedding and the bride and groom were predictably apart, each attending their own party. It was the first time in a long time that Kate and Sawyer had been separated from each other. Sawyer was to go off with Charlie to a pub to have the traditional bachelor party – something he tried to argue his way out of, but failed miserably.
Kate was coerced into attending Claire's wedding shower. The shower was held at a party rental building, in one large room reserved to them. One corner was dedicated to the children's play area where Aaron joined Sun's daughter Mai, Karen's daughter Megan, and Claire's nieces. While the women chatted incessantly, Kate sat at one of the tables in the back, wishing she was drinking something stronger than the fruit punch she held.
She was still pondering the fortune teller's words, even though it had been days ago. She couldn't figure out that last phrase. 'With every death there is new life.' What did it mean? She was certain it had to do with the baby. But did that mean it was going to kill her? Would it kill Sawyer? Would it kill itself? She didn't think she could bear to lose another child. Not when she'd grown so fond of the idea. God, how she wished her drink was more than juice…
Unexpectedly, Sun joined her. It seemed she was enjoying the party just as much as Kate was.
"Hello, Kate."
"Hi Sun."
"How are you doing?"
"I'm fine, thanks."
"Why are you sitting all alone?" she asked, concerned.
Kate smiled. "I'm not much of a party person."
Sun nodded, smiling. "I'm not much of one either. But I wouldn't miss this for the world."
"Yeah."
"How is Sawyer?"
"He's good. Probably having a better time right now," she laughed. "Kind of wish I were there instead of here."
"Yeah. I almost wish I was with Jin too. But I am happy for Claire," Sun said with a sweet smile. "And Charlie."
"Yeah."
"Do you think we'll be sitting together at the wedding?"
"I don't know. I hope so."
Sun smiled. "I hope so too."
They were quiet for a few minutes. Kate's gaze drifted toward the children. She watched Aaron making his wolf growl at the kids, the wolf which he wouldn't let out of his sight. She began to watch Mai, after a moment. She studied the four-year-old's features – her long, shiny black hair that was pushed back with a pink headband, her light brown almond-shaped eyes that stood out against her milky skin, and a smile that could light up the room. She truly was a beautiful child.
"Have you enrolled Mai in preschool yet?" Kate asked, suddenly.
Sun was slightly taken aback by the question. "Yes. She'll be graduating in a month now. But she prefers her dance class to it."
Kate smiled. "She dances?"
Sun nodded. "She wants to be a ballerina."
"That's sweet. She's really a beautiful girl."
"Thank you." After a pause, Sun cocked her head to the side and glanced sideways at Kate. "Have you…thought about having children?"
Kate felt that familiar twinge in her stomach. She thought for a moment, wondering whether or not she could tell Sun. She almost felt obligated to. However, just as she decided she would, she remembered the pact she and Sawyer had made.
"No," she said, finally. "At least…not yet."
Sawyer sat at the far end of the bar ordering a scotch as the party continued without him. For the first fifteen minutes he'd been okay. He talked with all of his old island "friends". He even greeted Jack in as kind a manner as he could. But once Charlie started to go into stories of his band, he pulled away from the group for a stronger drink. However, his almost-paradise didn't last as long as he would've liked it to. The crowd started to break up as some went to play pool, and some conversed. To his surprise, Jack sat down with him and ordered the same drink.
"Having fun?" he asked.
"Golly. I'm havin' the time of my life," Sawyer answered sarcastically.
"Well," Jack started. "Maybe if you put a little effort into it…"
"No offense, Doc, but I was doin' just fine by myself."
"Yeah. I could tell. That's why I came over here. You should at least try and be a part of this. For Charlie's sake."
Sawyer's only response was downing the last of his drink.
Jack shrugged and grinned. "Can't say I didn't try, right?"
"Nope," Sawyer smirked. After a pause, he said, "How's Ally?"
"Good. You'll see her. She's coming to the wedding."
"Oh just dandy," Sawyer said, gesturing to the bartender for another shot.
"How's Kate?"
"Fine."
"Just fine?"
"She's good," he said, mockingly.
"Are things with you – "
"Better than ever. Just went to Disneyland this past week."
"Disneyland?" Jack raised his eyebrows.
"Yep."
"Hey Jack! Jack!" Charlie called. "We're going to play pool!"
Jack shook his head. "I'm all right, Charlie. You go ahead."
"Oh come on, Jack. Don't be a wanker!" Charlie pleaded.
"Come on, dude!" Hurley chimed in.
"What, you doctors don't play pool?" Sawyer said with a grin.
"What?" he said with a laugh.
"C'mon, Jack-O," Sawyer stood. "Let's go play some pool!"
Kate was trying hard to participate in the party. All the women were in a circle now as Claire opened gifts. Most of the women were drunk, or nearly there. Kate was unhappy that she was one of the more sober ones, even though she had snuck three glasses of wine. It wasn't enough to classify her as drunk – at least not in the crowd she was in. Even Claire was already well beyond her drinking limit.
"Oh come on. I'm not going to wear this!" she shouted in her heavy accent, holding a set of lingerie.
"Oh yes you will," said another in an equally heavy accent. "What do you think you're going to be doing the night of your wedding!? Playing checkers?"
The room erupted in laughter and giggles. Kate smiled, trying to hide her boredom. These types of parties just weren't her scene. Sun had already left her to take Mai back to their hotel room to sleep for the night. She said she'd come back, but it had been an hour since she'd gone. The rest of the children were taken out of the room so they could sleep too, which made the room a lot more rowdy. In a few minutes, the circle had spread out and one of the girls sprang up from her seat, leaving the room in a rush.
"What's going on? Where is she going?" Claire asked.
"Oh hush now," her sister said. "We've got a special gift for you. You're going to love it!"
"All right girls!" said the girl, coming back. "Here they are!"
"They? No! What did you do!?" Claire shouted.
Kate, along with the rest of the girls, looked in the direction of the door. In came two handsome firemen. There was a massive amount of screaming from the women as music started to play. Kate realized this for what it was – a strip tease.
"No!!" Claire shouted, laughing. "No, I told you no strippers!"
"Oh live a little, Claire!"
Kate couldn't help but smile as the men started to dance and remove their jackets. She even found herself laughing with the rest of the women. Claire's face turned three shades of red as they took their shirts off while they danced around her. She buried her face in her hands, shaking her head. Kate laughed. The men separated and danced around all the women.
Kate found herself staring up at one of them, and it was her turn to flush. She couldn't deny that the man had a nicely built body. She tried to contain herself by staring up into the man's eyes. They were a deep entrancing blue. They reminded her of someone. She thought for a moment, then realized they were exactly like Damien's eyes. She forced herself to look away, but made the mistake of looking up at him again and saw Damien's face.
She found herself gasping for breath suddenly. She got up and ran for the door, ignoring Claire's call for her. She leaned against the wall in the hallway, her eyes closed. After a few minutes, she caught her breath. She didn't want to go back in, however. She couldn't. It was no surprise that Sun chose this moment to show up again.
"Kate? Are you all right?"
She opened her eyes. "I'm fine. I just needed to get some air."
"Oh. If you're sure…"
She nodded. "You're going back in?"
"I was going to. But it sounds so loud in there now."
Kate nodded with a laugh. "They brought in strippers."
Sun laughed too. "Maybe I will wait out here. Jin might disapprove."
Kate smiled. "I was actually thinking of going to find the guys, if you wanted to come."
"Do you know where they are?"
Kate smiled, wryly. "I think I have an idea..."